The end of single-use toiletries?

With the growing concern about plastic pollution worldwide, the world’s leading hotel companies are banning bathroom miniatures from their rooms.

Now that the hotel industry has embraced bans on plastic straws, travel-sized toiletries seem to be the next plastic items targeted by hotel chains.

In July, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced that its establishments with almost 843 000 guest rooms will remove bathroom miniatures in favour of bulk-size amenities. The brand, which owns Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Kimpton, hopes for a complete transition in favour of bulk-size amenities by the end of 2021. This switch to larger-size amenities across more than 5 600 hotels is a big step to significantly reduce hospitality industry’s environmental impact. Indeed, such hotel chains as IGH use roughly 200 million mini toiletry products each year. By the end of the year, IHG aims to remove plastic straws from all its hotels.

For its part, Marriott International announced last month that it will get rid of single-use toiletries in favor of bulk-size pump-topped bottles by the end of 2020. The larger recyclable bottles will contain the same amount of product as between 10 and 12 tiny bottles. This initiative will save the equivalent of more than 700 000 kg of plastic, that is to say a 30 per cent reduction in the amount of plastic produced in the hotels. This is the second global initiative aimed at reducing single-use plastics.

With IHG and Marriott leading the change, the era of travel-sized tubes of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel is finally coming to an end. This tried-and-tested approach is also part of the guests’ desire of more sustainable stays. However, the reduction of single-use plastics may not be optional in the future: hotel brands will have to take actions for the environment while not sacrificing the quality service and the guests’ experience. Green Key strongly supports the transition from single-use items to dispensers and other solutions and congratulates all Green Key awarded establishments that are taking the step to a plastic free future.

New global Responsible Business training programme for Radisson Hotel Group

Since the launch of its first environmental policy in 1989, Green Key partner Radisson Hotel Group never stopped paying attention to its commitment to sustainable development

Known as “Living and Leading Responsible Business”, the new Responsible Business training programme is set to be rolled out worldwide over the next 16 months. First launched in 2001, the existing Responsible Business training programme has been revamped by a global and cross-departmental team as part of a five-year strategic plan.

The new global Responsible Business training programme provides team members in the near 100 countries where the group operates with the tools they need to drive standards and best practices. Training pilots have been completed to identify how the programme can help driving Responsible Business in every hotel and corporate offices. Moreover, all the participants have the opportunity to know how to put it into practice since the programme is available in 21 languages. Radisson Hotel Group aims to have trained its 1 100+ hotels in operation by the end of 2020.

Our responsibility for People, Community and Planet is borderless, so global alignment on our Responsible Business program is a key driver for Radisson Hotel Group. The new Responsible Business training program aims to engage and align all our team members – helping them to have a stronger impact on our group targets, as well as global efforts to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development goals.”

- Sven Wiltink, Director Responsible Business EMEA and Training Project Lead

This new strategy consists of two pillars: Living Responsible Business and Leading Responsible Business. On the one hand, all hotel team members are invited to follow classroom training. The latter deals with ethics, diversity, inclusion, community support, footprint reduction and sorting waste. More sensitive topics can also be evocated such as sex trafficking and forced labour. On the other hand, an e-learning tool permits group and hotel leaders to discover how Responsible Business can be integrated into all company departments. This part of the programme deals with footprint reduction, youth employability, responsible recruitment and sourcing, such as human rights.

This new Responsible Business training programme is such an inspiring strategy for hospitality establishments which want to be part of a more responsible and sustainable industry.

Radisson Blu Resort Jizan’s responsible initiatives to empower its local community

Radisson Blu Resort Jizan, Saudi Arabia, hosted a charity dinner for orphans during Ramadan last May

On May 29th, Radisson Blu Resorts Jizan hosted a charity Iftar dinner (the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan), welcoming 3 to 14 years old children for this event. The hotel management team joined the kids to share dinner buffet at the hotel’s restaurant after their arrival. This commitment to sharing joy and happiness during the holy month of Ramadan went on later in the evening, when the Hotel Manager, Khaled Alam, handed out gifts to the children. Moreover, a cartoon movie show was also organised after dinner.

Jizan orphanage dinner is part of Radisson’s responsible business activity strategy and its “Think community” pillar. Radisson strives to have a positive impact on its local community through initiatives such as Community Action Month or donations during times of crisis. The latter permits the collecting of clothes, furniture and serving food to the communities affected by the crisis. Thus, Radisson Hotels work to reduce food waste and increase recycling to have both global and local impacts.

The brand is committed to reducing the tourism industry’s negative impact on the environment thanks to environmentally friendly technology, thoughtful sourcing of products and responsible cleaning products. It also supports the involvement of the guests in towel reuse programme to reduce water consumption.

Radisson Hotel Group reported 32 000 volunteering hours in 2018 to benefit local charities around the world. It supports and partners with charitable organizations focusing on giving children food, shelter and a better future. Think community and environmental protection are definitely at the heart of Radisson Responsible business activity!

