Across Spain, coastal areas show a growing commitment to sustainability as hotels and venues adopt greener practices. A recent report released this Wednesday by Ecovidrio, the nonprofit organization that oversees glass waste recycling, examines how coastal accommodations are integrating eco-friendly measures.
The study focuses on the sustainability status of seaside establishments along Spain’s Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. It covers Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Community, the Region of Murcia, and Andalusia. To gather data, from June 1 to July 15, a cadre of 100 environmental educators from Ecovidrio visited and interviewed 10,394 hospitality businesses in person.
The findings form part of the #GreenFlagsMovement initiative. This program aims to map how widely efficiency programs are adopted in energy use, waste handling, water management, and responsible consumption. By late summer, EcoVidio will recognize the nine most advanced organizations in environmental management.
Overall, the coastal hotel sector earned an index score that Ecovidrio describes as mid-range, with 6.8 out of 10 signaling there is substantial room for improvement. The Valencian Community leads with 7.08 and Catalonia closely follows at 7.06. In the other regions surveyed, Murcia sits at 6.9, the Balearic Islands at 6.6, and Andalusia at 6.3.
Energy use stands out as the strongest area, followed by water management and waste handling, each hovering around the high seven range. Overall, nearly eight out of ten establishments show solid progress in energy management, with hoteliers performing best in this category. Responsible consumption records the lowest score, at about five out of ten.
When breaking down by operation type, hotels top the chart with a 7.8 out of 10, followed by restaurants at 7.1, cafes at 6.6, and entertainment venues including casinos at 6.4. Nightlife spots rank lowest at 6.1.
In waste management, the index reaches strong results with a 7.1 rating, alongside an average waste awareness among respondents. About 95% of managers report correct sorting of cooking oil and glass, while paper and cardboard sorting stands at 83.5%, light packaging at 81.5%, and the organic fraction only 44.4%.
As part of a push toward circular economy and reduced waste, 84.6% of hospitality businesses already use reusable glass packaging. The survey also shows fewer than 40% have put in place measures to curb food waste, which remains a frequent area of focus for improvements.
Among startups presenting ideas, roughly a third showcased innovations related to using containers like Tupperware to donate leftovers or distribute unsold food to NGOs or staff.
Catalonia records the strongest waste management performance with 8.1 points out of 10, followed by the Balearic Islands at 7.8. The Valencian Community scores 6.6, Andalusia 6.3, and the Region of Murcia 6.1.
energy and water
On energy, nearly eight in ten coastal establishments already practice efficiency measures. Hotels lead with 9.3 out of 10, ahead of cafes at 8.3, restaurants at 8.1, other venues at 7.4, and nightlife spots at 6.5.
Common practices include LED lighting, motion sensors, timed lighting, and regulating air conditioning. The study notes at least 98 facilities currently feature solar panels, and another 45 are exploring installation options.
Murcia leads in energy efficiency with 9.2 and the Valencian Community follows at 9.1, while Andalusia sits at 7.7 out of 10.
In water use, hoteliers score highly, with 7.3 out of 10 on the global index. About 73% of businesses already implement water-saving practices. Leading measures include installing diffusers, faucet aerators, and timers in bathrooms and kitchens; maximizing appliance loads; using double-dispenser setups; and employing water sources such as osmosis or reusable jars.
The Region of Murcia earns 9 out of 10 in water efficiency, followed by the Valencian Community at 8.6, while Catalonia trails at 6.8.