Through the years, sustainable development has been an ever-important move for companies in any industry. It does not only create a positive social impression, it also helps the firm in a variety of ways including expenditure control and budget management. There has never been a better time to do this. Today, with the existence of the signs of climate change, more consumers are becoming sensitive about caring for the environment. For business owners, the only answer to this new demand is to become environmentally friendly.
It can be said that a hotel is environmentally sensitive if it has altered its equipment, policies, and practices to minimize its damage to the environment. Indeed, there are hundreds of practices that a hotel can implement to minimize the so-called carbon footprint of its business and consumers. However, it cannot be said that all hotels who have pledged at becoming environmentally sustainable are holistic at it. It should also be noted that becoming environmentally friendly will require a major shift for the hotels, and improper management of this shift can create further waste that can be equally harmful to the environment.
Many hotel owners start with eco-friendly furniture in view of creating an eco-friendly atmosphere. Furniture distinguishes a hotel from its competitors and many eco-friendly models reflect both style and comfort. However, careful selection is a must. Most of the available furniture in this category is made out of a variety of materials such as recycled wood or paper bi-products, second-generation steel and metal products, and bio-based non-toxic materials that cause less pollution. There are eco-friendly furniture that are inexpensive while maintaining design appeal that is essential for the hotel business, but there are some who transcend the typical and for which consumers will have to pay a steep price. Yet the best thing about becoming environmentally sensitive is the self-satisfaction to hotel owners that they have done something to benefit the environment, their business, and the customers.
This research covers three important facets in using sustainable hotel interiors. It is proposed that there are three overlapping aspects that need to be discussed. First, there is the social aspect which promotes how the internal and external environments in the hotel are affected by its use of eco-friendly furniture. Secondly, there is an economic aspect which includes the financial concerns that is involved in this transition. Lastly, the main focus of using eco-friendly furniture is the environment. Thus, it is important to consider this and to accept that it affects and is affected by both the social and economic aspects in the framework.
Definition of Terms
Throughout the paper, the term green living, green tourism, green products, and green furniture are used. For clarity, it should be noted that the use of the word green in these phrases denote being environment-friendly. Environment friendly, eco-friendly, and environmental sustainability are also catch phrases throughout the paper. This refers to the feature of furniture and fixtures in relation to sustainability, wherein the raw materials used should be safe, biodegradable, and sourced from sustainable processes.
Purpose of the Study
This study investigates the various benefits that hotel owners can have if they purchase and use eco-friendly furniture and fixtures in their hotels. The research shall cover the benefits in terms of impact to customers and capital expenses. Ultimately, findings to these two aspects can be used to conclude on the impacts of using eco-friendly furniture to a hotels business growth.
Research Problem and Questions
The main focus of the research will revolve around this central question In what ways, does purchasing eco-friendly furniture and fixtures benefit a hotel In the process of research the following topics shall also be covered.
Standards. What are the standards that furniture and fixtures need to meet in order to be considered environmentally friendly
Costs. What are the cost differences between eco-friendly versus the typical standard furniture and fixtures
Design. What are the design differences between eco-friendly versus the typical standard furniture and fixtures
Composition. What are the environmental differences between eco-friendly versus the typicalstandard furniture and fixtures
Green certification. What is the process for a hotel to become green certified
Conceptual Framework
This study explores the concept of using eco-friendly furniture in hotels and how this benefits their business. The primary focus is its relationship to the ecological, economical, and sociological standpoints of a hotel. The strategies and approaches presented in this paper will help increase the sustainability of hotels by minimizing their negative impacts on the surrounding ecosystems and cultures while increasing their positive contributions to the environment, cultural heritage preservation and community development. When all three elements (economical, social and environmental) come together, they provide a sustainable hotel.
The figure below illustrates the provisions a sustainable hotel.
Figure 1. Overlapping framework.
Research Framework
In order to understand eco-friendly furniture and fixtures and its benefits to a hotel owner, the research will examine the associated literature to provide theoretical evidence regarding the topic. The primary focus of the study will be to analyze the five sub-questions and their relationship to the proposed research problem. There is also an archival review which introduces companies from which data will be drawn to enhance the research of the proposed topic. The backgrounds from these companies will provide a realistic approach to the research which, if compared with the theoretical aspect as provided by the literature review, will provide the findings for the study including information on the accessibility of products and initiatives that can be easily and cost-effectively implemented to enhance the design and operations of any hotel. The information derived from the literature, comments from qualified hotel owners and brand leaders, and archival reviews from an array of successful worldwide hotel companies will be presented to the reader to show how a transition to an eco-friendly hotel is possible.
