Hosting Tips for Plastic-Free and Greener Vacations

[Jennifer3225]

#PlasticFreeJuly: For me, a great way to think about how to reduce waste for guests is to start with what my guests are packing in their cars. In a tourist town, I often see travellers with their cars full of supplies for their vacation time and some consistent items appear over and over again.

Can you guess what people pack to go on a trip?

• Bottled Water
• Plastic knives and forks
• Paper plates
• Cases of pop/soda
• Plastic bags of groceries
• Plastic floating devices ( like air mattresses or pool noodles)
• Lots and lots of take out garbage.
  
  

So how can I help as a sustainable Host?  

Most recently I had a guest who did not read the listing information and she packed up big bags of toilet paper, paper towels and tons and tons of water. The only thing is : I could have avoided her having to pack all of that, if I had just taken some extra time to point out what she did NOT need to bring.

Myth: Water at rental locations is not drinkable/potable.

Truth : Often the water is drinkable and filtration systems are in place. And in many locations, the hosts also vacation there. So just letting guests know that they can drink the water, and encourage reusable water bottles, saves a ton of room in the car.

If the water is good enough, maybe include a soda stream, so guests can make their own pop?

How else can I help our guests to reduce their load of supplies that they bring with them?

Sometimes I have to make it super clear to our guests what we have in our listing. Hence, I like to make sure guests know what I offer. I inform them that I supply toilet paper, paper towels and dishes. So Guidebooks are a great way to help outline just what is available in your listing

Here is a link to my guidebook. Perhaps you can also get some ideas here! 

[Although I am a Host Advisory Board member, these articles are written based on own my personal experiences and opinions as a sustainable Host]

[Felicity11]

Great article @Jennifer3225 and excellent tips for hosts to let guests know what they do and do not need to bring with them when they stay with us.   I think it is so important to let guests know if the water is drinkable at a listing as this can reduce not only the plastic packaging from buying bottle water but also the, transport emissions to ship the plastic bottles of water and last but not least it is a cost that the guest can avoid!!  Win win win!! 

[Jennifer3225]

Thanks @Felicity11 . I just replied to @Jue0 @and @Keshav7 in my post here who also have good comments and feedback about sustainability choices and how to share news with future guests of what NOT to bring.

one step at a time. 

The ups and downs of Sustainability are global without friends in Kenya  🇰🇪 and India 🇮🇳 offering suggestions. 

[Keshav7]

Great article, Felicity and Jennifer! I love how you've put together practical hosting tips for promoting plastic-free and greener vacations. These small changes (loved the guidebook!) can make a big difference in reducing our environmental impact. Keep up the fantastic work in spreading awareness and inspiring others to follow suit! #PlasticFreeJuly #SustainabilityMatters 🌿🌍

[Jennifer3225]

Hi Keshev.

So glad you liked the guidebook.  When we let guests know what not to bring not only is it easier for the person packing up and shopping, there is an intrinsic message that the place they booked really is a five star location, so the dialogue begins well before check in.

We know guests love to save a little extra money when nearing the vacation date, and so the list in the guidebook takes a huge load of the guest… let alone the environment. 

[Jue0]

@Jennifer3225 This is excellent Jennifer. #PlasticFreeJuly #SustainbleHosting cannot be more complete with this informative article. I love your tips on your shareable Guidebook. Indeed, we often do not advise guests what NOT to bring, to help them in their packing or meet their expectations. This has truly inspired me. Thank you for what you continue to do for Sustainable Hosting and for Sustainability. Keep it Up.

JUE

[Jennifer3225]

Thank you for the great comments Jue. I recently did a post on my Instagram and there is a Hash Tag. #plasticfreeairbnbkenya… 

I have great pride to know that I get to partner with you on sustainable issues. So delighted to know that in Kenya 🇰🇪 there are no plastic bags at all. How inspiring for us Canadians.

💚

[Jue0]

@Jennifer3225 Indeed Jennifer. There are challenges and enforcement issues but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We never imagined that the ban would take effect as it has done. Also great to note that plastic bottles are not allowed in the Kenyan Parks and Forests. They check campers at the gate and search cars on entry and take the plastics...you may collect on way out. So glad to hear of all you @jennifer3225 and @felicity11 are doing at the two lovely continents of North America/Canada 🇨🇦 and Australia 🇦🇺

Can't wait to welcome you here in Kenya🇰🇪 to move forward our Sustainability conversations as you sample our Beau Pays ☺️. Thank you! And Kudos. Keep It Up. 

[Jennifer3225]

@Karen1100 @Sher1100 @Shanel31 @Sheila667 

Any comments from the Canadians? 

[Sher1100]

Great ideas here.  I'm going to put together a 'picnic' basket for my guests.  Including re-usable utensils/plates etc. and have it readily available for guests to take along with them.   Great information Jennifer!

[Jennifer3225]

That is a very good idea @Sher1100 especially if you are in a ski area. If your guests had a reusable utensil kit maybe they would steer away from the plastic at the hill, or in the cafeteria.

Thanks for responding. 

[Rachel1200]

This is so important Jennifer, and I feel strongly about plastic one-use items ruining our planet.  I get so mad when we still have endless adverts on TV urging us to buy yoghurts in tough little plastic bottles, and soap in larger plastic bottles.  One little slurp of drinking yoghurt later and we forget about the plastic container, which will now lie around for thousands of years!  So crazy that we’re still packing all these food items in plastic.  What’s wrong with a bar of soap as well?  Why does all these soap  products have to come in plastic bottles?

Anyway; I became aware years ago that my yurt guests brought massive amounts of plastic water bottles with them as if our water wouldn’t be safe to drink, so on all my listings I wrote: “Please don’t bring plastic water bottles with you, our water is especially healthy and delicious!”

They actually believe me because the yurt is listed as near Buxton, and everyone has heard of Buxton water, as it’s sold everywhere in plastic bottles ironically.

When I’m pointing out the water taps, I say “You don’t need bottled water here as our water is really good and delicious”, and, gratifyingly often, they say, “Yes we know, we read it!”

[Felicity11]

I could not agree more with you  @Rachel1200 .  There are so many every day items that come packaged so unnecessary and with a little bit of thoughts and perhaps a few extra actions such as using a refillable container or plate and then washing it we can reduce so much extra waste from being produced and the emissions that are associated with the  production of that single use item.

I love that you let your guests know that the water is delicious and drinkable. This is a very simple but useful action that guests can mention.  It helps reduce waste, reduce shipping emissions and it saves the guests money that they can spend elsewhere!  They just need to use a refillable drink bottle!   It's not rocket science - just a simple change of habit. 

[Jennifer3225]

I agree and @Rachel1200  you are way ahead of this post if you already let guests know the water is fine to drink. It is such a misconception, and really saves hosts, guests the environment on so many levels.

[Sarah5000]

@Jennifer3225 I love the idea of soda stream, what a brilliant way to help the Earth and the guests to save a plastic bottle and cost of travelling .  Well done.