In its quest to become a “Zero Waste” destination, Cancún will implement plastic-free measures focused on environmental protection at the Fut Fest of the Mexican Caribbean, held at the Tajamar Boardwalk.
With this strategy, municipal authorities and the tourism sector seek to mitigate the environmental impact of the thousands of fans expected for the soccer festival, transforming this iconic public space facing the Nichupté Lagoon into a benchmark for sustainable mass events.
In this regard, Fernando Haro Salinas, Director of Ecology for the Benito Juárez City Council, announced that to guarantee the success of the initiative, they are working in close coordination with the Quintana Roo Tourism Infrastructure Institute (Infratur)—responsible for the operation of Tajamar—and other local agencies, applying restrictions that protect the area’s biodiversity.
The General Directorate of Ecology will thoroughly supervise compliance with requirements during the sporting event, such as prohibiting single-use plastics, providing recycling containers, and ensuring that vendors prevent spills of grease or oil.
They also emphasized the importance of demarcating the perimeter area to safeguard the ecosystem and prevent incidents with local wildlife, ensuring the protection of mangroves and safeguarding citizens from any interaction with crocodiles.
Haro Salinas stated that this effort is part of an inter-institutional synergy that has already been successfully tested in the district. “As the General Directorate of Ecology, we adhere to all these guidelines, and in that sense, yes, it will be a zero-waste Fut Fest; in fact, there have already been several events of this kind, such as the Socca Cup, and we have full coordination with other agencies like the Sports Institute, Infratur, and the Municipal Tourism Secretariat to ensure a sustainable event,” he noted.
This vision of environmental stewardship at large-scale events is complemented by the actions the formal hotel sector has begun implementing in the destination, through ongoing training and obtaining key certifications.
The Director of Ecology recalled that in January of this year, Mayor Ana Paty Peralta signed a UN Tourism global initiative to reduce plastic waste.
“We are currently working on a program with the Hotel Association to implement the ‘Less Plastic’ guide in 45 hotels in the hotel zone in 2026 and 2027, in addition to other actions that will allow for a further significant reduction in the generation of both plastic and glass throughout the tourist area of our municipality.”
Finally, the interviewee acknowledged the active role of the private sector in the conservation of Cancún, applauding the fact that the establishments themselves are assuming environmental responsibility internally.
“There are important actions that are often also being taken by the private sector; the hotels themselves are taking these initiatives. I am pleased that many hotels already have a sustainability department or office,” he concluded.
Source: sipse
