Next year Surfrider will officially launch an Ocean Friendly Hotels (OFH) Program to recognize hotels that are cutting out single-use plastic and offer a simple framework to help them reach their Ocean Friendly goals. This program will function similarly to our nationally recognized and successful Ocean Friendly Restaurants Program, where hotels must follow a set of mandatory and optional criteria that focuses on single-use plastic reduction, energy and water conservation, and more.
To raise awareness about the upcoming program and test out the waters, we’ve leaned on hotels that our chapters work closely with and abide by the OFH criteria to join us in a “soft launch.” The latest hotel to join our soft launch is The Ranch at Laguna Beach! The Ranch is a sustainability leader in the community and has been a huge supporter of the South OC Chapter for many years.
To celebrate this exciting addition, The Surfrider South OC Chapter hosted a Holiday OFR and OFH Mixer on December 7, 2023. This event was open to members, volunteers, and local attendees. Here, the chapter highlighted the accomplishments of the Ranch’s OFRs including Platinum Level “Harvest” as well as OFRs “The Porch” and “Lost Pier Cafe.” They also announced the Ranch’s addition to the Ocean Friendly Hotels Program soft launch.
Harvest, an OFR at the Ranch at Laguna Beach
The Ranch at Laguna Beach’s Ocean Friendly Practices:
- No plastic beverage bottles or plastic bags are sold or used onsite.
- No expanded polystyrene is used anywhere onsite (aka Styrofoam).
- Cups, utensils, straws, condiments, and other accessory items in rooms are reusable or made from naturally occurring materials and are not packaged in plastic.
- Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, etc.) are not packaged in small plastic bottles.
- Water refill stations are available for guests onsite.
- Restaurants onsite are Surfrider Ocean Friendly Restaurants.
- Proper solid waste recycling procedures are followed and bins are amply provided for guest use.
- Coffee and tea stations do not use single-use pods or plastic packaging in rooms.
- Concessions and pre-packaged food items are not sold or distributed in plastic packaging, including in room mini bars.
- Room keys are reusable or made from naturally occurring materials.
- Energy efficiency efforts are in place.
- Water conservation and pollution mitigation efforts are implemented.
- Inspired by Surfrider Kauai Chapter’s Ocean Friendly Visitors Program, solo trash cleanup kits are available for guests.
- Light pollution is minimized by all outdoor lighting following Dark Sky practices.