Hong Kong: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has pledged to eliminate all single-use plastics across its portfolio by the end of March 2021, along with other eco initiatives.
The group aims to abolish all single-use plastic across all operational departments, including guest rooms, spa, transport, restaurants and bars.
Having completed a stock inventory, the group identified 23 of the most common items of single-use plastic. To date, 86 per cent of these initial items have been eliminated, therefore prompting the commitment towards total elimination.
Mandarin is also collaborating with suppliers to drive responsible procurement and to provide alternative products that are both viable and suitable for the luxury hotel sector.
Moreover, each hotel will set out annual targets to address plastic use, and will be required to issue progress reports twice a year to remain accountable and transparent. The first report will be published March 2020.
Chief executive at Mandarin, James Riley, said: “Plastic waste is one of the gravest environmental concerns affecting our planet today. While our relatively small footprint limits our contribution to the world’s plastic reduction, as one of the most iconic luxury global hotel groups we are in a strong position to drive important changes in the industry.”
He continued: “We recognise that to achieve complete elimination while maintaining our luxury service standards is a challenge, but to drive change we must set ambitious goals. The elimination of single-use plastic is only one part of the Group’s wider initiative to operate in a responsible and sustainable way across our portfolio.”
Other green strategies are outlined in the company’s latest sustainability report.
