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Bulk Amenity Dispensing
One of the easiest green initiatives hotels can take in their move toward being a sustainable hotel is using bulk amenity dispensers. But it's one of the steps that most hoteliers are resisting most. That just doesn't make sense to me.
Waste management is probably the biggest issue behind using bulk amenities dispensing, but improved product quality and reducing our reliance on oil are important too. Hotels that want to save money and the environment, while providing quality guestroom amenities will switch from individual soaps and shampoos to bulk dispensers.
The benefits of using bulk dispensers over individual amenities include:
- saving money
- saving storage space
- saving housekeeping time
- wider choice of quality products
- saving counter space in guest bathrooms
- an ever ready supply of soap and shampoo
The disadvantages of using bulk dispensers include:
- reduced branding opportunity in the guestroom
- higher start up effort for housekeeping
- occasional cleaning effort
- higher start up cost
The problems I see with using individual soap bars and shampoo containers is:
- they take up a lot of storage space in the housekeeping area and on the cart
- the bottles are made of petroleum-based plastic, most often
- typically low quality products
- the collection takes up valuable counter space in the guest bathroom
- increased waste disposal costs
- housekeeping occasionally forgets to stock the guest bath
Some advances in individual amenity packaging remove some of the concerns presented here, but not enough. There are tetra-pak type boxes for shampoo and liquid soap (I covered this packaging in Greening Your Wine Cellar). There is variety within this packaging category, making the containers variably recyclable and environmentally friendly. Since you can't reclose these packages guests can't even take the unused soap and shampoo home with them, and collecting it to give to charity seems daunting.
Bulk Amenity Dispensing Video
Corn plastic, or PLA, is a possible container for individual soaps. PLA has been known to start degrading while on the shelf, not waiting to get into a compost pile; what a mess! PLA is compostable so the containers can be recycled that way. But if PLA is accidentally added to other recycled plastic containers the entire batch is ruined. It's hard to tell the difference sometimes between the different plastics so I see this as a problem. That's the mess I talk about in my video.
The large, disposable bulk dispenser is a clever idea, except it's a disposable container. And it's made of petroleum-based PET plastic, so though it's recyclable it still relies on foreign oil.
Using a durable dispenser for soap and shampoo solves lots of problems. Though most dispensers on the market today are made of plastic they last a very long time. Waste management and recycling aren't an issue. Plastic bulk dispensers are more attractive today, with a variety of styles and designs, than the dispensers of the 20th century. But ceramic dispensers are also an option, and enhance the decorating style of the guestroom.
The final piece in the benefits of bulk dispensing is that organic soap and shampoo -- and without sodium lauryl sulfate -- are increasingly available on the market. What a great way to show your hotel's quality than by the excellent guestroom amenities you provide your guests.
Bulk amenity dispensing with "top-shelf" soap and shampoo is an ECOnomically Sound approach to your hotel's daily operations. Quit wasting money in buying disposable products and burdening your waste management. Be sustainable and go bulk -- guestroom amenities, that is.
Posted by Kit