ACT.Global A/S and Green Key sign collaboration agreement

Green Key is happy to announce our agreement with ACT.Global. ACT.Global’s solution Premium Purity™ safely ensures low-microbial rooms and purified air while reducing the use of toxic chemicals for cleaning and disinfection, water, and plastic in the hospitality industry.

ACT.Global is a Copenhagen-based sustainable technology company that develops and advises about Premium Purity™. 

Premium Purity™ consists of ACT CleanCoat™, and the ACT ECA System™ combined with ACT Consulting and Monitoring.

 ACT CleanCoat™ is a coating based on a safe and advanced technology designed to decompose harmful microbes such as bacteria, virus, airborne mold spores, and chemical compounds such as VOCs and NOx. The coating is transparent, odorless, and can be applied to all types of surfaces. When the coating is exposed to light, a photocatalytic reaction starts, which decomposes microbes and purifies the air. Treating an area with ACT CleanCoat™ enables cleaning with the ACT ECA System™.

 The ACT ECA System™ transforms water and salt into a liquid detergent – ACT ECA Water. ACT ECA Water is produced at the client’s facility, and with ACT ECA Water there is not any need for protective gloves and masks during cleaning as the system replaces strong chemical detergents and disinfectants. The leftover will decompose, and only water and salt remain.

 More information about ACT.Global can be found on their website: www.act.global

Green Key enters collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Green Key to support the world’s largest hotel franchising company’s sustainability efforts across Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa

Green Key, the world’s leading eco-label for the hospitality and travel sector, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts – the world’s largest hotel franchising company with over 9,200 hotels in more than 80 countries – today entered a new collaboration, which will see Green Key help Wyndham’s hotels in Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA) improve sustainability and environmental performance, working towards the prestigious Green Key Award.

Based on compliance with a strict set of criteria that include environmental management, environmental awareness raising and social responsibility, Green Key’s criteria for hotels are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The collaboration will support Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ continued sustainability efforts in the EMEA region, including initiatives to preserve natural resources, solutions to mitigate the impact on climate change through linen and towel reuse programmes, energy efficient lighting, recycling and water conservation. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also exploring long-term sustainability targets in alignment with the latest climate science including the encouragement of renewable energy where feasible.

Green Key’s application, audit and award process is standardised with a third-party verification of the award, a leading standard of excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation in the tourism industry. Wyndham hotels in the EMEA region will work closely with Green Key in a bid to join the eco-label’s 3,100 awarded establishments in almost 60 countries around the world.

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, said: “We are extremely proud to be an official cooperation partner of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The Company’s commitment to sustainability strongly match Green Key’s expertise and we look forward to supporting its broad range of hotels in EMEA in further advancing their efforts.”

Edwin Broers, Vice President Central Operations Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA, added: “Sustainability and environmental performance are crucial for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts,  and we are committed to providing our guests with places to stay that are socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible. Many of our hotels across the EMEA region are engaged in a broad range of sustainability initiatives, and we look forward to continuing this work in cooperation with Green Key.” 

For more information, please contact:

Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director, e-mail finn@fee.global and phone +45 61248082

About Green Key

Green Key is the world’s leading eco-label for hotels and other tourism facilities with more than 3,100 awarded establishments in almost 60 countries around the world. The Green Key award is based on compliance with a strict set of criteria that include environmental management, environmental awareness raising and social responsibility. Green Key’s criteria for hotels and hostels are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Green Key’s application, audit and award process is standardised with a third-party verification of the award.

 About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company, with approximately 9,200 hotels across more than 80 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 817,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveller, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 20 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Ramada Encore®, TRYP by Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection®, Wyndham® and more. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services, with more than 400 properties under management. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards® loyalty programme offers over 77 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at tens of thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.

Apply principles of the circular economy with green cleaning products

The Green Key member toolbox now shows a new tool for those interesting in new puzzle pieces to a circular economy strategy.

Green Key establishments now have access to a short assessment of carbon and plastic savings to be made by using green cleaning products. The calculator helps estimating the environmental footprint of the sites’ conventional cleaning products. Establishments can calculate how much plastic waste and crude oil products can be avoided by applying circular economy principles. This tool developed by Werner & Mertz and powered by Green Care Professional is now available in the “washing and cleaning” section of Green Key website’s toolbox.

Green Care products’ components provided by Werner & Metz are coming out of renewable sources. The packaging is also made out of 100% recycled plastic - a good way to save crude oil, plastic and CO2 emissions. These products received the European Ecolabel and Cradle-to-Cradle logo, a certification measuring the safety and sustainability of products made for circular economy.

Some of the Green Key establishments have already switched to Green Care Professional products. For instance, Wildlands adventure zoo at Emmen, Netherlands, opted for a complete green strategy. Their use of Green Care cleaning products in the past six months permitted the saving of 17kg of plastic and 177kg in CO2 emissions.

Furthermore, this CO2 neutral site replaced plastic cups by cups made out of bamboo, since the latter is available in large quantities. Wildlands saves millions of litres of drinking water thanks to its own water treatment plant and uses renewable energy from solar panels. Wildlands Nature and Education Fund purchased 23 hectares of tropical rain forest in Costa Rica in order to brainstorm regarding the development in and around the park. A “children’s council of advice” has been created to involve kids into this thinking process, proving that education has not been forgotten.

