When people think about sustainability in hotels, they often think about the big things – renewable energy, reducing food waste or cutting carbon emissions. But sometimes it's the smallest changes that can make the biggest impact. One of the things I love about working with hotels is seeing how seriously they take their responsibility to do better. Sustainability is no longer something that's "nice to have" – it's become part of how hotels operate, how guests choose where to stay and how businesses demonstrate their values. Shifting Focus to Guest Desires At first glance, toiletries might seem like a small part of the guest experience, but when you stop and think about it, they're one of the most used touch points during a stay. Guests use them several times a day and, thanks to the science linking fragrance and memory, they're often one of the things people remember most about their visit. That's why the move from single-use miniatures to refillable amenities has been such an important change for the industry. The Traveller Mindset Has Changed In today's age, we are all more aware of the impact our choices have on the world around us. From recycling at home, to supporting local businesses or even making more sustainable purchasing decisions, many of us are trying to make better choices where we can. Naturally, we expect the brands we support to be doing the same. When guests stay in a hotel, they want to see genuine efforts being made. Not slogans, not promises, but real actions. That's one of the reasons refillable amenities have been so widely embraced. They're a visible sign that a hotel is thinking about waste reduction and making conscious choices. Guests see them, use them and understand the purpose behind them immediately. Why Hotels Are Making the Switch One of the questions I'm often asked is whether guests miss the miniature bottles. The reality is, most don't. Refillable systems dramatically reduce plastic waste, reduce the number of products being thrown away and can deliver significant cost savings. In many cases, hotels can reduce their toiletry costs by up to 70% by switching from miniatures to refill systems. There are operational benefits too. Housekeeping teams spend less time replenishing rooms, less time handling stock and less time dealing with waste. It's one of those rare changes that benefits the environment, the hotel and the guest all at the same time. What I find most encouraging is seeing the impact these changes can have at scale. Malmaison Hotels were one of the first hotel groups to move to refillable amenities with us and went on to save around 12 tonnes of plastic every year. This is a powerful reminder that what might seem like a small change in one bathroom can become something much bigger when implemented across multiple properties and thousands of guest stays. Giving Resources a Second Life Sustainability isn't always as simple as removing one material and replacing it with another. Plastic has become a challenging word in sustainability conversations with many assuming that eliminating it altogether is always the best solution. In reality, responsible choices are often more nuanced. One of the conversations I have most frequently with hotels is around our post-consumer recycled and ocean-prevented plastic bottles. Rather than creating new plastic, at ARRAN, we're giving existing materials a second life. Plastic that already exists is collected, processed and reused, helping to prevent waste from ending up in landfill or entering our oceans. While some hotels ask about glass alternatives, glass isn't always the straightforward solution people think it is. It is heavier to transport, more energy intensive to recycle and presents practical challenges in busy hospitality environments. For me, true sustainability is about making the most responsible use of the resources we already have. Sustainability is also about people, communities and the way businesses operate. At ARRAN, we're proud that our efforts were recently recognised with a Silver Level National Award for Environmental Excellence from Keep Scotland Beautiful, acknowledging our progress in environmental management, waste reduction, community engagement and sustainable business practices. We're also proud to support initiatives such as TAP (Travel, Tourism and Water Aid Partnerships), helping to improve access to clean water and sanitation in communities around the world. The Future of Sustainable Hospitality Ultimately, the future of hospitality belongs to businesses that understand sustainability and guest experience go hand in hand. Today's guests expect more than comfort and luxury; they want to know the brands they choose are making responsible, thoughtful decisions. The most successful hotels are already embracing this shift, finding ways to reduce waste, support their values and enhance the guest experience at the same time. Whether it's through refillable amenities, responsible sourcing or everyday operational choices, small changes can create a lasting impact - for guests, for businesses and for the world around us. Want to discuss how we can work together? Click here.
