ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES IN THE HOUSEKEEPING DEPARTMENT

The hospitality industry is one of the largest and most diverse sectors in the world, offering a wide range
of services and experiences to millions of guests every year. However, the industry also faces significant
environmental challenges, such as high energy and water consumption, waste generation, and
greenhouse gas emissions.

These challenges not only affect the natural environment, but also the quality of service, the health and
safety of staff, and the profitability of hotels. Therefore, it is essential for hotels to adopt environmental
measures in their operations, especially in the housekeeping department, which is responsible for
maintaining the cleanliness and comfort of the guest rooms and public areas.

In this presentation, we will discuss how environmental measures in the housekeeping department can
benefit the guest, the housekeeper, and the hotel’s bottom line, by improving the service quality,
enhancing the staff health and safety, and saving costs and resources. We will also provide some
examples of environmental measures that have been implemented by some leading hotels around the
world, and their positive outcomes.

1. USING ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING PRODUCTS

By using natural cleaners, hotels can avoid harmful chemicals and enhance the air quality for
their guests and staff. This also helps hotels to protect the environment by preventing water and
soil contamination. Aspen Meadows Resort and Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts are some
examples of hotels that use eco-friendly cleaning products.

Aspen Meadows Resort in Colorado, USA strives to reduce its environmental impact in every way
possible. One of their measures is to use a peroxide multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant from
Ecolab, which lowers the risk of harsh chemicals and enhances the indoor air quality for both
guests and staff. This also helps the hotel to protect the water and soil from pollution. (Green
Initiatives, n.d.)

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, based in Singapore City, Singapore, aims to benefit the
environment and the communities in which they work. One of their methods is to use
biodegradable containers for takeouts and paper bags for their pastry products, which lowers
their reliance on single-use plastic. They also use green products, such as organic cotton towels
and sheets, natural soaps and shampoos, and bamboo toothbrushes. (Fox, 2021)

2. REDUCING PAPER AND PLASTIC WASTE

By going paperless at check-in desks and in rooms, providing amenities on request, and using
reusable or biodegradable packaging, this can reduce the waste produced by hotels and cut
down the disposal costs. Some hotels that practice paper and plastic waste reduction are Hyatt
Hotels Corporation and Accor Hotels.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, based in Chicago, Illinois, is striving to cut down the waste produced at
hotels, including single-use items, and boost recycling and composting. Hyatt hotels are
dedicated to lowering single-use plastics by implementing different measures across properties,
such as switching to large-format bathroom amenities, minimizing single-use water bottles, and
expanding the number of water stations in key public spaces. (Waste & Circularity, n.d.)

Accor Hotels, based in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, is the most recent major hotel company to
join the UN Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and to get rid of all single-use plastic items in guest
experience from its hotels by 2022. Accor Hotels has already stopped using plastic straws, cotton
buds, and stirrers, and is removing single plastic toiletry amenities and cups, plastic bags for
 laundry or extra pillows, plastic water bottles, plastic packaging, plastic take-away dishes and
tableware, plastic gifts and welcome products, and plastic keycards. (RSE, 2020)

3. INSTALLING ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING AND APPLIANCES

By using energy-efficient lighting and appliances, hotels can reduce their electricity use and
greenhouse gas emissions. This can also save money on utility bills and maintenance costs.
InterContinental Hotels Group and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts are some examples of hotels that
adopt this practice.

With its headquarters in Berkshire, England, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) aims to cut its
greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 compared to its 2019 levels. To achieve this, they use
the IHG Green Engage system, a cutting-edge online system that helps their hotels monitor and
manage their environmental impact. The system offers over 200 ‘Green Solutions’ that help
hotels lower their energy consumption and carbon footprint, such as using LED lights, occupancy
sensors, and energy-efficient appliances. (IHG Green Engage™ system, n.d.)

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, based in New Jersey, USA, published its second yearly Environment,
Social and Governance (ESG) report, which shows its achievements and targets on different
sustainability matters. One of the aspects they work on is energy efficiency, which they plan to
increase by 15% by 2025 compared to their 2019 levels. They have taken several steps to
accomplish this, such as using intelligent thermostats, setting up solar panels, and using linked
lighting systems that can lower energy use by as much as 80%. (Oluyemi, 2022)

4. PROMOTING GREEN PRACTICES AND EDUCATION

This measure aims to educate and involve guests and staff in different environmental actions,
such as recycling, composting, donating, volunteering, and more. It also includes training and
feedback for housekeepers on how to do their work in a greener way. This can improve the
guests’ experience and satisfaction, the housekeepers’ skills and motivation, and the hotel’s
reputation and loyalty. Six Senses and Shangri-La are some hotels that encourage green practices
and education.

Six Senses, an eco-conscious luxury resort and spa management company based in Bangkok,
Thailand, has a Climate Action Plan that targets to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030 and
negative carbon emissions by 2050. It also involves guests and staff in different environmental
actions, such as recycling, composting, donating, volunteering, and more. It trains and guides
housekeepers on how to do their work in a more environmentally friendly way. (Climate Action
Plan, n.d.)

Shangri-La is a Hong Kong-based company that follows a Sustainability Policy in its business
activities and choices. Its Corporate Social Responsibility Program, Sanctuary, aims to improve
biodiversity, education, and health in the areas where it operates. It participates in various
initiatives to protect coral reefs and wildlife, build schools, and provide medical assistance.
(Ettinger, 2023)

As a result, environmental measures in the housekeeping department can have a dual impact on
environmental stewardship and operational efficiency in the hotel industry. By adopting these measures,
hotels can not only reduce their negative impact on the environment, but also improve their
performance and competitiveness in the market.
References
Climate Action Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved from Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas:
https://www.sixsenses.com/en/sustainability/stories/climate-action-plan

Ettinger, J. (2023, May 16). Six Senses Resorts Made ‘the Greatest Measurable Impact’ Says Its 2022
Sustainability Report. Retrieved from Ethos: https://the-ethos.co/six-senses-resorts-2022-
sustainability-report/

Fox, J. T. (2021, April 20). Eco-friendly housekeeping: How to keep hotels, the planet clean and safe.
Retrieved from Hotel Management: https://www.hotelmanagement.net/housekeeping/eco-
friendly-housekeeping-keeping-a-hotel-and-planet-clean

Green Initiatives. (n.d.). Retrieved from Aspen Meadows:

Hess, D. (2019, May 9). Hotels Save on Energy With In-room Tech. Retrieved from Hotel News Now:
https://www.costar.com/article/751931278/hotels-save-on-energy-with-in-room-tech

IHG Green Engage™ system. (n.d.). Retrieved from IHG Hotels & Resorts:
https://www.ihg.com/content/gb/en/support/green-engage

Oluyemi, A. (2022, October 10). Smart Savings: How Connected Lighting Can Reduce Your Hotel’s Energy
Consumption. Retrieved from Hospitality Technology: https://hospitalitytech.com/smart-savings-
how-connected-lighting-can-reduce-your-hotels-energy-consumption

RSE. (2020, January 22). Accor commits to global elimination of single-use plastics in guest experience by
2022. Retrieved from Accor Hotels: https://press.accor.com/h1accor-commits-to-global-
elimination-of-single-use-plastics-in-guest-experience-by-2022-h1/?lang=en

Waste & Circularity. (n.d.). Retrieved from Hyatt Hotels Corporation: https://about.hyatt.com/en/world-
of-care/caring-for-the-planet/waste-and-circularity.html