Molecaten’s camping and vacation parks are other examples of circular economy in green washing and cleaning. Five of the establishments received the Green Key award thanks to their significant reducing of CO2 emissions. It also rewards their solar panels, energy-saving lamps and timers for air-conditioning and heating. Their use of Green Care products is presented to the clients to emphasize the holistic green concept of the parks, as guests expect an ecologic management approach.

Green Key establishments using sustainable energy resources and green cleaning products contribute a lot to the development of a sustainable tourism industry!

Green Key guesthouse equipped with the latest green technology

Located in Snowdonia North Wales’ stunning landscape, this carbon neutral guest house is managed by one of the first people in the UK to put solar panels on the family home.

Since the beginning of this new business in 2006, the owners John and Celia placed sustainability at the heart of the project. Built in 1883, Bryn Elltyd now is equipped with some of the latest green technology thanks to the owner’s skills and experience as former aircraft engineer and technology teacher.

Bryn Elltyd Eco Guest House does not skimp on responsible practices to protect the natural environment. It is powered completely by renewable energy thanks to a computer run biomass boiler and two solar water heating arrays supplying the heating and electricity to the guest house. Moreover, this energy also powers three electric car charging points and a sauna. All this valuable heat is kept within the guesthouse thanks to external and internal insulation including sheep’s wool and two conservatories.

Seasonal fruit and vegetables are produced in an allotment where water comes from rainwater. Afterwards, 80% of the food and drinks are sourced from within 13 miles of the property. Guests cannot find more local free range eggs, sausages and bacon!

Bryn Elltyd is a central and ideal place for exploring Snowdonia and the rest of the North Wales. Consequently, its owners encourage visitors to use one of the many bike trails in the area to enjoy the Moelwyn mountains or the close hydro lake. This Green Key awarded establishment leaves nothing to chance!

Wales’ first contemporary art hotel ends up with Green Key

One of the finest hotels in Wales, the Twr y Felin Hotel, makes a difference on an environmental and sustainability level.

Situated in a restored and extended windmill, Twr y Felin strived to develop a sustainability policy since its opening in 2016. Located in Britain’s smallest city, the hotel provides a complete retreat for guests close to St David’s cathedral and world-class beaches. It also proposes several options to discover the surroundings of the city by bike.

Furthermore, this singular hotel is Wales’ first contemporary art hotel. During your stay, you can easily discover over 100 original artworks from Welsh, British and International artists inspired by the local area .  

This 2017-18 AA Hotel of the Year (Wales) combines art, welsh food and responsible practices. Its restaurant, Blas (“Taste” in Welsh), offers local and seasonal dishes. This practice reduces food miles since the ingredients come from the surrounding countryside and coast, permitting to reflect Welsh heart. Moreover, this two Rosette restaurant fits all dietary requirements such as vegetarian, dairy free and vegan diets.

We are delighted to be awarded the Green Key, which demonstrates our ethos of ensuring that our environmental footprint is as light as possible. We feel responsible for the impact we have on the world and are passionate about adopting initiatives that will reduce this.

– Group General Manager of Twr y Felin Hotel, Roch Castle and Penrhiw

The Twr y Felin adheres to Green Key strict criteria since it is promoting the reducing of water and energy, the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products and sustainably sourced food products. It is now a leading business in the field of environmental responsibility and has a strong desire to positively influence the direction of the tourism industry.

No doubt, this new Green Key establishment knows how to match the luxury and environmental protection.     

Morena Resort promotes alternatives to single-use plastic bottles

This summer, a water refill station has been introduced on Morena Resort, Curacao. An initiative to say goodbye to your no re-usable plastic bottles!

Morena Resort´s Water Refill Program is aligned with Morena´s desire to be recognized as an eco-resort. Indeed, this Green Key awarded establishment has been built with environmentally sustainable materials from regional fair-trade cooperatives and uses low environmental impact techniques such as solar water heater on its roofs. This new element available for the tourists is a reusable bottle called D-TAP. It has been introduced by D-Bottle, a brand promoting steel reusable bottles to reduce single-use of plastic.

Moreover, the guests have the possibility the (re)fill it at the Resort´s D-TAP water refill station or the others Curacao´s ones. A D-TAP phone App permits to find nearby Refill location. With Google maps, you can easily find clean water everywhere you go! Guests don´t have any excuses for not getting rid of their single-use plastic bottle.

Since 1,4 million tourists visit Curacao each year, having a refill station could be a great way to raise awareness about the single-use plastic´s dangers for the planet. For that, guests can purchase a special D-Bottle at the Resort´s reception, knowing that 5% of each D-TAP bottle bought will be donated to the Sea Turtle Conservation Curacao.

Over 1 million plastic bottle are purchased every minute worldwide and nearly 80% of these end up in our landfills and oceans. At this rate, the amount of single-use plastic ending up in our oceans will outweigh fish by 2050, unless we make a change.

- D-Bottle website