This company is addressing the single-use plastic problem at Victoria Falls – one drop at a time

Zimbabwe is home to one of the seven natural wonders of the world—the Victoria Falls. However, like most big water bodies around the world, this waterfall is not immune to plastic pollution. According to a 2014 survey by the Institute of Environmental Studies, the country generates 1.65 million metric tons of waste annually. Of this waste, 18% is plastic – mostly single-use plastic water bottles.

EcoDrop has come up with an innovative solution to this plastic problem. The concept is simple: visitors (and locals) purchase a sturdy, refillable bottle equipped with a code that can be scanned at any of the refill stations. The bottle then also serves as a souvenir, reminding visitors of their responsible tourism experience at Victoria Falls. The bottles that are discarded get recycled.

“We all know there is an urgent problem regarding the amount of waste generated in society daily and we have created a viable option to reduce this,” explains Casey Bean. “We give lodges, hotels, tour operators and travel agents the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint in the tourism industry by reducing the amount of single-use plastic bottles they generate.”

EcoDrop has also installed other refill stations in public areas regularly frequented by tourists so the value continues throughout their entire experience. A percentage of the purchase price goes to charities that support the local communities, including Pristine Victoria Falls, which keeps the waterfall and its surroundings clean. “We are installing cold water purification systems in the rural schools surrounding the tourism town too to provide clean drinking water to the community in which we operate,” Bean adds.

Responsible tourism ensures sustainable business

Not everyone believed the system could work; “We had to do a lot of work convincing operators to give up the immediate revenue they make from selling plastic bottles and move toward the EcoDrop system for future savings and returns,” Bean shares.

He explains that, in order for the system to work effectively, they have to set up at enough locations, as it requires a considerable number of systems to ensure users always have access to a refill station.

“We continue to encourage operators to not only look at the profits but also at the environment and to understand that this project is solving longer-term problems,” Bean adds.

A growing concern is overtourism and its resulting environmental and social impact. “The tourism industry should be directly responsible for promoting the conservation of and supporting local communities, understanding that they derive all their profits and business because of the environment and communities in which they operate. It should be their goal to keep these in the best possible conditions to ensure they keep getting business for years to come,” Bean says.

He explains that the tourism industry plays an extremely critical role, not only in building awareness on a global scale by educating the travel trade and travellers themselves on the threats and risks to our natural heritage and habitats, as well as supporting local communities, but also in terms of on-the-ground implementation and lobbying. “The tourism industry is essentially the central and pivotal cog in the wheel of conservation and sustainability, playing the role of both benefactor and custodian as it leads, influences and educates the industry,” he points out.

Getting the recognition they deserve

EcoDrop won Gold in the Climate category at the WTMA Responsible Tourism Awards 2024 for the work it’s been doing to protect the environment around Victoria Falls. “Winning this award has been a huge boost to our company’s public image and given us the project validation in the market,” Bean says.

Now, the company doesn’t have to spend as much of its efforts convincing the tourism industry of its value, as the award has provided them with the credibility they need. “This award has given us the recognition we needed on a higher level to help firmly establish our presence and to open doors with more lodges, hotels and operators that haven’t noticed us yet,” Bean explains.

He adds that the award affirms what they always knew at EcoDrop; the project has the potential to address the huge amounts of waste produced by single-use plastic bottles in the tourism industry.