INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Hospitality companies have increasingly shown support of sustainability initiatives, with three brands initiating plans to reduce the use of plastic in an effort to help the environment.
Edition Hotels
Edition Hotels has introduced a new initiative to omit single-use plastic from its operations. “Stay Plastic Free” was developed by Ben Pundole, VP of brand experiences, with a goal for all Edition hotels to be 100% single-use plastic-free by the end of Q1 2019.
The sustainability program will provide plastic alternative vendors and contacts for everything from plastic-free minibar items, coffee cups, straws, water bottles, bathroom amenities and food containers. Edition Hotels also will produce a short film highlighting the impact of the industry’s single-use plastic on the environment.
AccorHotels
To mark “Planet 21 Day”—AccorHotels’ annual day of action to promote a sustainable development—the group has unveiled its newest global and regional commitments in support of sustainable and positive hospitality.
AccorHotels North and Central America pledged to prohibit the use of plastic straws in all hotels in the region, starting in July. Several hotels in the North and Central American region have already implemented a “straw upon request only” policy and have replaced plastic straws with paper or eco-friendly alternatives, including Fairmont Southampton, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Mayakoba, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and Novotel Monterrey Valle.
Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts pledged to end the use of single-use plastic. The brand’s Earth Day 2018 theme is “End Plastic Pollution,” and it addresses the detrimental effect that plastic is having on the environment and marine life. The brand plans to phase out the use of disposable plastics by Earth Day 2019. This will include plastic straws, plastic water bottles and disposable plastic cutlery.
Some of the company’s achievements in the past year include 15,142 planted trees, 72, 508 lbs. of trash collected, and the support of 100 youths through its Seedlings Mentorship Program.
