- March 7, 2026
- Posted by: Amaya Emmanuel
- Categories: Blue Policy Series Insights, Maritime & Blue Economy
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Toward a Circular Blue Economy: Strengthening Material Systems Across Caribbean Maritime Sectors
Across the Caribbean, maritime industries, fisheries, and coastal tourism continue to anchor national economies. These sectors shape employment, trade, and community livelihoods, and they influence how island societies interact with the ocean. Ports move goods and people, tourism sustains thousands of small and medium enterprises, and fisheries support food security and cultural identity. These activities also generate complex waste streams that move through coastal spaces every day. Plastics, packaging, food waste, operational residues, and discarded gear circulate through ports, hotels, cruise vessels, and fishing operations. When national waste systems struggle to manage these flows, materials escape into the marine environment, creating ecological and economic pressures that are increasingly difficult for small island states to absorb.
The region’s structural constraints intensify this challenge. Caribbean states have limited land availability for landfill expansion, high import dependence, and waste systems that were not designed for the volume or composition of modern materials. UNEP estimates that the Latin America and Caribbean region produces more than 541,000 tonnes of waste daily, with the Caribbean contributing over 10,000 tonnes per day (UNEP, 2023). Plastics represent a growing share of this waste stream, and marine litter has become visible across coastlines, mangroves, and nearshore fisheries grounds. The World Bank notes that small island developing states face some of the highest per‑capita waste generation rates globally, driven by tourism, consumption patterns, and limited recycling infrastructure (World Bank, 2018).
These pressures are not abstract environmental concerns. They affect the competitiveness of ports, the marketability of tourism destinations, and the productivity of fisheries. Marine debris damages coral reefs and seagrass beds, reduces fish stocks, and undermines the natural assets that support the region’s blue economy. For tourism‑dependent states, polluted beaches and coastal waters translate directly into reputational risk and revenue loss. For ports, inadequate waste reception systems can affect compliance with international standards and influence investor confidence. For fisheries, ghost gear continues to entangle marine life and reduce catch potential long after it is lost.
In this context, the circular economy offers a practical and economically grounded pathway for Caribbean industries. The circular economy refers to an economic model designed to keep materials in productive use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2019). It contrasts with the traditional linear model of “take, make, dispose,” which assumes unlimited resources and unlimited space for waste. For small island states, circularity is not a theoretical concept; it is a strategic response to material constraints, environmental vulnerability, and the rising expectations of investors, travellers, and global supply chains.
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In this short video, Ariel Miller, Communications & Creative Design Specialist explore why cold‑chain losses persist across the Caribbean despite growing use of IoT devices and smart sensors. Drawing on regional realities, Ariel explains how data alone does not prevent spoilage unless institutions have the governance frameworks, coordination mechanisms, and decision‑making authority to act on it.
IoT & Smart Sensors in Cold Chain Logistics
The Caribbean’s Emerging Circular Momentum
Across the region, governments, development partners, and private actors have begun to explore circular approaches. The Cartagena Convention’s Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land‑Based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol) provides a regional framework for controlling land‑based pollution, including solid waste and plastics (UNEP CEP, 2020). The Caribbean Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter supports coordination, data sharing, and policy development across member states (UNEP CEP, 2021). The Caribbean Node for Marine Litter, hosted by UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme, strengthens regional knowledge exchange and supports national marine litter strategies.
Several cities and ports are participating in the GEF‑funded LAC Cities Project, which aims to redesign plastic use and strengthen circular value chains in Kingston, Montego Bay, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Panama City, and Colón (GEF, 2022). The Zero Waste in the Caribbean initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented with UNEP, GIZ, AFD, and the OECS, is supporting legislative reform, piloting new waste technologies, and building a regional circular economy policy structure (UNEP, 2024). At the World Circular Economy Forum 2025, Caribbean states highlighted national waste bans, circular business models, and recycling innovations, signalling a growing regional commitment to zero‑waste transitions.
These initiatives demonstrate that the region is not starting from zero. They also reveal a pattern: most efforts remain fragmented, project‑based, and uneven across sectors. The private sector—particularly ports, tourism operators, and fisheries—has a critical role to play in moving from isolated pilots to integrated operational systems.
Ports: Designing Circularity into Maritime Operations
Ports are central nodes in the region’s material flows. They receive ship‑generated waste, manage cargo‑related packaging, and influence how materials move through national supply chains. MARPOL Annex V establishes international requirements for the management of garbage from ships, including plastics, food waste, and operational residues (IMO, 2022). Compliance is essential, but compliance alone does not create circular systems.
