Hospitality industry against the plastic waste

Plastic is one of the most utilized and revolutionary inventions of all time, but its waste has become a big issue for the environment. Because of the low production cost and versatility of applications, plastic is widely utilized in almost every type of industry. The world is now producing around 300 million tons of plastic per year. It pollutes the environment in general and about 8 million tons of waste are discarded into the oceans.

A study shows that if we analyze plastic bottles alone, a million of them are bought around the world per minute. The demand is driven by the Western culture of always being “on the go” which has spread to Asian countries. Most of these bottles are made from highly recyclable plastic (Pet), but as consumption increases at a fast pace around the world, the efforts to collect and recycle have not been able to keep up and prevent pollution.

Because of that, major companies started getting conscientious about reducing plastic waste, considering it never fully degenerates. If we analyze the market as a whole, many segments have already started working towards the reduction or elimination of plastic products. Supermarkets are ditching single-use plastic bags and restaurants have stopped providing plastic straws, for example. In the hospitality industry, the habit of single-use plastics is all about convenience: it is a durable and flexible material and it addresses hygienic concerns, considering the heavy focus on comfort and convenience for the guests when providing services. However, there are ways to combat these problems.

Although businesses have been trying to increase efforts in the recycling area, something else needs to be done. The hospitality industry is now moving forward with the plastic elimination movement, opting to phase out single-use plastic products, reducing waste and protecting the environment. The most recent changes came from big hotel chains starting to replace individually wrapped hotel amenities (soap, shampoo, conditioner, and others) with refillable and reusable dispensers.

One of the most important factors for these changes is the dependability the hospitality industry has on tourism resources – city, landscapes, reserves, beaches, and marine ecosystems among others – to keep attracting tourists and running the business. Another factor is that nowadays guests are increasingly considering environmental aspects when choosing establishments. Therefore, establishments have to adapt to this new trend, and there are advantages to that: cost savings on inputs, reusing and recycling options, reduced environmental risks, and brand enhancement opportunities, of course, help preserve the environment.

To keep up with the hospitality industry changes and protect the environment, Omland Hospitality is launching its new dispenser program. It is composed of a non-disposable metal bracket that utilizes larger bottles instead of those small disposable shampoo and body wash bottles.

Omland’s stainless steel dispenser is a non-disposable wall-mounted bracket for one, two, or three bottles, resulting in less plastic usage. The refillable and reusable plastic bottles fit 400 ml of body wash, shampoo, or conditioner, work with a pump, and are all easily recyclable. The bracket is adjustable according to the bottle size, and because it is wall mounted, it is also anti-thief. The simple and flexible design makes it easier for the housekeeping staff to refill and clean. Many bottle designs are available to better suit your hotel decoration.

The dispenser includes two fixing stainless steel screws and an adjustable back plate that moves up and down to fit different bottle sizes and styles, it is then locked in place with an Allen key. It allows you to wall mount body wash, shampoo, conditioner, or lotion in an easily accessible, mess and waste-free method. The bracket is made out of stainless steel and is rustproof and has been designed to last, suiting showers and other wet areas of hotel washrooms, even the laundry room and others.

Many major hotel chains have announced the elimination process for small plastic hotel amenities and replacing them with bulk-size bottles and wall-mounted dispensers mostly by 2020/2021. Some of the biggest chains would be able to eliminate up to 35 million plastic bottles a year. When comparing an individual 22ml bottle of soap or shampoo to a 400ml dispenser bottle, the business will avoid wasting 18 individual bottles per dispenser, resulting in 216 individual bottles per year just for a single bracket. Besides the environmental benefit, having reusable dispensers are a cost-effective approach and solution for hotels and hospitality business. Bulk liquid refills are highly cost-effective, with a 4l gallon it is possible to fill 10 single brackets that will last for numerous guest visits.

There are many reasons to adhere to the metal bracket program. It is highly eco-friendly and reduces the waste in a house with no partially used bottles or bar soaps to discard. It eliminates the unsure of quantities and any service issues about when there is not enough product for guests. It reduces amenity expenses, once after the capital installation charge for the wall mount bracket, bulk refills are highly cost-effective. Lastly, it makes housekeepers' work easier and it saves time per room.

To get around any problems that may emerge with guests, very proactive communication to educate and help them understand the importance of this change. Promoting the movement as part of a larger goal towards becoming eco-friendly and doing your part to preserve the planet is a good start.

In an attempt to help lower plastic waste, technology is constantly being developed to deliver more eco-friendly options. Plastic-like materials are being developed and improved all the time, giving businesses the option to invest in greener solutions instead. These plastic-like materials are designed to decompose at a faster rate, while still providing the same qualities as plastic.

Omland Hospitality offers environmentally friendly options for your hotel like our Pillow Protectors Napier made of high-quality material that dries faster, saving time and resources. Cafe Uno is wrapped in a biodegradable package that will break down, decompose and return to nature helping reduce the amount of waste. Another product that Omland offers is Toilet Paper Individually Wrapped, made from 100% recycled fiber, and safe for sewer and septic systems. Omland is here to help with all your hospitality needs, please contact us for more information on the new dispenser program.