Proud Source Water, a company that specializes in sustainably bottled and packaged spring water, partnered recently with Hyatt Centric Key West to conduct a marine debris cleanup effort at Rest Beach in the Key West Nature Preserve.
The initiative is part of Proud Source Water’s Proud Planet project, a community-based program focused on removing waste and promoting sustainability. It involves local cleanups, partnering with communities and using 100% recyclable aluminum bottles to minimize plastic waste. The project aims to help the environment and promote responsible consumption.
More than 30 volunteers, equipped with special cleaning kits, gathered to collect and remove all non-biodegradable waste littering Rest Beach. The effort, conducted under the guidance and supervision of Reef Relief, resulted in the removal of over 120 pounds of debris, primarily consisting of microplastics, which are a deadly barrier for the sea turtle ecosystem in the preserve.
“We have a responsibility as a consumer-packaged goods company to collect what we put out into the world,” said Michael Boyd, president of Proud Source Water. “Proud Planet project is a progressive and innovative program built on partnerships with community-focused organizations like Hyatt Centric Key West that gather and engage the local community in efforts to minimize the damaging footprint humans can leave on our planet’s greatest resources.”
“As a premier resort destination, our pristine beaches and vibrant marine life are integral to the breathtaking natural ecosystem we proudly share with our guests,” said Hyatt Centric Key West general manager Hector Ortiz. “Through our partnership with the Proud Planet project, Hyatt Centric Key West is able to combat the real-world consequences of marine debris while acting as stewards for the environment to further build sustainability throughout the Key West Community.”
Proud Planet project is part of an on-going relationship between Proud Source Water and Hyatt Centric Key West built on environmental responsibility and sustainability efforts. In 2023, the pair launched the Infinite Bottle project. The initiative reclaims and recycles aluminum collected on the resort property and the surrounding Key West community. That project has recycled over 4,300 pounds of aluminum, going a long way toward meeting Hyatt Centric Key West’s goal of becoming a true single-use plastic-free resort. It has also raised awareness and support for Reef Relief’s mission of protecting and preserving the Great Florida Reef, the only living coral barrier reef in North America.
