When traveling, accommodation is one of the biggest sources of pollution. Waste production, over-consumption of energy, emissions linked to food transport... The bill can be high for the environment.
Fortunately, eco-friendly initiatives by hoteliers are becoming increasingly common. These concrete actions help reduce the negative impact of tourism on the environment. They are diverse and varied, and can concern energy, food or waste. To find your way through all these commitments, there's nothing like relying on the many eco-tourism labels. These are awarded to hotels and other establishments that meet precise specifications, including various ecological or social commitments.
Reducing waste
According to the Take a Waste 2022 barometer, only 20% of hotel waste is recycled. This is an alarming finding, given the sheer volume of waste associated with hotel operations: individual soap wrappers, plastic bottles, food packaging, household products... A hotel without a restaurant produces an average of 44 tonnes of waste per year!
Reducing waste production is therefore a top priority among hoteliers' green initiatives. They offer reusable cutlery, and bottles of cosmetics that are disinfected, then refilled when emptied. When it comes to food, many hotels now buy locally and in bulk. Finally, when it comes to unavoidable waste, many eco-hotels take recycling seriously, and even install composting bins.
Initiate waste collection actions
Some eco-friendly initiatives by hoteliers can even have a positive, rather than neutral, impact on their environment. This is what we call regenerative tourisma branch of ecotourism that's really catching on. The philosophy behind this movement is to carry out various actions that will benefit the environment.
Among these initiatives, waste collection is particularly beneficial. Some hotels offer their guests the chance to clean up a nearby environment: beach, street, park, forest... Sometimes, rather than organizing a group outing, the establishment will offer its guests various benefits, in exchange for a certain amount of waste brought in. For example, many hotels set in breathtaking landscapes in sometimes remote destinations offer a free drink to anyone who brings back a bag of collected cigarette butts or other plastic waste.
Limiting water and energy consumption
In a hotel, energy is one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions. To reduce this carbon footprint, a number of eco-friendly hotel initiatives exist. Many eco-friendly establishments no longer offer energy-hungry equipment such as minibars or coffee machines, and are replacing their outdated equipment with low-consumption appliances, particularly when it comes to lighting. To save water, taps are equipped to limit their flow, and laundry of sheets and towels is done at the customer's request rather than automatically. Guests are also made aware of their own water consumption, and some hotels even install hourglasses near their showers, so that guests can limit the time they spend under the water.
Energy autonomy
In addition to limiting their energy consumption, many hotels are now taking the next step by seeking to produce their own energy. One of the most popular green initiatives in this area is for hoteliers to install solar panels on their roofs. As for water, establishments can use installations to harvest rainwater, then filter it to make it drinkable.
Local and organic food products
Eco-responsible travel also means eating well. That's what more and more hoteliers are realizing, as they now offer their guests locally-sourced foodstuffs for breakfast or in their restaurant, whose transportation therefore emits littleCO2. What's more, they select sustainably-grown food, often organic, so as not to contribute to soil pollution. Consuming locally is perfectly in line with the practice of slow travelsince it offers a more authentic experience of the destination.
Room cleaning, not systematic
Organizing room cleaning only at the customer's request, rather than on a daily basis, is one of the eco-friendly initiatives hoteliers are taking to drastically reduce their environmental impact. As a result, the establishment uses less energy in the use of household appliances, and fewer resources such as water, but also cleaning products and the packaging they require. And guests don't lose out on comfort: their room is cleaned as soon as they ask for it! What's more, hotels are increasingly using eco-friendly cleaning products that don't harm the flora and fauna, or the health of their guests!
Sustainable materials
Going green also involves construction. Many tourist accommodations today are looking to use sustainable materials, preferably natural ones. They choose efficient insulating materials to reduce the establishment's energy consumption, but whose production presents no danger to the environment.
