Green products include a diverse range of cleaning solutions that prioritize biodegradability, non-toxicity, and reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. From eco-friendly detergents and disinfectants to sustainable cleaning tools and packaging, these products not only support environmentally responsible practices but also contribute to healthier indoor environments for employees and customers alike.
Clean India Journal interacts with Tatjana Ahmed, Director of Housekeeping, Functional Specialist Housekeeping, Sahari Village Housing Committee, Grand Hyatt Dubai and Solomon Ellis, Head, Maintenance & Energy-Raymond, India to explore the significance of green products in eco-conscious housekeeping.
Comprehensive Approach to Sustainability in Hospitality Housekeeping
Sustainability has become a critical focus for industries worldwide, and the hospitality sector is no exception. Housekeeping, a fundamental component of hotel operations, presents significant opportunities for implementing sustainable practices. By rethinking traditional methods, hotels can reduce their environmental footprint, enhance guest satisfaction, and improve operational efficiency. This article deep dives to explore various strategies for achieving sustainability in housekeeping within the hospitality industry.
Reducing Water Consumption
Water is a precious resource, and its conservation is paramount in sustainable housekeeping. Hotels can adopt several measures to minimize water usage:
a. Linen and Towel Reuse Programs: Encouraging guests to reuse linens and towels can significantly reduce the amount of water used in laundering. Informational signage in rooms can prompt guests to consider the environmental impact of daily linen changes.
b. Efficient Laundry Practices: Upgrading to high-efficiency washing machines that use less water per load is a critical step. Additionally, using cold water washes and eco-friendly detergents can further conserve water and reduce energy consumption.
c. Low-Flow Fixtures: Installing low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets in guest rooms and public areas helps reduce water usage without compromising guest comfort.
2. Energy Efficiency
Energy consumption in hotels is substantial, with housekeeping operations contributing a significant share. Implementing energy-efficient practices is crucial for sustainability:
a. Lighting: Transitioning to LED lighting throughout the property, including guest rooms, hallways, and common areas, reduces energy usage. Motion sensors and timers can ensure lights are only on when needed.
b. HVAC Systems: Energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are essential. Regular maintenance of these systems ensures optimal performance and reduces energy waste. Smart thermostats in guest rooms allow guests to control temperatures, which can be set to default energy-saving levels when rooms are unoccupied.
c. Equipment: Housekeeping carts and equipment can be upgraded to more energy-efficient models. For example, vacuum cleaners with Energy Star ratings use less power without sacrificing performance.
3. Waste Management
Effective waste management is a cornerstone of sustainable housekeeping. Hotels can implement several strategies to minimize waste:
a. Recycling Programs: Establishing comprehensive recycling programs for paper, plastic, glass, and metals is essential. Clear signage and convenient recycling bins in guest rooms and common areas encourage participation.
b. Composting: Organic waste from kitchens and dining areas can be composted. This reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and provides nutrient-rich compost for landscaping.
c. Minimizing Single-Use Plastics: Replacing single-use plastic items, such as toiletries and water bottles, with reusable or biodegradable alternatives significantly reduces plastic waste. Bulk dispensers for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in bathrooms eliminate the need for individual plastic bottles.
4. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Traditional cleaning products often contain harmful chemicals that can impact both the environment and human health. Switching to eco-friendly cleaning products offers multiple benefits:
a. Non-Toxic Alternatives: Using biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products reduces the release of harmful chemicals into the environment. These products are often just as effective as their conventional counterparts.
b. Concentrated Formulas: Purchasing cleaning products in concentrated forms reduces packaging waste and transportation emissions. Housekeeping staff can dilute these concentrates as needed, further reducing waste.
c. Certification and Standards: Choosing products certified by recognized environmental organizations, such as Green Seal or Eco-Logo, ensures adherence to strict environmental and health standards.
5. Sustainable Linen and Amenities
Sourcing and maintaining sustainable linen and guest amenities is another critical aspect of eco-friendly housekeeping:
a. Organic and Fair-Trade Textiles: Using linens and towels made from organic, fair trade cotton supports sustainable agriculture and ethical labour practices. These materials are also free from harmful pesticides and chemicals.
b. Durability and Longevity: Investing in high-quality linens that last longer reduces the frequency of replacements, saving resources and money in the long run.
c. Eco-Friendly Amenities: Offering amenities such as biodegradable soap bars, bamboo toothbrushes, and packaging-free toiletries aligns with sustainable practices and appeals to environmentally conscious guests.