A circular approach to port operations involves several shifts. First, ports can adopt digital tracking systems for ship‑generated waste, improving transparency and reducing the risk of illegal discharge. Second, ports can strengthen segregation systems for plastics, oils, organics, and packaging, ensuring that materials are sorted at the point of receipt. Third, ports can develop partnerships with recycling and recovery companies, creating pathways for materials to be transformed rather than landfilled. Fourth, ports can set internal waste‑reduction targets and integrate circularity into procurement, maintenance, and infrastructure planning.
Some Caribbean ports have begun exploring these approaches. The Port of Cartagena has piloted improved waste reception and segregation systems as part of its environmental management program. The Port Authority of Jamaica has integrated environmental performance indicators into its operations, including waste management and pollution control. These examples illustrate what is possible when ports view circularity as part of operational excellence rather than an external obligation.
Tourism and Cruise Operations: Reducing Waste at the Source
Tourism facilities generate high volumes of single‑use plastics, packaging, and food waste. Hotels, restaurants, and cruise vessels rely on imported goods, much of which arrives in disposable packaging. Circular strategies in tourism focus on reducing waste at the source through procurement and supply chain design.
Hotels can adopt refillable systems for toiletries and cleaning products, reducing the need for single‑use containers. Bulk procurement agreements can reduce packaging volumes and encourage suppliers to adopt reusable or recyclable materials. Partnerships with local recycling enterprises can strengthen domestic value chains and reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill. Food‑waste reduction programs, supported by digital monitoring tools, can reduce costs and environmental impacts.
Cruise lines have begun implementing waste‑reduction measures, including eliminating certain single‑use plastics and improving onboard segregation systems. However, the scale of cruise operations in the Caribbean means that continued innovation is essential. Circular procurement, material recovery partnerships, and transparent reporting can help cruise operators align with global sustainability expectations and strengthen their social licence in host communities.
Fisheries: Addressing Ghost Gear and Material Recovery
The fisheries sector presents another opportunity for circular innovation. Lost and abandoned fishing gear—often referred to as ghost gear—remains in the marine environment for years, entangling marine life and damaging habitats. The FAO estimates that ghost gear accounts for a significant share of marine plastic pollution globally (FAO, 2016; FAO, 2021). Circular approaches in fisheries focus on gear recovery, repair, and recycling.
Deposit‑return systems can incentivise fishers to return damaged gear. Community‑based collection programs can support recovery efforts, particularly in small‑scale fisheries. Recycling initiatives can transform damaged gear into new materials, creating local economic opportunities. Regional fisheries bodies, including the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), have begun exploring gear‑management strategies that align with circular principles.
The Business Case for Circularity
Circular strategies offer tangible business advantages. Companies that reduce waste streams often lower operational costs, reduce exposure to environmental liabilities, and strengthen their reputation with customers and investors. Development banks and private financiers increasingly assess environmental performance when evaluating infrastructure and tourism investments. The Inter‑American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank have both integrated environmental and social performance criteria into their financing frameworks, including waste management and resource efficiency (IDB, 2023; CDB, 2022).
For private sector organisations, circularity is not a compliance exercise; it is a competitiveness strategy. It positions companies to meet the expectations of travellers, investors, and global supply chains. It also aligns with emerging regulatory trends, including extended producer responsibility, plastic bans, and waste‑reduction targets.
A Practical Roadmap for Private Sector Organisations
The transition to circularity begins internally. Organisations must map material flows, identify where waste is generated, and determine where materials can be reused or recovered. Internal circularity policies help set reduction targets, align procurement with circular principles, and integrate monitoring and reporting systems.
Partnership development is the next step. Circular systems require collaboration across supply chains. Ports may need to work with logistics companies, recyclers, and shipping operators. Hotels may need to partner with suppliers and waste management providers. Fisheries may need to collaborate with gear manufacturers and community groups.
Implementation and monitoring complete the transition. Circular programs must translate policy commitments into practical actions, including waste‑reduction programs, material recovery initiatives, and digital monitoring systems. Staff training, operational integration, and continuous improvement are essential. Professional services and technical expertise can support organisations in designing circular policies, structuring partnership agreements, and implementing programs that align with both environmental objectives and operational realities.
Conclusion: A Circular Future for Caribbean Maritime Economies
The circular economy offers a practical, economically grounded pathway for Caribbean maritime industries, tourism operators, and fisheries stakeholders. It provides a framework for reducing waste, protecting marine environments, and strengthening economic resilience. The region has already begun this journey through regional frameworks, national policies, and sector initiatives. The next step is scaling from projects to systems, from pilots to policy, and from isolated initiatives to integrated circular operations.
