Have you ever noticed how much single-use plastic is present during your average hotel stay? From cups and bottles to coffee lids, as wrapping in kitchens, room amenities, in business centres, for in-room dining, in conference spaces (water bottles, folders, swag bags, cups), in laundry services, bathroom amenities — yes, those mini shampoo/soap/body cleanser bottles/toothbrushes, bin liners, cling films. Not to forget the back of the house and supply chains.
Whichever way you slice it, we live in a plastic world. To be fair, it’s not just in hotels, but in our daily lives too. Plastics have made life more convenient and more often than not, saved us costs. As the global humankind, a.k.a. the still very much industrial-mechanical species approach a century of plastic use, it is discovering the long-term costs. Even in 1950, the world produced 2 million tonnes of plastic per year, a figure that rose to 381 million tonnes in 2015. What’s worse, it is estimated that 91% of plastic waste hasn’t been recycled, 73% of beach litter is plastic, and nearly one million plastic beverage bottles are sold every minute worldwide, according to National Geographic.
India’s per capita consumption of plastic at 11 kilograms per year is among the lowest in the world, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Yet, the country generates a stupendous 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day. There is no data on how much of that is recycled, but it’s safe to assume a significant amount ends up in rivers, oceans and landfills — polluting each of them.
The consumption of plastic has reached a crisis point and the challenge to curb plastic use is coming from various directions. Creditably, the hospitality sector is doing its bit, though this is just the beginning and the challenges to finding viable alternates are enormous. Just removing plastic straws and bottles won’t cut it.
Denne historien er fra November 2019-utgaven av Hotelier India.
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Denne historien er fra November 2019-utgaven av Hotelier India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Big Fat Indian Wedding
With a slew of initiatives, hotels are ensuring that the wedding day is special for the couple as well as for the hotel's bottom line.
An Organization Of Rainmakers!!!
Rainmakers are revered for their ability to generate income (rain) for an organization by cracking deals, attracting clients/guests and holding on to them; often, for a lifetime... Revenue generation (rainmaking) is the job of everyone on the team.
Hospitality: A Rewarding Career Awaits
Delving into the roles and responsibilities that professionals in the field of hospitality can undertake in carving a rewarding career.
"India is my first baby!"
Bader Ali Habib, Regional Head of Proximity Markets, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, gets candid.
The Essence of Landscape Architecture
Innovative landscaping can enhance the luxury hospitality experience by enriching guest interaction with the natural world.
Teaching the Art of Tea
The first global tea artist from India, teaching the art of making and drinking fine tea, Susmita Das Gupta talks about her mission to make Indian specialty tea reach a global audience.
Feeding Profits
Food and beverage is driving revenues in hospitality in novel ways as hotels innovate with new-age experiences.
Acing the Revenue Game
Hotels are looking at new avenues to generate revenues that go beyond rooms and food.
The Power of Predictive Maintenance
A strategic approach to enable Indian hotels to become leaders in sustainable hospitality.
Shaping a Sustainable FUTURE
To mark the occasion of World Environment Day this month, we find out how the hospitality industry is paving the way for a greener, healthier tomorrow...
