10 Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Business

We're all looking for ways to be more mindful when it comes to how we create and dispose of our plastic waste - here's our top 10 ways to reduce it in your accommodation:

1. Make the switch to refillable toiletries

Moving from miniature to refillable toiletries means your guests won't be disposing of single-use plastic bottles at the end of their stay. 

Our range of refillable 300ml bottles look and smell great and the 5L bulk containers offer easy and cost-effective refilling from as little as 66p per refill!

Learn more about how refilling can be fulfilling here

2. Provide Recycling Bin in Guest Bedrooms

Including guests on your challenge to reduce plastics couldn't be easier with these dividers that you can place in your bedroom bins. 

It works by dividing the bin into two halves so guests can sort their own recycling from general waste with ease and you can dispose the right items quickly during changeovers. And if you're concerned about needing two bin liners per bin, the divider is made of smooth plastic that can be easily emptied and cleaned without using a liner at all.

3. Phase out disposable cutlery in favour of reusable

Just like plastic straws, plastic cutlery will be banned from October 2023 and whilst there may be some great sustainable disposable cutlery out there, for busy holiday parks and catering businesses, investing in a set of reusable cutlery will make an impact.

4. Use locally sourced, fresh food when possible

Not only will it save on your carbon footprint and impress your guests but using local produce can reduce plastic waste too. Think fresh glass-bottled milk, sausages and bacon for your breakfast service as well as fruit and vegetables from local suppliers and markets.

5. Choose products with more sustainable packaging

Find products that still fulfill the needs of your guests but are a lot more sustainable. Here's some examples:

When it comes to food and drink, try replacing sacheted condiments with glass jars from Tiptree or provide reusable pots and jars.

The Glass Bottles of Semi-Skimmed Milk from Delamere have become incredibly popular and Wheatleys Sugar Sachets are packaged with a mix of kraft paper and a biopolymer.

We're working hard to find more sustainable methods of packaging too, for example our Hotel Slippers are in the process of being packaged with a simple paper wrap

Or why not try our new Multi-Surface Cleaning Tablets from Janstar - great value for money and each pack is plastic-free and compostable too!

6. Go natural!

Choose hardwearing wooden products for your amenities. Kit out your guest bedrooms with FSC sourced Wooden Coat Hangers, Acacia Wooden Room Trays and Refreshment Holders. And for your bathroom areas, choose Bamboo Toothbrushes as well as Bamboo Tissue Box Covers and Cube Containers for any bathroom essentials.

7. Buy Bulk

Buying in bulk doesn't mean you have to buy more than you can store but, for example, buying items like 5L containers of cleaning chemicals, detergents and toiletries can really help reduce plastic use and costs. Bulk packs of toilet roll are also less wasteful than smaller packs which are individually packaged often in plastic wrappers

8. Reusable items are key

For in-room refreshments, why not provide refillable Glass Bottles of water rather than plastic bottles? Plastic Bathroom Tumblers look like real glass but are safe for bathroom use and are easy to wash and reuse, perfect for storing toothbrushes and toothpaste and much more sustainable than disposable cups.  And if you want to move away from single-use sachets and pots of milk, providing an Insulated Bottle of fresh milk is a great alternative your guests will appreciate in self-catering properties and on hotel welcome trays.

9. Opt for paper hygiene products over plastic 

Paper sanitary bags are a great way to protect your plumbing from non-flushable items. Made from 60% recycled paper they're a small but essential item that will help make a big impact.

10. Keep guests informed without the waste

Avoid laminating any printed information you may provide for your guests and keep any house rules and local flyers well presented within a hardwearing folder complete with robust PVC pockets.