Disney’s Environmental Influence
Tags: Environment, Disney, Earth, Theme Parks, Conservation

Disney. The name may bring back memories of churros wafting from Main Street, the anticipation of a ride on Splash Mountain, or the sweet and salty scent of fresh-popped corn. Unless you’ve never been to a Disney park, and in that case, I’ll be praying for you.

Being twice the size of Manhattan, Walt Disney World is home to four theme parks, two water parks, two hundred restaurants, and thirty-three resorts across the board. With millions of guests walking through their gates every year, it’s obvious that their use of natural resources is staggering. Here’s how the company is taking strides to lessen its environmental impact and invest in the health of our planet.

Waste, Water, and Electricity

Disney has adopted the reduce, reuse, recycle mindset, finding creative ways to use the least amount of resources as possible. For example, single-use plastics and straws have been eliminated at all locales, saving an estimated 175 million straws and thirteen million stirrers annually. Another initiative is saving leftover cooking oil from their kitchens to help power busses, railroads, and boats that operate around the resort. They have a large plant at Disney World that mixes food scraps with biosolids, eventually turning it into energy. Eighty percent of their lights are LEDs, and they have kept their water usage flat since 2013, despite a steady increase in crowd levels.

Animal Kingdom — More than a Zoo

Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is the perfect combination of a park — exhilarating and hi-tech rides meshed with awe-inspiring animal encounters. Some of their rides even include animals, for example, Kiliminjaro Safaris, featuring species such as elephants, giraffes, alligators, endangered white rhinos, and more. These animals aren’t entirely for the entertainment of guests, but for Disney’s highly-respected rehabilitation and breeding programs. Unlike some zoos, Disney is very selective about their caregivers; strict standards and restrictions are in place. Rest assured, you can walk around the park with a Dole Whip in hand free of a guilty conscience.

Disney Nature

Disney Nature is an independent film unit of the Walt Disney Company that produces documentaries based on nature. It’s a playful, educational narrative that shows real-life footage without upsetting younger audiences. The movies encourage responsibility for our planet. The franchise has produced ten documentaries so far with no sign of stopping.

Disney Conservation Fund

The Disney Conservation Fund gives grants every year for various causes; last year six million dollars were raised and donated to eighty different wildlife organizations. Founded in 1995, almost eighty-six million dollars have been distributed. One way money is raised is from small souvenirs around the parks such as pressed pennies.

Conclusion

Disney is becoming greener every year and taking big strides to become more sustainable. You can visit their parks and resorts without supporting an environmentally indifferent company, feeling free to buy a souvenir on your way out.

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