India is the third largest generator of greenhouse gas emissions, according to The Wire’s recent report and household waste generates about 1.9% of the total emissions. Plastic products produced 17.8 million metric ton (MMT) of total waste in 2018, and is expected to cross 20MMT in 2021, of which 58% goes to the landfill or is termed as waste. The government targets to collect and recycle 60% of this by 2030.
However, recycling alone cannot work wonders in waste management. What is required is substitute for these plastic products, which can work parallel to recycling.
Come 2022, and the government plans to impose a permanent ban on the 1st phase of single-use plastic products. This will force most hotel companies to rethink their approach towards these products, be it straws, bottles or packaging.
THE P WORD
There is a reason why the world is up in arms against plastic, considering it one of the biggest culprits for greenhouse gas emissions, during its entire lifecycle. In 2019, production and incineration of plastic produced more than 850 MMT of greenhouse gases.
By 2030 it could reach massive 1.39 gigatons per year and by 2050, cumulative emission of greenhouse gases from plastic lifecycle could reach 56 gigatons. These numbers, by itself, should concern every single individual and company.Â
Moreover, plastic contains chemicals that are known endocrine disruptors and pose threat to human health. Human exposure to plastics can cause hormonal imbalances, reproductive problems and even cancer, according to a study by the Colorado Environmental Centre in 2021.
During its lifecycle, plastic emits greenhouse gases at each single stage. This includes fossil fuels extraction and transportation, refining and manufacture, management of plastic waste and its ongoing impact once it reaches our oceans, waterways, and landscape.
THE BIG SHIFT
Now that it is clear that plastic pollution is an environmental crisis of mammoth proportions, hotel companies need to mitigate its impact by replacing single-use plastic products of high use with sustainable options on priority. Several brands have already taken path-breaking steps in this regard.
IHCL has replaced plastic straws from all its hotels has and installed bottling water plants at 15 properties, thereby eliminating 0.2 million kilograms of plastic. It aims to further reduce and eventually stop the use of single-use plastic in product packaging. Additionally, IHCL has launched the country’s first ever ‘Zero Single-Use Plastic Hotel’, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andamans.
ITC Hotels’ commitment to ‘Responsible Luxury’ resonates through all its sustainability initiatives. Here’s a quick look. The hotel chain noticed that around 2.5 lakh kg of single-use plastic was generated at its luxury hotels every year. The key contributors included 150 lakh water bottles, 15 lakh straws, 8 lakh stirrers, 8 lakh toothbrushes, 7 lakh earbuds and 3 lakh shoe shine. To mitigate this consumption, it now procures more than 75% paper, stationery and wood from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified suppliers, preferring local vendors.
STARTING SMALL
Many other large chains are taking similar steps to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic, a move that is much needed. They can start small, by trying to shift to zero-waste solutions by eliminating plastic toothbrush and plastic toothpaste tubes.
Given the growing awareness of environmentalism, several plastic-free alternatives are now easily available. Bamboo toothbrushes are a great plastic-free alternative that won’t harm the environment and can be disposed of guilt free.
Bamboo is the world’s fastest growing tree and when left uncut, it can hinder the growth of trees surrounding it. Using a natural resource made from the earth that is durable, water resistant, antimicrobial, and biodegradable is a great advantage as it won’t be sitting around for 1000 years wasting away and won’t pollute after being disposed of.
Similarly, hoteliers can replace the plastic toothpaste tube with toothpaste tablets. These do not contain any chemical ingredients and require less water consumption during the pre-brushing process.
Packed in a glass jar with a metal lid that can be reused for refilling the jar with more tablet, these toothpaste tabs are packed in a recycled paper pouch. These ways the glass jar does not end up in the landfill after every use, while the paper pouch eventually decomposes within a few weeks.
Considering the stringent hygiene consciousness that most hotels follow, brands like Earthum provide recyclable paper pouch with two tablets. A guest can use this to brush in the day and night. This minimalises the wastage of the toothpaste left in a tube after a guest uses it for a couple of times and prevents these plastic tubes from clogging up the landfill.
A small move of replacing toothpaste tubes with tabs can enable the hospitality industry to take a huge cooperative step forward towards sustainability. What’s more, they are cost-effective and efficient. Surely, this is another great incentive to put your money where your mouth is, literally!
