You cannot refute the facts. Americans have transformed into “Eco-friendly” mavens with everything they do - including travel. So much so that they take the environment into consideration when booking a hotel. According to the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, tourism contributes about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions — a figure they expect to grow by 130% by 2035.
So, how can you incorporate Eco-friendly interior design & materials into your hotel, while still giving your guests the experience they desire.
Memorable Moments And Eco-friendly Hotels Do Not Have To Be Mutually Exclusive
Countless studies on millennial consumer behavior have found that sustainability is not simply a “want,” it’s a requirement made by this travel rich generation. In fact, in the past 12 months, 68% of millennials have made a purchase decision based upon a product or services' social or environmental benefit.
If you’re looking to appeal to those “sustainable-minded” guests here are a few things to consider when designing your Eco-friendly hotel and choosing your hotel’s FF&E.
Choose Eco-friendly interior design materials
Life Cycle Assessment - LCA
Offer the Extras
Eco-friendly Interior Design Matters Toxic chemicals aren’t just found in research labs. We live and breathe them in almost every environment we encounter through our day-to-day lives.
Why should you be concerned: the chemicals can be released into the environment, creating a toxic atmosphere with multiple major health impacts. Since hotel rooms are often very small and poorly ventilated, this concentrates on the effects of the chemicals.
What can you do to help keep your staff and travelers safe: specify eco-friendly interior design materials to help create a safer environment for both your employees and your guests.
Common Eco-Friendly Material Options:
Organic fabrics
Bamboo
Unfinished wood
Sustainable wood - fast-growing trees are easier to replace
Reclaimed materials
Recycled wood, metal, plastic
FSC-certified wood and adhesives
Keep in mind, specifying domestic products will also reduce (or eliminate) harmful chemicals due to the USA's stricter manufacturing policies. Going with a China manufacturer for hotel furniture production also reduces carbon footprint in subtle ways as well. It limits the amount of transit and emissions and has other environmental benefits as well.
Here Is The Psa On Lca A life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool that can be used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a product, material, process, or activity. Hospitality designers can use a life-cycle assessment tool to assess the raw materials from processing, to transport, use, and disposal.
LCA study results help to promote the responsible design and redesign of products leading to reduced overall environmental impacts and the reduced use and release of more toxic materials.
The Extras Sure, every hotelier would like to say they've transformed their rooftop into a garden oasis, helping to lower their carbon footprint, or even turn their hotel into a completely LEED-certified building. But that also takes a lot of green (money) and can result in some major construction overhauls. So how can you get a sustainable, sought-after, green hotel quickly and also stay within budget (and win those PR points)?
It’s 2019, it’s time to go paperless.
Offer discounted rates to sustainable companies who would like to stay at and/or hold meetings at your hotel.
Donate leftover guest amenities, old furniture, and appliances to charities.
Donate used soap and shampoo to people in need or shelters who support those in need.
Offer glass cups and ceramic mugs (instead of plastic) for in-room beverages.
Whenever possible, buy food and guest amenities in bulk (i.e., use refillable hair and skincare dispensers).