Title: Hotels Rethink Disposable Slippers in Sustainability Push
In November, managers at the Arenas del Mar resort near Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica, challenged employees to come up with ways to operate more sustainably. The maintenance crew suggested electric locks on guest room doors. The food and beverage department proposed making jams from fruit peels. And the housekeepers advised: Ditch the slippers.
“It didn’t make sense because you use them once and throw them out,” said Hans Pfister, the president and co-founder of Cayuga Collection, the hotel group that manages the resort, which took housekeeping’s advice. “It’s very wasteful.”
Disposable slippers are the next single-use item in the crosshairs of sustainability activists, following plastic straws and mini bottles of shampoo. Willy Legrand, a sustainable hospitality expert, highlighted the environmental impact of single-use slippers, calling them “out of place and out of touch.”
While providing slippers in hotels is rooted in cultural norms and perceptions of luxury, some hotel companies are taking steps to address the issue. Six Senses offers slippers made from natural materials or recycled plastic, while Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group replaced single-use slippers with models made of cardboard, cork, and cotton.
Hotels like the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina are making slippers and other single-use amenities available on request, while others, like Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali, are finding creative ways to reduce footwear waste.
As travelers become more conscious of sustainability, the future of disposable slippers in hotels is being questioned. Some travelers are already taking their used slippers with them when they leave the hotel, signaling a shift towards more sustainable practices.
The push to rethink disposable slippers in the hospitality industry reflects a broader trend towards sustainability and environmental responsibility. Hotels are finding innovative ways to reduce waste and minimize their impact on the environment, setting a new standard for luxury and eco-conscious travel.
