Plastic waste management in the hotel sector: a bibliographic mapping analysis for the case of Mallorca

Abstract

[eng] This research analysed the role of the hotel sector in the issue of plastic pollution through a bibliographic coupling study. The present study is remarkably appropriate for mature tourist destinations such as the island of Mallorca to understand the role of the hotel sector in plastic waste and the following steps to prevent plastic pollution caused by tourism activity. This study finds that the literature on plastic pollution and the hotel sector is relatively scarce, and more research on the topic is crucial. Moreover, the current literature has focused excessively on strategies for recycling and disposal, when they should give more significance to preventing and reducing plastic waste. The economic benefits from promoting sustainability in the hotel sector would be numerous since plastic pollution damages the industry in various ways, including loss of revenue. Therefore, more awareness of the topic is needed, along with a detailed framework for the hotel industry to follow. This research grants an immense contribution to the field since it analyses the current literature on plastic waste in the hotel sector and outlines a path for appropriate future research.