World Oceans Day 2024: Sands Pursues a Variety of Initiatives to Protect Ocean Health

Rhea-AI Summary

Las Vegas Sands commemorates World Oceans Day 2024 by announcing multiple initiatives aimed at protecting ocean health. Notably, Marina Bay Sands collaborates with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to ensure sustainable seafood sourcing and ocean resiliency. This includes a $400,000 investment in aquaculture and fishery programs in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in certifications like the ASC for shrimp farms in Malaysia. Sands China is actively participating in the Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition to enhance seafood traceability and sustainability.

The company’s efforts extend to responsible seafood sourcing policies, eliminating shark fin and limiting bluefin tuna in its restaurants. They also emphasize educational initiatives through art and science exhibits to raise awareness about ocean health. The ArtScience Museum’s Sensory Odyssey exhibit, for example, supported mangrove restoration in Malaysia.

These initiatives reflect Sands' commitment to sustainability, aiming to promote ocean conservation and responsible seafood practices.

Positive

• Marina Bay Sands' $400,000 investment in WWF programs.
• ASC certification for Sankina Aquaculture in Malaysia.
• Active participation by Sands China in HKSSC to improve seafood traceability.
• Internal policies to eliminate shark fin and limit bluefin tuna in company restaurants.
• ArtScience Museum’s Sensory Odyssey exhibit contributed to planting 20,000 mangrove trees.

Negative

• No significant positive business impacts, e.g., increased revenues or profits, mentioned.
• No direct financial metrics provided to assess the impact of sustainability initiatives on stock performance.

Las Vegas Sands

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 18, 2024 / On June 8, the United Nations observes World Oceans Day 2024, which aims to raise global awareness of the benefits humankind derives from the ocean and individual and collective responsibility to use its resources wisely.

The observance underscores the importance of ocean health in preserving the Earth's environment and essential resources for all life. According to the UN, the ocean produces at least 50% of the planet's oxygen, is home to most of the Earth's biodiversity, and provides the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the world. Moreover, the UN notes that the ocean is key to the world economy, with an estimate that 40 million people will be employed by ocean-based industries by 2030.

"Protecting ocean health is an essential component of our global sustainability program," Katarina Tesarova, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, said. "Our initiatives are focused on both conservation, as well as education, with our resorts leading the charge to reduce our impact and promote greater understanding of the need to address ocean health."

World Wide Fund for Nature Partnership

One of the central components of Sands' efforts to protect ocean health is Marina Bay Sands' work with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the leading organization focused on wildlife conservation and endangered species. Since 2015, the partnership has helped ensure the resort's supply chain addresses ocean health through guidance from WWF on seafood sourcing, supplier engagement, verification of data and traceability, and chef education.

In 2017, Marina Bay Sands extended its work with WWF further into the supply chain by investing more than $400,000 in WWF's efforts to strengthen ocean resiliency and champion responsible seafood production in the Asia-Pacific region. Through this effort, Marina Bay Sands has underwritten the participation of nine farms and one fishery in WWF's aquaculture and fishery improvement programs, with Sankina Aquaculture becoming the first shrimp farm in Malaysia to receive Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification.

In Macao, Sands China also has fostered partnerships to protect ocean waterways in its region. Since 2020, Sands China has been a member of and participated in the working group for the Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition (HKSSC), which works to increase sustainable seafood availability and improving traceability.

Responsible Seafood Sourcing

Another of Sands' strategies around ocean health is procuring seafood responsibly, which includes promoting sustainable sourcing to chefs and eliminating or reducing certain types of seafood from company-owned restaurants and food service operations. For example, Sands has established internal policies to eliminate sourcing of shark fin and restrict offering of bluefin tuna in its restaurants and catering operations. The company also targets sourcing of seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and ASC. With more than 200 restaurants in its resorts around the world, Sands' sourcing policies can make a significant impact, while increasing awareness about responsible procurement among its Team Members and restaurant partners.

Ocean Health Education

Sands' regions also have taken an active role in promoting ocean health by leveraging art and science exhibits at its resorts as platforms to educate visitors and residents. Last year, Sands China sponsored the University of Saint Joseph's Sea of Plastic: A Recycled Art Exhibition, which harnessed the power of plastic-based art installations to demonstrate the impact of plastics on the ocean, marine life and human lives. The exhibition featured 3D displays created by students and local artists who composed their art pieces from recycled plastics and materials collected at beach cleanups and other sources. The exhibition culminated a year-long effort to educate about plastic pollution and promote sustainable practices.

At Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum™ has featured the Sensory Odyssey exhibit, which gave visitors the rare opportunity to intimately explore in 4D some of the natural world's most extraordinary environments, including the world's oceans, and the living creatures and organisms that inhabit them. Natural habitats featured in the exhibit came to life in stunning original footage shot around the world by natural history filmmakers, and the exhibit culminated by having visitors collectively create a mangrove installation that grew as they contributed to the display. Leveraging its partnership with WWF, Marina Bay Sands donated a portion of exhibit ticket prices to support the planting of 20,000 mangrove trees in the Rajang Belawai-Paloh Delta in Sarawak, Malaysia, an important habitat for the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin.

To learn more about Sands' work in the areas of water, biodiversity and sustainable sourcing, read the company's latest ESG Report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Las Vegas Sands on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Las Vegas Sands
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/las-vegas-sands
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Las Vegas Sands

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What initiatives has Las Vegas Sands announced for World Oceans Day 2024?

Las Vegas Sands announced efforts such as sustainable seafood sourcing, partnerships with WWF, educational exhibits, and investment in ocean health programs.

How is Marina Bay Sands contributing to ocean health?

Marina Bay Sands works with WWF to ensure sustainable seafood sourcing and invested $400,000 in aquaculture and fishery improvement programs.

What sustainable seafood policies has Las Vegas Sands implemented?

Sands has policies to eliminate shark fin, restrict bluefin tuna, and promote seafood certified by MSC and ASC in its restaurants.

How is Sands China involved in ocean protection?

Sands China participates in the Hong Kong Sustainable Seafood Coalition to improve sustainable seafood availability and traceability.

What educational initiatives are Sands resorts undertaking for ocean health?

Sands resorts host exhibits like the Sensory Odyssey and Sea of Plastic to educate visitors about ocean health and plastic pollution.

What are the financial commitments of Marina Bay Sands towards ocean health?

Marina Bay Sands has invested over $400,000 in WWF's aquaculture and fishery programs to strengthen ocean resiliency.