Accor Hotel Group is joining the bandwagon of other hotels – with plans to stop using Single-Use Plastics by 2022.
Even an Ibis Budget will have less plastic than it already has – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
With hotels realising they are contributing to waste problems, Accor announced its commitment to join the UN Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and to remove all single-use plastic items in guest experience from its hotels by the end of 2022.
According to the group, this action by Accor will go towards reducing environmental impacts and strengthening efforts to combat plastic pollution of the world’s oceans and other natural environments.
With over 120 million guests a year and more than 200 million single use plastic items consumed – there certainly is room for optimisation in how the group uses plastics and distributes amenities.
So far, the hotel group has worked to remove items such as plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds.
Next on the groups list is planned the removal of individual plastic toiletry amenities and cups. This will be completed by the end of 2020.
If you’ve been to some Accor Group Hotels in the budget line – some have gone down the line of using bulk products (such as Ibis, Ibis Budget and so on) in washrooms as opposed to single use toiletries.
Bulk packaged shower foam – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
According to the groups, 89% of ibis hotels use this format (with Latin America to follow in these footsteps). Meanwhile only 6% of hotels still stock straws, cotton buds and stirrers (mostly in China).
And if you think toiletries, drink stirrers, straws are the only plastics – there’s many more – such as plastic cups, plastic bags for laundry or extra pillows, plastic water bottles, all plastic packaging (for food, welcome products, etc.), plastic take-away dishes and tableware, plastic gifts and welcome products (toiletries, slippers, pencils, etc.), plastic door key cards.
The list goes on.
Even these will have to find a replacement for the single use packages – no matter delicious the Nutella is.
All other single use plastics will be targeted for removal by the end of 2022. This includes item used in guestrooms, meeting areas, restaurants spas and fitness centres.
In quotes
Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO, Accor said
“We are aware of the significant impact we have on our planet and our responsibility to create tangible benefits for our employees, guests, suppliers, partners and host communities,”
“What guides us is the consciousness and social awareness that drives every person who strives to be a good citizen. It’s about being aware, socially conscious and consistent.”
And don’t forget the cost savings…
Accor are by no means the first to wake up to the need to reduce plastic waste in its chain – and is following the path of IHG, Hyatt, Hilton and so on in the removal of plastics from their hotels.
Whilst there will have to be investment for items to replace the plastic items – in the longer term should provide a nice little saving for the group as a whole, as well as the individual hotels.
Combined with a bit of good publicity – it’s a smart move for most hotel chains to start moving beyond single-use plastics.
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