6. Staff Training and Engagement
A successful sustainability program requires the active participation and engagement of housekeeping staff:
a. Training Programs: Comprehensive training programs should educate staff on the importance of sustainability and teach them how to implement eco-friendly practices. This includes proper use of eco-friendly cleaning products, water and energy conservation techniques, and waste management procedures.
b. Incentive Programs: Incentivizing staff to adopt sustainable practices can increase participation and motivation. Rewards for meeting sustainability goals, such as reduced water or energy usage, can drive continued commitment to green initiatives.
c. Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing and updating training programs ensures that staff are aware of the latest sustainable practices and technologies. Encouraging feedback from staff can also lead to innovative ideas for further improvements.
7. Guest Involvement
Guests play a crucial role in the success of sustainable housekeeping initiatives. Educating and involving them can enhance their experience and promote environment-friendly behaviour:
a. Information and Communication: Providing information about the hotel’s sustainability initiatives through in-room materials, digital platforms, and staff communication encourages guest participation. Clear explanations of how guests can contribute, such as by reusing towels or recycling, are essential.
b. Green Certifications and Awards: Highlighting any green certifications or awards the hotel has received can reassure guests of the hotel’s commitment to sustainability. This can be a deciding factor for environmentally conscious travellers.
c. Eco-Friendly Choices: Offering guests the option to choose eco-friendly services, such as opting out of daily housekeeping or selecting rooms with green features, empowers them to participate in sustainability efforts.
8. Monitoring and Reporting
Tracking progress and reporting on sustainability efforts are crucial for continuous improvement and transparency:
a. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Establishing KPIs for water and energy usage, waste reduction, and other sustainability metrics allows hotels to monitor their performance. Regularly reviewing these indicators helps identify areas for improvement.
b. Reporting and Transparency: Sharing sustainability reports with guests, staff, and stakeholders demonstrates the hotel’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Transparency builds trust and can enhance the hotel’s reputation.
c. Certification and Benchmarking: Pursuing certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or Green Key provides external validation of the hotel’s sustainability efforts. Benchmarking against industry standards can also drive continuous improvement.
Sustainability in housekeeping is not just a trend but a necessary evolution for the hospitality industry. By implementing water and energy conservation measures, effective waste management, eco-friendly cleaning products, and sustainable linens and amenities, hotels can significantly reduce their environmental impact. Engaging staff and guests in these efforts, along with regular monitoring and reporting, ensures the long-term success of sustainability initiatives. Ultimately, sustainable housekeeping practices enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and appeal to environmentally conscious travellers, making them a win-win for hotels and the planet.
Implementation of Green Practices & Products in Facilities Management
1. Choose the right product
Nowadays, several companies advertise their products as “Green” or “Environmentally Friendly”. Sometimes the green credential is limited to the colour of the packaging! Step 1 would be to ensure that a truly green or environmental-friendly product is procured. For this, a facility manager would need to up skill his/her knowledge on the attributes that make a product truly environment friendly. The information is easily available but few of us bother to increase our knowledge instead of only relying on vendor’s presentations and statements.
The gold standard would be to have third party certification by a recognized agency. In addition, the FM should make it a point to look into the product contents, check the MSDS etc. because ultimately the FM will be answerable to the Company Leadership if any mistake is exposed. The products selected should be checked and verified to not include any corrosive material, VOCs and potential carcinogens.
2. Train the Janitorial staff on Usage of Green Products
Training the Janitorial Staff is probably the most important step of introducing green products. Mental Inertia is an important factor here. People are used to working in a certain way, using certain mixing formulae which have been ingrained into them from years of repetition.
Using a green product in the same way as other products would blunt their environmental effectiveness and also lead to higher costs. Simply informing the Supervisor once and expecting everyone to follow suitable instructions will not work. The new products need to be demonstrated (preferably by authorized company representatives) and advantages explained.
Workers need to be able to ask questions and clear their doubts in a non-threatening atmosphere. Repeat – repeat – repeat and continuous monitoring is required at the initial phases until the old habits are erased and new habits inculcated.
3. Communicate with users about the change in products used
Switching to green products may entail changes in cleaning patterns or frequencies. The products may have a different aroma. Smell is one of the most powerful of our senses and “smell memories” are powerful and long-lasting while being mostly subconscious. If users are confronted with a workspace that smells differently than what they are used to, it may cause them some confusion or even discomfort. It is essential to communicate the changes and what to expect (different aromas, different cleaning routines) with the facility users to avoid confusion and complaints.
4. Track changes in Environmental markers
Once you have implemented the changes, make sure you track changes in environmental markers like IAQ, allergens, even reduction in sick leaves taken etc. and communicate these to upper management. Your Company Directors may also sit on Boards of other Companies and if they become aware of the positive outcomes of using eco-friendly products, they will promote their use in other facilities within the Company or even other companies thus having a wider impact than just one facility.
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