Housekeeping Goes Green

Refillable Toiletries, Instead of Plastic Bottles That Guests Often Take Away From Hotels as Souvenirs or With the Intention to Reuse Them, Can Help Reduce Plastic Pollution, Say Housekeeping Managers

- Jyotismita Sharma

After the news broke that a state in the US has proposed to bring a law to scrap the use of tiny toiletry bottles in hotel rooms in a bid to curb plastic pollution, a debate triggered among housekeeping managers in India on the utility of similar measures in the country. While they differed on the means of reducing plastic pile up by hotels, no one denied that the hotel industry needs to rise up to the call of mitigating the effects of climate change and limiting the use of plastic.

For they know that the plastic bottles used in hotels – including those tiny toiletry bottles that guests often take away from hotels as souvenirs or with the intention to reuse them – often end up contributing to the plastic pollution in the world’s oceans which has become a major global challenge. In fact, according to an estimate by the United Nations, more than 8 million tonnes of plastics flow into the oceans each year.

According to Smita Rathod, Director of Housekeeping, Pullman & Novotel New Delhi

Aerocity, replacing the plastic toiletry bottles with refillable dispensers can help curb the use of plastic. An emphatic “yes” was her answer when asked if hotels in India should also scrap the use such bottles.

“Many hotels are using small dispensers mounted on the wall filled with shampoo, conditioner and shower gels. This helps in reducing the usage of plastic tubes/ bottles and the wastage is also curbed,” Rathod said.