Overall, the main purpose of this study is to examine the various benefits that hotel owners gain by purchasing and using eco-friendly furniture and fixtures. It is hypothesized that by undergoing an eco-friendly conversion the financial strength of a hotel can increase, generating a positive and relatively prompt return on investment for any investor or operator. Through the analysis of the literary and archival reviews that will be made for the research, conclusions and recommendations will be provided as a response to the central and underlying research questions as enumerated above.
SHAPE MERGEFORMAT
Figure 2. Research framework.
Significance of the Study
Every day people are becoming more aware of the environment and the need to protect it. From merely recognizing the perils of using plastic bags, the concern to the environment has become conclusive and global. Today, even consumer services are being probed by customers. Instinctively, environmentally sensitive consumers choose products and services which are environmentally sound as well. Buying furniture made out of natural raw materials or recycling processes is a sound, albeit costly, move for most. On top of it being a personal choice, it is also a good business decision and strategy especially for those who are in the hospitality business because of the benefits.
Eco-friendly furniture products are completely harmless to the customer because it is composed of non-toxic and reusable materials. There is a guarantee that the process that the furniture goes through will not harm anyone in the hotel environment. Even wooden furniture can be eco-friendly for every tree cut for the creation of such furniture, another is planted. Some wooden furniture are also made from reclaimed wood. All of the processes that eco-friendly furniture use have minimal negative impact on the environment. When hotels use such furniture, they show concern for the environment and for their individual customers. This study hopes to illustrate how this can benefit a hotels business.
CHAPTER II Literature Review
Following rising concerns about global warming, some individuals favor environmentally friendly furniture. There are many advantages to using furniture made from eco-sensitive materials. They do not only reduce deforestation, they also encourage recycling which can lessen the waste haste and prevent known harms to the environment (Rosato, 2009). Furniture manufacturers use a wide range of materials. Though some customers may not notice whether a piece of furniture is manufactured using eco-friendly materials, the trend is changing rapidly because of the different environmental awareness programs. Conducting a thorough search of the furniture market yields a variety of eco-friendly furniture offerings. When choosing eco-friendly furniture, it is not necessary to compromise on quality, style, and design. Any furniture material, including wood, metal, and plastic, can be eco-friendly based on its preparation and manufacturing process (Doberstein, 2002).
According to Barbara (2007), technological advances have greatly improved our lifestyles. However, there are also negative impacts brought about by innovation. Even inside hotels, the quality of air is still questionable (Bowe, 2005). In response to this, the hotel industry embraced the growing craze on environmental stewardship. The market for eco-friendly furniture rose as hotels started investing on non-toxic and safe furniture, which is what green products are all about (Harrington, 2008).
In the old times, rare and exotic trees are cut down and exorbitantly priced for making equally rare and expensive furniture (Kollath, 2008). Today, a new tree should be planted to replace each one that has been cut. Nontoxic bonding agents are also used, a far cry from the highly contaminating products that was being used once (Carlson, 2005 Motavalli, 2002).
A 2009 North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index study showed that eco-friendly hotels made great strides in awareness, guest satisfaction, and participation in sustainable programs since the previous reporting period in 2008. In a study by J. D. Powers, over 66,000 guests who stayed in North American hotels between May 2008 and June 2009 have been surveyed. Some notable findings about environmental concern within lodging places taken directly from the release included (a) guest awareness of the hotels green programs increased significantly in 2009 and (b) 66 percent of guests said they were aware of the same hotels conservation efforts, up from 57 percent in 2008 (Rosato, 2009).
Awareness of the green programs had a strong impact on the overall guest satisfaction. On average, satisfaction was more than 160 points higher among guests who reported awareness of the hotels environment sustenance programs, compared to guests who were unaware (Perry, 2006). The study illustrated that green hospitality had a firm hold on the industry and that, overall, it was being done well.
For healths sake
The media continues to feature eco-friendly furniture and its benefits therefore increase its popularity. According to Bowe (2005), eco-friendly furniture made from renewable or recycled resources contained very few harmful chemicals. On the other hand, many types of conventional furniture contained high levels of toxic halogenated fire retardants. Studies revealed Americans tested for toxins had halogenated fire retardants stored in their bodies, with babies and children showing the highest levels (DeLollis, 2007). Infants and children were the most vulnerable to the effects of halogenated fire retardant chemicals, which traveled through the placenta and breast milk. Levels of halogenated fire retardants in breast milk increased 40-fold since the 1970s (Perry, 2006). All of these show the health risks that can be avoided if people are more aware of the compositions of the products and services that they use. The trend on fire retardant furniture and home accessories are not only harmful to the health but also to the environment. The same can be said of other furniture made out of more chemicals than natural raw materials.
