Pan Pacific Hotels has joined a growing number of companies that are eliminating their usage of single-use plastics, with the group set to eliminate them from all of its properties by next year.
The Singapore-based hotel group already removed plastic straws across all of its properties in July this year, and its new pledge will see this expanded to other single-use plastic products. This includes providing environmentally friendly alternatives for pens, stirrers, takeaway coffee cups and boxes, along with eliminating the use of plastic wrapping for its in-room slippers and laundry service.
Additional measures will also see the group explore green alternatives for its in-room amenities as well as increasing efforts to recycle used soap and non-disposable plastics, with its F&B footprint also under the microscope.
“We are taking sustainability to the next level by looking at the traceability of food produce and ways to minimise food waste generated at our properties in the near-term,” said Neo Soon Hup, senior vice president of operations for Pan Pacific Hotels Group.
Overall, the company has managed to reduce energy and water intensity per guest night by 24.8 per cent collectively across its hotels.
The group’s upcoming Pan Pacific Orchard hotel, set to open in 2021, is set to take this cause even further. Designed to be zero-impact and zero-waste, the property will also feature a rainwater harvesting system, a recyclable water system, as well as a compactor that turns food waste into compost.
Over the past few months, a growing number of companies in the travel and hospitality sector have stated their goals to reduce or eliminate their use of plastic products.
American Airlines, Virgin Australia and Marriott International all have recently announced plans to cut down on their use of plastic straws and stirrers, joining the likes of Alaska Airlines and Hyatt Hotels.
Meanwhile international coffee giant Starbucks says it will replace straws and polystyrene foam cups by 2020.