Hotel sector praised for green efforts

SHANGHAI－Chinese hotels have shouldered more responsibility for the sustainable development of society by strengthening epidemic containment, lowering food waste and cutting plastic usage, according to a report released on Wednesday.

The report was based on a survey conducted by Trip.com Group and the World Wildlife Fund covering 525 domestic and foreign-branded hotels in nearly 100 cities across China.

All respondents have trained their employees to protect the environment and combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the respondents, more than 90 percent maintained daily disinfection in public areas and provide free disinfection liquids. Over 60 percent used air-purification equipment and nearly 10 percent used robots to deliver materials instead of using staff members.

The majority of respondents have taken measures to lower food waste, with 50 percent designating special positions to monitor wastage.

In addition, 90 percent applied strict purchasing budgets and employee training.

Ninety percent of the respondents have also taken measures to cut plastic usage. Of them, nearly 50 percent stopped offering disposable toiletry kits unless required, rolled out plans to recycle plastic products and launched campaigns among clients to call for reduced plastic usage, according to the report.

Trip.com Group and WWF are proposing better treatment for the planet, which includes better monitoring of hygiene and air quality in hotels, refusing bush meat, halving food waste by 2030 and cutting all disposable plastic products unless necessary by 2025.

Xinhua