The challenge is even higher for the hotels. With the thrust to bring maximum comfort and safety to their occupants, they are in the best position to promote the use of furniture that are not only stylish but also safe for the health of their clientele. While exposure is questionable because most hotel guests stay for short periods of time, the long-term investment is the impression on the guests. Sustainable development is always pleasing, and guests will appreciate it to know that a hotel took the long mile to make their stay safer through environmentally friendly furniture.
Keeping up with the trend
The use of environmentally friendly solutions presents a unique challenge in procuring products to be used in hospitality services (Harrington, 2008). Hotels usually require a high turnover rate for furniture and fixtures. Hotels may replace their current furniture and fixtures because of durability issues, such as damage or age. They may also try to renew or refresh their look, a step which sometimes require buying new items.
The furniture industry is similarly quick at updating their styles and purposes to keep up with the needs of their customers, hotels included. In the process, mass production has become inevitable. This also made pricing more competitive for the buyers. If hotels buy the regular furniture, they can keep up with the trends and answer their needs without spending a fortune. However, products made in mass production facilities typically have a high impact on the environment with the process involving widespread use of non-renewable resources (Ahles, 2008). Thus, it becomes more important for hotel owners to be more conscious about the furniture that they buy for their customers use.
Today, a lot of eco-friendly products are available in the marketplace and the number of hotels making claims on environmental sensitivity increased (Heavin, 2008). Kollath (2008) agrees that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should address green marketing claims in order for consumers to trust the products they purchase as environmentally friendly, in case some hotels abuse the claims. True enough, the FTC gave notices and charged several hotels with making unsubstantiated, false and deceptive claims regarding bamboo fabric and other textile products marketed as green and environmentally friendly. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the bamboo fabric prevalent in the retail marketplace was the same as rayon (Carlson, 2005), and manufactured in the same way. Bamboo has always been advertised as a top eco-friendly fabric however, converting bamboo into yarn fiber required the identical cellulose fiber extraction process as making rayon from other trees and plants (Barnard, 2003). This is otherwise known as green washing and threatened not only the customers but the groups supporting the green movement as well. Other than the FTCs Green Guide, there were no federal mandates with respect to the use of the terms green or eco-friendly. Europe surpassed the United States in this area by establishing guidelines and standards before a product or service can be called eco-friendly (Perry, 2006).
Genuine ingenuity
It is important for the FTC to ratify claims of products and services as eco-friendly as any confusion can lead to a chain that is fatal to the movement. When a product advertises that it is eco-friendly, a hotel may buy it in its effort to be similarly eco-friendly. When the product is not actually true to its claims, it will not only smear its name but also that of the hotel that used it. It can topple down the whole effort of becoming a green hotel. This shows how important it is for the FTC to guard against false claims and labels on environmental compliance. Oftentimes, the key is in the factsif a product contains even the littlest amount of artificial material or chemical, the label should say so (Barnard, 2003, p.122-124).
There are some characteristics that furniture pieces need to possess to be called sustainable. Depending on their composition and the processes in which they are made, a product may belong in any specific category of environmental compliance. For instance, the use of wood in furniture products requires special attention to maintain an environmentally compliant production. Documentations are required to certify the harvesting location of the wood to ensure that regulated harvesting techniques have been used. Trees used for furniture create two categories based on the age of the tree at the time of the harvest. The first category includes trees from one to twelve years and the second from thirteen to twenty years. The one- to twelve-year trees accumulate a higher green percentage than the older trees. The one to twelve year tree count as ninety percent recycled content, while the thirteen to twenty year trees count as seventy percent rapidly renewable. Lumber from trees older than the twenty years do not count toward green percentage. Bamboo, however, is the exception to the age rule. With the extremely fast growth rate of the bamboo plant, the EFFC recognizes bamboo as a rapidly renewable resource and, therefore, counts it as a one hundred percent recycled product (Barnard, 2003).
Another notable feature of green furniture is its finish. While ordinary furniture uses lacquers, varnishes, and other finishing agents that contain harmful chemicals, green furniture uses FDA-approved finishing agents that are water- or oil-based (Barbara, 2007). Green furniture manufacturers guarantee a non-toxic and hundred percent environmentally friendly wood surfaces (Heung, et al., 2006). If hotel owners have growing concern with the number of pollutants released into the environment and the amount of forest that companies destroy, green furniture is the perfect choice. Though it can cost more, the benefits to the business and the environment are definitely worth the price. (Barnard, 2003).
Heung, et al. (2006) agrees that customers and even hotel owners may be puzzled about real eco-friendly products, especially furniture items. Below are some criteria that can be used to identify them
Use of alternative materials. The most popular base and accessory to furniture pieces is wood, but modern trends have diverted into other materials as well. Less use of wood in furniture production exemplifies fewer trees that have been cut and fewer forests that has been disturbed (Motavalli, 2002).
