Sustainable alternatives for guest rooms
There exist a range of alternatives for single-use (plastic) products in guest rooms but not all are as green and sustainable as they seem. We show you different alternatives for single-use plastic items used in guests rooms including their impact on the environment.
Sustainability Ratings Charts
Below you’ll find an overview of potential alternatives that can be used to replace single-use plastic products.
The potential alternatives are listed on a scale of 0–10.
A solution rated 0 has the least negative impact, a solution rated 10 has a high negative impact and corresponding traffic light colours provide a more visual demonstration.
All suggested alternatives are compliant with the EU Plastics Directive.
Alternatives to single-use plastic bottles
According to our research the best option to offer water to your guests is by using tap water (if safe to drink or filtered) or water stations with reusable glasses / bottles.
Make sure that the measure is well communicated to guests and staff and that everyone is provided with or has access to a reusable glass / bottle.
If providing tap water or installing water filter station is not possible in your region you can check whether one of your suppliers offers medium glass water bottles with a return system which has a better impact on the environment than disposable bottles.
See our Decision Tree for Water Bottles to make a more informed decision.
Single-use plastic bottles
| Tap water | 0 | |
| Dispenser with returnable big size water container | 2.14 | |
| Reusable bottles with filtered water on site | 2.2 | |
| Medium glass bottle (local & returnable to supplier) | 2.2 | |
| Medium plastic bottle (local & returnable to supplier) | 2.64 | |
| Medium glass bottle (local & disposable) | 4.4 | |
| Medium plastic bottle (local & disposable) | 4.86 | |
| Carton box of water | 7.38 |
Alternatives to single-use plastic amenities
The best option is to remove all amenities such as swabs or combs and provide them on request only.
Make sure that the measure is well communicated to guests and staff and that guests can get needed amenities at the reception or in the lobby at all times.
If you still want to offer amenities to your guests prefer amenities that are made from recycled plastic and wrapped in paper or recycled paper. Ensure that the waste is separated and recycled correctly.
See our Standard Operating Procedure for amenities on request for further information.
Single-use plastic amenities – plastic wrapping
| No amenities at all or services instead of amenities | 0 | |
| Paper wrapping of amenities made of mixed plastic | 5.83 | |
| Amenities made from and wrapped in recycled plastic | 6.48 | |
| Amenities made from and wrapped in home or industrially compostable plastic | 7.02 | |
| Amenities made from and wrapped in mixed plastic | 8.54 |
Alternatives to single-use mini toiletries
Miniature toiletries can be removed entirely as well as most guests bring their own toiletries anyway. In case they forgot them you can provide some on request or sell high-quality ones.
Make sure that the measure is well communicated to guests and staff and that guests can get needed amenities at the reception or in the lobby at all times.
If toiletries are offered, prefer refillable dispensers. You can also research for local producers of soap or shampoo and sell these products to your guests as a souvenir.
See our Standard Operating Procedure for hygienic refills for further information.
Single-use mini toiletries
| Unwrapped soap bar | 0 | |
| Refillable dispenser (refilled from large format returnable plastic bottle) | 1.76 | |
| Refillable dispenser (refilled from large format non-returnable plastic bottle) | 3.53 | |
| Refillable dispenser (refilled from non-returnable HPDE bag) | 5.26 | |
| Solid shampoo, conditioner or body lotion in cardboard packaging | 5.28 | |
| Miniature bottles made from stainless steel | 6.03 | |
| Powder shampoo in industrially compostable tabs | 6.21 | |
| Miniature sachets made from recycled plastic | 6.48 | |
| Miniature sachets made from bio-based materials | 7.02 | |
| Domestic size bottles (250-300 ml) | 7.05 |
Alternatives to plastic / aluminium coffee capsules
Around 56 billion coffee capsules are consumed globally every single year with just 30% of these being captured for recycling by the suppliers that make them.
There exist a wide range of solutions to provide coffee in a way that avoids single-serve products and reduces the negative impacts on the environment and climate.
The most sustainable alternative is providing ground coffee for guests in cafetières or filter coffee pots with the ground coffee coming from large (bulk buy size) bags.
A cafetières does require some important changes to processes and procedures so that cafetières and loose coffee are provided hygienically without impacting the guest experience.
See our Decision Tree for Coffee Capsules as well as our Standard Operating Procedure for coffee capsules for further information.
Single-use plastic/aluminium coffee capsules
| Large (bulk buy size) bag of ground coffee made from paper/aluminium composite | 2.7 | |
| Reusable stainless-steel capsule | 3.01 | |
| Medium (domestic size) bag of ground coffee made from paper/aluminium composite | 4.04 | |
| Large bag of ground coffee made from multi-layer plastic | 4.06 | |
| Reusable silicone capsules | 4.27 | |
| Individual coffee bags wrapped in paper | 4.38 | |
| Coffee granules in an individual serving size paper sachet | 5.85 | |
| Coffee bags wrapped in paper/aluminium composite sachet | 6.08 | |
| Single-use capsules made from recycled plastic | 6.48 | |
| Single-use capsules made from home or industrially plastic | 6.72 |
Alternatives to single-use plastic laundry bags
Single-use laundry bags are often used in hotels to collect the laundry from guest rooms. However, their impact on the environment is immense.
Prefer reusable laundry bags made of cotton or linen, these do not only save resources and are better for the environment you can also save money as disposal costs are reduced.
Single-use plastic laundry bags
| Reusable laundry bags made of cotton or linen | 2.63 | |
| Single-use laundry bags made from paper | 4.37 |
