Puntacana Resort and Club: garbage, zero waste and the challenges of enrolling other (environmental) allies

Learning outcomes This paper aims to discuss shared value creation (Porter & Kramer, 2011) tenets around the environment. The investments of a company in the improvement of the environment may significantly preserve natural assets and keep tourists coming. At the same time, environmental projects such as Zero Waste-target may protect the vicinity and insure future employment for the inhabitants of the community. Case overview/synopsis Grupo Puntacana, one of the largest tourist organizations in eastern Dominican Republic, decided to protect its beaches, coral reefs and, ultimately, its investments, by addressing land-based pollution. It established a “Zero Waste” disposal system. The system to be implemented required significant knowledge, several investments and implementation phases. The case describes key stages of the environmental management of this Zero Waste target project. Every residential unit, each shop and the airport public areas were equipped with facilities for waste or recycling. Restaurants and hotels were actively involved. Significant facilities for waste management were put in place, as well as educational efforts. The project was entirely undertaken by this private institution, without any government involvement (other than the legal exoneration of import duties for equipment used to protect the environment). But despite the progress, there were worries. No meaningful results would be achieved if other actors and communities in the area did not enroll actively in similar actions – Grupo Puntacana’s efforts would not be sufficient to save the eastern Dominican beaches and coastal areas. How could others see the benefit of this or related environmental management initiatives and proactively join them? Complexity academic level Undergraduate, MBA, executive and postgraduate. Supplementary material Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS4: Environmental Management.