Now that you have baseline data that shows you the single-use plastics in your hotel, you can identify opportunities to switch to reusable alternatives. Take a look at your Audit Checklist and decide which plastic items you’d like to target first.

To help decide, you could consider:

• Which single-use items are “low hanging fruit”. These are items that are not frequently used by guests, that are not considered a “need”, and that have readily available reusable swap options.

• Which single-use items are costing you the most.

• Which single-use items contain additional plastic packaging (e.g. toothbrushes wrapped in plastic).

Take a look at the reusable swap columns in your Audit Checklist. If you haven’t filled in these columns, now is the time to do so.

The reusable switches we recommend fall into three categories - avoid, reuse/refill and single-use swaps. Treat these columns like a hierarchy, with avoid being the first preference, reuse/refill next and then finally (and only if you absolutely can’t select something from the first two options) single-use swaps.

Waste hierarchy - avoid, reuse, then single-use swaps.

Use our Swap Selector below to make your choice easier.

Once you’ve chosen your reusable swaps, keep your checklist handy. You’ll need this for the following steps.

To calculate how many reusable items you need, go back and review your Audit Checklist.

From the quantities you’ve calculated, you can determine how many single-use items your hotel uses in a set period (e.g., per month or per year). Next, consider how many times each reusable item will be used before needing replacement, and how many will be in circulation at any given time. This will give you a baseline for how many reusables to purchase.

When calculating how many reusable items your hotel needs, remember that a direct 1-for-1 swap isn’t necessary. The total number required will depend on factors like guest turnover and the expected lifespan of the reusable item.

Also consider your cleaning schedule, as reusables will need to be washed and restocked efficiently. It’s also important to have a buffer of spare items in case of loss, breakage, or guests accidentally taking them home.

We’ve put together a Calculating Quantities Tips and Tricks document to help you.

Start by researching what reusable options your current supplier offers. Many offer reusables and refills, and it’s possible they already have what you’re looking for.

If they don’t already stock the item you need, consider asking if they would be able to source it for you.

As a last resort, you may need to look for other suppliers for that particular item.

Staff from all areas of hotel operations will play a role in implementing your plastic-free program. Make sure to consult staff in the following areas, and assign responsibilities accordingly:

• Procurement - staff involved in purchasing items for guest rooms, events, pool areas, food services and laundry operations will have the responsibility of switching orders from single-use to reusables.

• Housekeeping - responsibilities for housekeeping staff may change when you switch to reusables. They may have additional duties, such as replacing dirty reusable items with clean ones, or refilling reusable soap, shampoo and conditioner dispensers.

• Back-of-house - there will be additional cleaning responsibilities for back-of-house teams. This will include cleaning reusable cups and bottles, and other reusable items you’ve introduced.

• Food and beverage - your food and beverage team may need to make some changes to their food service processes. Examples include changing room service procedures from using single-use foodware to reusables. There may also be some additional cleaning involved.

• Events - the events team will need to change their ordering and set-up processes to accommodate the reusable swaps you’ve made. This may be refilling lolly jars for conferences, or ordering catering from suppliers with reusable food ware policies.

Once you’ve consulted with your team, note the agreed roles and responsibilities in your Action Plan.

The next step is to transfer all of the reusable switches you plan to make into your Action Plan.

An action plan helps to keep you accountable and on-track. The document outlines:

• The swaps you plan to make.

• The date you would like to switch each item by.

• Your preferred supplier and manufacturer.

• How many single-use plastic items you’ll save by making the switch.
  

We’ve developed an Action Plan template for you to use.

Now is the fun part - implementing your Action Plan!

You may decide to start with one simple switch, or a couple at a time. Whatever you choose, make sure the pace of change is sustainable for you and your team.