Caribbean businesses that embed circular principles into their operations today will be better positioned to navigate future regulatory changes, meet investor expectations, and compete in a global economy that increasingly values sustainability. The transition will require commitment, collaboration, and innovation, but the benefits—for the environment, for communities, and for the region’s economic future—are substantial.
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References:
1. Marine Litter, Waste Systems & Circularity
Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2019). Completing the picture: How the circular economy tackles climate change.
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/completing-the-picture
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/completing-the-picture
United Nations Environment Programme. (2021). From pollution to solution: A global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution.
https://www.unep.org/resources/pollution-solution-global-assessment-marine-litter-and-plastic-pollution
https://www.unep.org/resources/pollution-solution-global-assessment-marine-litter-and-plastic-pollution
United Nations Environment Programme. (2023). Waste management outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean.
https://www.unep.org/resources/report/waste-management-outlook-latin-america-and-caribbean
https://www.unep.org/resources/report/waste-management-outlook-latin-america-and-caribbean
World Bank. (2018). What a waste 2.0: A global snapshot of solid waste management to 2050.
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30317
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30317
2. Ports, Maritime Operations & Regulatory Frameworks
International Maritime Organization. (2022). MARPOL Annex V: Prevention of pollution by garbage from ships.
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Garbage-Default.aspx
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/Garbage-Default.aspx
United Nations Environment Programme Caribbean Environment Programme. (2021). Regional action plan for marine litter in the wider Caribbean region.
https://www.unep.org/cep/resources/report/regional-marine-litter-management-strategy
https://www.unep.org/cep/resources/report/regional-marine-litter-management-strategy
United Nations Environment Programme Caribbean Environment Programme. (2020). Protocol concerning pollution from land-based sources and activities (LBS Protocol).
https://www.unep.org/cep/resources/policy-and-strategy/lbs-protocol-text
https://www.unep.org/cep/resources/policy-and-strategy/lbs-protocol-text
3. Fisheries, Ghost Gear & Marine Debris
Food and Agriculture Organization. (2016). Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear.
https://www.fao.org/3/i5051e/i5051e.pdf
https://www.fao.org/3/i5051e/i5051e.pdf
Food and Agriculture Organization. (2021). Report on good practices to prevent and reduce marine plastic litter from fishing activities.
https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/c98a5475-05ac-48b5-b60c-126a1dde1d48
https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/c98a5475-05ac-48b5-b60c-126a1dde1d48
Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism. (2020). Marine litter and ghost gear initiatives.
https://www.crfm.int/~uwohxjxf/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=768:crfm-and-gggi-sign-mou-to-combat-ghost-gear-in-the-caribbean&Itemid=179
https://www.crfm.int/~uwohxjxf/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=768:crfm-and-gggi-sign-mou-to-combat-ghost-gear-in-the-caribbean&Itemid=179
4. Tourism, Cruise Sector & Sustainable Operations
Caribbean Tourism Organization. (2022). Tourism performance and outlook report.
https://www.onecaribbean.org/statistics/tourism-performance-report/
https://www.onecaribbean.org/statistics/tourism-performance-report/
United Nations Environment Programme. (2020). Sustainable tourism in small island developing states: Waste reduction and circularity approaches.
https://www.unep.org/resources/report/sustainable-tourism-small-island-developing-states
https://www.unep.org/resources/report/sustainable-tourism-small-island-developing-states
5. Financing, ESG & Investment Criteria
Caribbean Development Bank. (2022). Environmental and social review procedures.
https://www.caribank.org/publications-and-resources/resource-library/policies/environmental-and-social-review-procedures
https://www.caribank.org/publications-and-resources/resource-library/policies/environmental-and-social-review-procedures
Inter-American Development Bank. (2023). Environmental and social policy framework.
https://www.iadb.org/en/esg/environmental-and-social-policy-framework
https://www.iadb.org/en/esg/environmental-and-social-policy-framework
6. Regional Circular Economy & Zero Waste Initiatives
Global Environment Facility. (2022). Circular economy and sustainable plastics management in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC Cities Project).
https://www.thegef.org/projects-operations/projects/10279
https://www.thegef.org/projects-operations/projects/10279
GIZ. (2023). Circular economy in the Caribbean: Regional approaches and pilot initiatives.
https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/103207.html
https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/103207.html
OECS Commission. (2023). Blue economy and circularity initiatives in the Eastern Caribbean.
https://oecs.org/en/our-work/blue-economy
https://oecs.org/en/our-work/blue-economy
United Nations Environment Programme. (2024). Zero Waste in the Caribbean: Programme overview.
https://www.unep.org/regions/latin-america-and-caribbean/regional-initiatives/zero-waste-caribbean
https://www.unep.org/regions/latin-america-and-caribbean/regional-initiatives/zero-waste-caribbean
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