Plastic pollution is an environmental crisis of mammoth proportions. To mitigate its impact, it is essential to replace single-use plastic products of high use with sustainable options on priority.
IHCL’s focused approach towards this end led it to replace plastic straws from all hotels and install bottling water plants at 15 properties, resulting in the elimination of 0.2 million kilograms of plastic. It aims at further reducing and eventually stopping 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.
STARTING SMALL
While many hoteliers would like to get rid of single-use plastics, what they lack is a concrete plan to do this successfully. They can start by identifying the single-use products that can be reused, recycled or replaced – depending on its lifecycle. It can be done gradually, starting with bottled water or bath amenities containers.
On its part, IHCL has eliminated plastic straws across all its hotels, replacing it with paper and bamboo variants. In addition, it has swapped plastic-wrapped dry amenities with eco-friendly substitutes. It has also phased out PET bottles from 15 hotels.
Qmin, the brand’s food delivery platform, utilises only biodegradable packaging. Moreover, paper carry bags have replaced plastic ones at all properties, while oxo-biodegradable bags have taken the place of plastic garbage bags and wet umbrella covers. All these steps are helping the company move towards an increased sustainable setup.
COMING TO TERMS
After zeroing on ways to eliminate single-use plastic, hotels might find themselves renegotiating contracts with suppliers, since procurement costs could move upwards. In line with its sustainable sourcing philosophy, IHCL has nurtured over 30 social impact organisations as its supply chain partners.
Its teams help vendors refine their product and quality control measures to meet the company’s standards. They also assist suppliers with market links – within and outside IHCL’s network. Moreover, budding entrepreneurs dealing in food products are trained in hygiene, sanitation and food safety management practices.
Ethics, anti-corruption and human rights are other areas emphasised on during the training. IHCL’s Corporate Materials Team also helps in facilitating financial support for less privileged vendors and offers support in building capacity.
The company’s employees, too, have stepped up to set benchmark practices for sustainable tourism. Programmes like Innovista provide them with a platform to report their innovation online. The hospitality major also conducts contests on specific industry issues and encourages associates to think out of the box and develop solutions.
IHCL has paved the way for a sustainable circular economy that embraces its people, processes and
profit. Other hotels can pull a leaf from their book to replicate this success rather than reinventing the
wheel.Â
