Significant waste reduction by saving over 600,000 single-use plastic items in hotels

Innovative measures to reduce plastic

In 2019, the Futouris members decided to take an active role in reducing plastic waste on the Balearic Islands. They were supported by the government of the Balearic Islands. The local organizations Save The Med and Travel Without Plastic were brought on board as implementation partners. The aim was not only to reduce the plastic waste generated by tourism, but also to improve the recycling rate.

Innovative measures were developed and tested in practice by hotel businesses to achieve this goal. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions and hotel closures, the implementation of measures began in autumn 2021.

A test of four different alternatives to common single-use plastic products at the ROBINSON Cala Serena provided valuable insights into the savings potential and the acceptance of the products by guests and employees.

Support from employees and partners

Five interactive workshops were held in hotels of two hotel groups at the start of the 2022 season to ensure employee support in implementing the plastic reduction measures. The more than 130 hotel employees learned about possible reduction measures and discussed solutions to pre-identified challenges in role plays.

Thanks to the support of local partner organizations and the dedicated commitment of the project hotels, over 405,000 plastic water bottles were saved as part of the project by installing water dispensers and over 207,000 shampoo and shower gel bottles by using local, refillable personal care products.

Project shows success at partner hotels

The participating partner hotels were very satisfied with the measures implemented, the results and the cooperation with Futouris and the implementation partners and are continuing to work on reducing single-use plastic.

Tools and guidelines for plastic reduction

Practical tools were also developed as part of the project, which are available free of charge to all tourism businesses worldwide. The Futouris Plastic Guide (available in English and Spanish) or the Spanish-language e-learning on implementing plastic reduction measures while taking hygiene standards into account support businesses in implementing their own plastic management system, finding more sustainable alternatives to common single-use plastic products and communicating the implemented measures and successes to employees and guests.

A workshop is also planned for the Canary Islands next spring to make the results and solutions available to other hotels.

In a nutshell: Measures and results of the project

An overview of all measures and solutions as well as the results that were implemented and achieved as part of the project:

TUI MAGIC LIFE Cala Pada

Installation of five water dispensers on the hotel grounds, where guests can refill their reusable drinking bottles free of charge + sale of reusable bottles in the hotel.

Savings:

• Almost 200,000 large and small plastic water bottles = approx. 5.4 tons of plastic

• Cost savings: approx. 21.000 euros per season

ROBINSON Cala Serena

Test of four different alternatives to single-use plastic products:

• Aluminum-free, compostable coffee capsules

• Refillable dispenser bottles for personal care products

• Washable garbage bags

• Cleaning device based on an oxidized water solution for general cleaning products and glass cleaners

Potential savings per year when using the tested products in the hotel:

• Reduction of plastic waste by 100% when using reusable waste bags, by almost 90% when using refillable dispenser bottles.

• Significant cost reduction of up to 64%

Universal Beach Hotels

• Implementation of interactive employee workshops, 98% of employees feel well informed about the sustainability measures after the workshop.

• Installation of water dispensers in all 17 hotels of the chain, promotion of reusable drinking bottles.

• Use of local personal care products in dispensers that are cleaned and refilled so that the bottles remain in the cycle.

• Installation of a waste separation system in all hotels for improved waste recycling.

Savings:

• 500 plastic water bottles (as at 2019)

• 000 shampoo and shower gel bottles by refilling

R2 Hotels

Implementation of interactive employee workshops, 100% of employees support the sustainability measures and can communicate these to guests.