Sustainable Tourism - Irene Millar

ONE MAN’S VISION OF ANOTHER MAN’S WASTE HAS RESULTED IN A BENEFIT TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, WRITES IRENE MILLAR.

‘One man’s waste is another man’s treasure’ is a well -known proverb and one which Stefan Phang, Regional Director at Diversey, has proven to be true. Stefan shared with me how he has inspired hotels to support their local communities by repurposing their waste.

POVERTY WEALTH POVERTY

Stefan’s journey started in 2013 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Phnom Penh. Stefan was struck by the contrast between his luxurious accommodation and that of local people living in squalor on a nearby rubbish dump. The people were so poor and hopeless that it wasn’t uncommon for them to sell the only asset they have, themselves, or, their children. Stefan was moved to find a solution to help these deprived communities become self-sufficient.

Working with hotel management, Stefan identified six waste streams that account for 75% of waste in all hotels, regardless of location, size or brand. These wastes normally find their way to landfill sites. Waste items in hotels are often driven by guest expectations. Our high expectations are fulfilled by room amenities being replenished daily; linens being laundered more regularly than they would at home.

SOAP SAVES LIVES

Soap remnants was the first item Stefan focused on. The solution of how to turn soap remnants into a sustainable earning opportunity was inspired by watching

Gordon Ramsey cooking! The business model collects scraps of discarded soap and local communities cold press them with indigenous plants to create a new, better quality, soap bar. The process requires no electricity, water or factory. Once trained, local communities can use a portable press to make soap wherever they live; in slums, fishing villages or mountainous areas.

Participating hotels commit to providing soap scraps and to buying back a percentage of the new soap. This ensures the community has a stable market and a regular income. The soap bought by the hotels is distributed to people living in poor communities to help improve sanitation and hygiene. UNICEF reports that handwashing with soap could save 800 children’s’ lives per day. The addition of local plants, such as lemongrass, increase the health benefits due to its ability to repel mosquitos, another common issue in poor areas. Disease caused by poor hygiene has dropped by 70% in the areas where soap is being distributed.

SOAP FOR HOPE

Soap For Hope was created to save lives, enhance livelihoods and reduce waste. The programme is operational in 39 countries and has helped over 950,000 people each year. The Shangri-la is one hotel group that partners with Diversey with all of its hotels participating in the Soap For Hope programme.

I spoke with Wong Yaw Ling, Area Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Manager for Shangri-la to find out how the programme is working in my area. In Penang, the Shangrila works with a local NGO to distribute regenerated soap to the local poor. Other regenerated soaps from scraps collected at Shangri-la are transferred to a nearby Rohingya refugee centre.

POSITIVE IMPACT

As part of their ongoing CSR programme, Yaw Ling spreads awareness of Soap For Hope through education programmes highlighting the benefits of waste diversion from landfill to support local needy communities.

I am awe-struck by the impact of Stefan’s initiative and passion. Through collaboration with hotels, NGOS and local communities, he has created a momentous positive impact on thousands of people by turning a small, inconsequential item such as discarded soap, into a sustainable livelihood for communities.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

Stefan’s journey continues. As well as Soap For Hope, he has programmes for linens and coffee grinds in place, and is working on sustainable solutions for the remaining waste streams he identified. These are stories for another article!

If you are staying in hotels that are not already participating in Soap For Hope, then ask them to contact stefan.phang @diversey. com for more information. Saving lives, enhancing livelihoods, reducing waste and providing hope to communities, all from scraps of soap! v diversey.com/sustainability/soap-hope