Prevention of packaging waste

Packaging (bottles, bags, containers, etc.) is one of the most significant waste components in the HoReCa sector. The facility can take various measures to prevent this waste stream, including:

• Limiting the use of single-use items in the hotel, such as toiletries (single-use packages of shampoos, soaps, shower gels, lotions). Instead, you can install dispensers for shampoo, liquid soap, gel.
• Ban on disposable plastic cups and plastic bottles (for water). Instead, it is recommended to provide clean glass or ceramic glasses and water in reusable glass bottles. You can provide carafes, install clean drinking water dispensers in hotel corridors, or apply filters to the water supply to improve the quality of your tap water and make it drinkable.
• As an alternative to sweet drinks from plastic packages and bottles, you can offer customers fresh, eco-friendly, locally prepared compotes and juices from reusable containers. Special devices for carbonation (siphons) will allow you to prepare carbonated water or drinks.

Other measures may include the following:

• Switch to reusable food and drink containers instead of single-use plastic utensils. This is especially true if your restaurant offers takeaway food. They are often the main source of plastic waste.
• Start by looking at biological substitutes for the plastic containers you normally use. These can be cardboard, cornstarch, cane or even edible containers (there are many new ones in recent years). If these containers are more expensive than their plastic equivalents, restaurants may raise their food prices a little and let customers know.
• It is possible to introduce a system of lease of containers or release on a fee and the return of these containers.
• Choose products with minimal packaging, as well as purchase goods from local farmers and wholesalers. Negotiate with them about options for returning containers / boxes / packaging, or provide them with your own and reusable containers, boxes, baskets.
• Buy concentrated detergents / household chemicals to minimize the number of packages. It is preferable to choose dry household chemicals in paper packaging.