eco-hosting

[Kathleen87]

I thought I would throw out this subject in case there are some fellow airbnb hosts who are concerned about eco-issues.   How as a group might we pitch in .  What brought me to this idea was TOILET TISSUE. 

I host in my home about 6-8 nights a month, but I find I buy a LOT of toilet paper.   After several years of lugging home 24 packs of  bath tissue from a local big box discount store I  now realized that I was probably contributing to the destruction of the Canadian boreal forest, one on the biggest carbon sinks of the north americas.  Who knew?  Apparently at least one paper manufacturer is using clear cut trees from northern Canada.  Bad idea.  

I did a little on-line search and found that for only about 15 cents more a role I could buy quality toilet paper (two ply, embossed) that is made from recycled paper.  

Now I am not a rabid environmentalist but I do live and host in Vermont where we try to do our part.   I try to do mine, but realize my efforts are quite insignificant. But, then I thought since the airbnb community is huge and growing perhaps there were others out there on this "blog ?"  who would like to talk about ways we can host in an eco-friendly way.    

Anyone thought about other ideas, cleaning products, organic snacks, heating and cooling?   There is a fellow airbnb host in Burlington VT who saves energy by  line drying  her bed sheets !!   Your thoughts are appreciated.  

Kathleen   

[Sarah977]

@Kathleen87  There are several threads already on this topic. Maybe do a search to find them. Many hosts are definitely on board with the eco-friendly idea and implementation. No single-use shampoos and such, no plastic water bottles, composting and recycling, natural and unscented cleaning products, etc.

You mention line-drying bed sheets as if it's something unusual that no one considers doing 🙂 I've never had a dryer in my life- I've always line-dried everything. 

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

If you are economically-friendly, then you are eco-friendly as well. It's a good start.

[Kathleen87]

Thanks Sarah, 

Good for you for line drying.  Those sheets smell better too .   It is a challenge here in VT but I understand things dry even when frozen if you wait!  

 I will look for that topic.  

[Sarah977]

@Kathleen87  Everything gets dry outside where I am here in Mexico. When I lived full time in Canada, I had one of those old-fashioned wood drying racks on pulleys in the stairwell. All the heat from the wood stove went right up there and they dried in no time. 

Isn't it so bizarre that lots of people now equate the smell of dryer sheets with things smelling "clean", instead of fresh air and sunshine?

[Katrina79]

@Kathleen87 I grew up in the Boreal Forest and our biggest pulp mill closed well over 10 years ago because it wasn’t profitable. I can’t say for every province, but clear cutting isn’t just for toilet paper, it is used for lumber. However, the forest is vast and most of the cause for trees being gone is forest fires. Some of the trees are old in the Boreal Forest and fires devastate them, but they do grow back. https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/forests-forestry/wildland-fires-insects-disturban/fore...
I’m more concerned with chemicals and plastics polluting the water. I think it is everyone’s duty host or not to try to contribute to the health of our planet.