Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI) yesterday announced that it has distributed more than 300 water bottles to its staff to utilise, instead of disposable plastic cups, at water fountains in its 13 branches islandwide.

The move, the company explained, forms part of its contribution to reducing the use of single-use plastics as the momentum for environmentally-friendly practices builds globally.

According to ICWI President Paul Lalor, it was crucial for the company, which is now celebrating its 50th anniversary, to take action in light of the devastating effects that plastic has on the environment.

“As a risk management entity we see directly the impact of not enough emphasis being placed on humans playing their part for a cleaner earth, therefore, this is a natural step for us as we work on becoming a more environmentally-friendly company,” an ICWI release quotes Lalor.

“Global warming is not fiction, and as the temperatures of our oceans continue to climb, so will the occurrences of stronger hurricanes in our region,” he said.

Pointing out that last year the Caribbean experienced its worst ever hurricane season, Lalor said it was only natural for ICWI to play its part in helping to alleviate this global phenomenon.

The release highlighted Recycling Partners of Jamaica data showing that between March 2014 and March 2017, a total of 3.3 million pounds of plastics — or well over 100 million bottles — have been recovered from the environment in Jamaica.

Those figures, Lalor said, are alarming because of the effect of plastic pollution on the island’s beaches and shorelines.

“We are working on enacting behaviour change from within our company as we want to help raise awareness and help others to choose to refuse plastic shopping bags, straws, takeaway containers and coffee cups,” he said, and encouraged other corporate entities to play their part in facilitating a cleaner environment.

“I admire the companies that have consistently placed recycling at the forefront of their corporate social responsibility and I urge others to spread awareness about the ways in which we can all play our part to keep earth green for our generation and the generations to come,” he said.