How can we help guests reduce single-use plastic when they stay with us?

[Felicity11]

#PlasticFreeJuly: As a Host, I can help guests to further reduce plastic waste by providing reusable options they can use when staying with us.

Some items I like to add to my listing for guests to use include : 

• Reusable water bottles
• Reusable coffee cups
• Reusable shopping bags
• Reusable food storage containers
• Suggest markets and bulk food stores that use minimal packaging for guests to visit
• Offering reusable travel cards for guests to use when staying with me that can be left behind for the next guest to use. 
• Suggest venues/activities for guests to visit that are taking steps to reduce plastic waste or help drive local beach/forest clean-up events.   
  
  Reusable :water bottles, Shampoo bottles, coffee cups, shopping bags ,food storage containers Reusable travel cards

What steps do you take to help your guests reduce plastic waste when they stay with you?

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

[Keshav7]

Great initiative! I absolutely agree that as hosts, we can play a crucial role in helping guests reduce single-use plastic waste during their stay. Your thoughtful approach to providing reusable options is commendable. I particularly love the idea of offering reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and food storage containers – it's a fantastic way to encourage eco-friendly practices.

Also, suggesting markets and bulk food stores with minimal packaging is an excellent touch, allowing guests to make conscious choices while shopping. And providing reusable travel cards that can be passed on to the next guest shows a commitment to sustainable practices.

As for me, I've started implementing a few measures too.

I have reusable shopping bags available for guests to use during their stay, and I provide information on local eco-conscious venues and activities they can explore. Additionally, I've added recycling bins in accessible locations to ensure proper waste segregation.

Collectively, we can make a significant impact in reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability. Thank you for inspiring us all to take action and contribute to a cleaner, greener world! ♻️🌍 #PlasticFreeJuly #SustainableHosting

[Felicity11]

Hi @Keshav7 

Thank you for your support and I am so excited to hear about all the options that you have taken and offer to your guests.  It makes it so much easier for guests to reduce there plastic consumption when they stay with us if we have taken care of it already for guests.  

Wonderful to hear all the initiatives you have taken. 

[Rachel1200]

As well as encouraging guests not to bring bottled water with them, by saying on my listings that they shouldn’t, as our water is healthy and delicious, I supply four crates outside my yurts for plastic, glass, and metal drinks containers. I then re-cycle them in our re-cycling collection waste system that we pay for.

I go through all the bins on the day that guests check out, and extract any plastic, glass or metal that they haven’t put in the crates.

I also extract food and re-cycle it to our chickens, farm cats, and dog, but that’s another subject!

[Felicity11]

Hi @Rachel1200 

Great to hear all the measures you are doing at your airbnb homes to help guests reduce there waste.  They are so lucky to stay with you and for you to have thought through all these waste systems!   Once you get the systems set up it can be so easy for guests to do the right thing! 

[Sarah5000]

My places offer refilling amenities like shower gel , shampoo and cleaning ideas. Also, providing a shopping bag, glass container, coffee cups. As a host I understand that since COVID happened and now lives in our daily life, therefore, all offering items are been cleaned so the guest can feel safe to use it as well. 

[Felicity11]

Hi @Sarah5000  Wonderful to hear what steps you are taking in your listings to help avoid plastic and help guests to also avoid single use plastic.  Your guests are so lucky to be able to stay with you and find these things set up ready for them to use! 

[Francisco-and-Yajaira-Ho0]

The truly wonderful thing about all of this is that, in addition to helping the environment, actions like refilling shampoo bottles, soaps, detergents, etc. also reduce our expenses as hosts who love pampering our visitors. 😊🌟

It's amazing how even these small steps can make a difference and foster a positive impact on the beautiful place we all call home. 🌍Reading such posts not only raises our awareness but also inspires us as hosts to take those little steps that contribute to the well-being of our surroundings. 🌱 It's heartening to know that we can play a part in making this world a better place for everyone. Let's continue to embrace these positive changes and keep making a difference, together! 👏💚

[Felicity11]

hi @Francisco-and-Yajaira-Ho0 

Wonderful to hear from you. 

All these small actions add up and are a great way to show our guests we care and are not just talking about this we are actually taking action to reduce our waste.   It can be very cost effective for hosts! 

[Fred13]

Thoughtful post. We really have become conscious of excessive waste and plastic use over the years and do many of the conservation practices mentioned already. It only takes a moment to help.

[Felicity11]

Hi @Fred13 

Many thanks for your comments.  Yes it only takes a few minutes to update a guest book and adjust a confirmation email to let guests know that these things are ready for guests to use when they stay with us. 

[Daniel1651]

Hey @Felicity11 

Love your point about to suggest experiences around which are eco-friendly and reduce the plastic in their activities. In my case, I always recommend guests to visit the "farmer markets" and consume local products, without packaging and extra plastics!

[Felicity11]

Thank you for your comment @Daniel1651 

As a host we have the opportunity to share our local knowledge with our guests to ensure they have a wonderful time when they stay in our area.  If we know of great markets, shops and experiences who are all doing there bit to reduce waste and lower emissions we can show our support by suggesting these to our guests!  Every small action counts and our guests are so happy to receive local recommendations! 

[Jue0]

@Daniel1651  Indeed Daniel. In Kenya, plastic bottles are banned in the National Parks & Game Reserves and all Forests. So Campers are checked on entry. There's lots of signage and warning on littering. This ban took effect in 2020 after the ban of plastic carrier bags in 2017.

#PlasticFree #ReducePlasticPollution #Sustainability

[Marielle135]

It is always very inspiring to read your posts felicity! Actually made me realise that I have reusable containers available in my listings. Even though they are unfortunately made of plastic they can be used again and again.

regarding hand soap my bottles are refillable and made of glass or ceramic.

regarding shampoo and shower gel I am careful about the bottles and what they contain when buying them, preferably recycled bottles or at least recyclable, containing vegan products with low impact on environment. For a long time I had a bottle of common gel which was never being used, since I have changed products, people tend to use it more, which is really cool.

i supply reusable shopping bags also to go shopping and always point out the local weekly markets where local producers sell their own productions.

all the houses have recycling bins in France so that is definitely a plus.

i have also put little glass containers to collect plastics lids that are recycled separately to be given to associations who buy wheelchairs with the money they make recycling it.

our little ones also have their own dishes to avoid disposable dishes that parents use so that they don’t break anything while learning their eating skills.

I have been dreaming of supplying shampoo and soap in bars, they could be great welcome presents for the guests, but still looking for a soap producer to find an agreement with. Also when soap is fresh it is easy to stamp it with the name of our accommodation or why not belo… I will keep you updated. 
love the idea of picnic dishes reusable supply, and will look at the idea more precisely too, thanks for the idea!

it can be fun and simple to be sustainability concerned, thanks for all these eye openings articles.

ps: our water is drinkable but sometimes not tasing very nice, has anyone of you invested in a fountain purifying water? If so any to be advised?