UK: Clean the World has called for a collective effort to “elevate the entire sector” to a higher standard of environmental stewardship.
The organisation, which adopts the environmental and social impact principles of circularity, diverts soap bars and plastic amenities that the hospitality industry would otherwise discard to landfill, and recycles the soap into new bars.
The recycling programme has transformed more than 12.1 million kilograms of soap and plastic waste into more than 86 million bars of recycled soap, providing essential hygiene products to communities in need worldwide.
The call to action comes after Clean the World was recognised for its ongoing sustainability efforts at the Global Good Awards 2024.
The organisation picked up Silver Award for Waste Reduction and Minimisation for its Global Hospitality Recycling Programme, which collaborates with more than 8,300 hotel partners including large hotel groups such as Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott.
Clean the World was one of only two hospitality businesses out of 64 recognised for ongoing sustainability efforts.
Clean the World’s Austin Eaton said: “While we were thrilled to be recognised for our success, the limited representation of the hospitality industry at the Global Good Awards was a sobering reminder that as an industry, we have a long way to go and must prioritise sustainability to remain both relevant and responsible in today’s world.”
Clean the World has created a Sustainability Guide to support hotels and organisations committed to making a meaningful impact. It offers examples of sustainability initiatives that hospitality partners can implement to support their ESG objectives.
Eaton added: “We believe it is not enough to have isolated examples of excellence. We need a collective effort to elevate the entire sector to a higher standard of environmental stewardship.
“As we look ahead, the urgency for sustainable practices will only grow. The hospitality industry must seize this opportunity to lead by example, demonstrating that luxury and sustainability can coexist. Our planet depends on it, and so does the future of our industry.”
Clean the World was with other organisations championing ESG across the hospitality sector at the recent Independent Hotel Show London.
Image: Unsplash.com/@grakozy Greg Rakoz