Plastic Not So Fantastic

It's interesting that the hotel industry is all of a sudden grabbing hold of the move to kill single use plastics from its guest offerings. Now, don't get me wrong... the move is necessary and overdue, but there are ulterior motives. The cost of providing toiletries in permanent dispensers is exponentially lower than the branded bottles of yore. So a win-win? Yes, If it lowers impact on the environment and back end costs, but when will hoteliers start paying attention to the sustainability of the rest of their operations?

I've been on the inside of too many properties where even the most basic recycling efforts are eschewed because of its perceived impact on labor. Operations managers are choosing to heave ho the old amenity bottles because it sends an obvious message to guests and the public (when they compose the coinciding press release about the move to ban them), but until the move towards sustainability becomes more systemic in hotels, it rings a bit tinny.

What will also be interesting to watch the dynamics shift on how we expose the guest to branded product if luxury designers and skincare manufacturers don't have the ability to expose their wares in easy-to-pilfer plastic containers.

Lastly, if we are going to be serious in this move to eliminate, or at least reduce waste on guest use products, what about Nespresso and Keurig coffee pods and single use plastic water bottles in the minibar (you know, the $9.00 variety you reach for after a late night at the rooftop bar)?

Read on to the recent Skift post about California's planned ban on plastic amenity bottles and feel free to start a dialogue here:

https://skift.com/2019/10/10/california-prohibits-hotels-to-use-plastic-toiletry-bottles/

#singleuseplastics #environmentalimpact #hotelinnovations