Certification. Not all wood furniture is detrimental to the environment. Wood furniture which comes with certification from the Forest Stewardship Council and similar agencies in other countries shows that the manufacturer cuts and replants trees in an acceptable manner to replenish the supply they take (Barnard, 2003).
Repurposing. There are furniture that may not have certification but are still made out of eco-friendly processes because they undergo recycling and repurposing. One houses door may become a hotels table. The hotels former sofa can be turned into benches. Fallen trunks can become furniture pieces too. All of these can be styled into functional pieces while still maintaining concern for nature.
Variety. Many people think that eco-friendly furniture lack style. For instance, some feel that plush couches cannot be earth-friendly and vice versa. Many people view eco-friendly furniture as being limited to wood, selected fabric or leather (Motavalli, 2002). However, modern furniture designs have succeeded in incorporating environmentally sustainable materials with current trends.
Price wars
With this campaign towards environmental awareness, the question of price becomes a secondary yet a very important part of the discussion. As it is commonly regarded, green furniture normally costs more. A synthetic ottoman, for example, may cost as low as 60 but a comparable bench made out of bamboo can cost 10 more. Green coffee tables can go as high as 250, a long shot at the 80 that non-green furniture varieties has (Target, 2010).
Illustrative price difference of regular and green furniture in Target.com (2010)
Regular Furniture at Target.com Eco-Friendly Furniture at Target.com
Instinctively, the price difference is due to the added expenses of using green raw materials too. Wood need to be taken from certified sources, finishing compounds must be made out of biodegradable formula, and all the other factors of creating green furniture must follow the strict rudiments of green living. No part of the process should harm the makers, the consumers, or the environment. Alter (2006) agrees, saying that when consumers appreciate the benefits of going green, they will be willing to pay the price difference just for the sake of sustainability.
Indeed, this is the best-case scenario. However, mass-produced low-cost furniture can always be the best option for hotels to maximize their profits. At a time when cost cutting is at its peak, business owners are always ready to choose the options that will save and those that will make more money. On the contrary, this can bring about significant effects on the environment and the users as well.
Reuse, recycle, or replace
Eco-friendly refurbished furniture reduces the hotels demand on the environment by preserving furniture created long ago. It prevents cutting down and wasting new trees and also lessens the garbage that needs to be disposed off. It also helps hotel owners improve their interiors with updated fine quality pieces of furniture instead of letting these old furniture go. (Motavalli, 2002). Han (2002) points out that wood products used centuries ago to create furniture pieces need maintenance and not disposal. However, there is challenge in maintaining old furniture. Aged finishes, including lacquer, turn black, translucent, and then semi-opaque. This can affect the look of the original wood, apart from the fact that aging can cause furniture finishes to become brittle and peel off easily (Heavin, 2008). Sometimes, even the best preservation conditions can offer little help for aging furniture and so hotel owners may just look at buying new ones.
One option that hotel owners can undertake is to remove the old finish using eco-friendly furniture techniques, including the use of earth-friendly finishes that are now available. This will regain the original beauty of the wood (Ahles, 2008). The beauty in repurposing and reviving old pieces is that the quality of older wood is generally better than what is available today. Todays finishes have very little comparison to the artisanship of old woodworks. The durability of old furniture is also guaranteed. In fact, most pieces made from wood more than twenty years ago will outlast the pieces made today (Heung, et al., 2006).
The production of furniture traditionally gives little concern to environmental sustainability. In the old times, there are no sustainable programs. Wood is harvested to provide consumer needs, and there is no consciousness on whether these resources will run out. There is also very little thought given on the processes and extra materials being used on furniture production. It is a good thing that most antique furniture can be used for generations. Thus, many hotels have used their antique furniture for long periods, minimizing the waster haste in the environment.
Perhaps, sustainability is best analyzed when a hotel is buying new furniture to either replace or add to their existing collection. Throughout the research, several options have been mentioned. Recycling is one of them. The hotels reuse or repurposing of existing furniture can provide for new needs while maintaining zero waste. Incorporating it with the use biodegradable paints and finishes add up to the sustainability of the process. Perry (2006) suggests the use of floorboards and wood cladding which are most appropriate for recycling.
Short of reusing and repurposing existing furniture, the hotel may also opt for second hand items that are often available through antique shops and flea markets. These does not only save the environment, it is also low in cost and the choices are frequently unique. There is also a wide range of styles and options available which means that there are pieces that will meet the needs of every one (Bonda Sosnowchik, 2007, p125).
Yet if a total revamp is required, thus pushing for a demand in brand new pieces, the hotel owner needs to take care of two things disposing the old and selecting the new. The decision to dispose old furniture is an important one because the thrust of green living is to reduce waste, recycle, and reuse. Thus, throwing away old furniture is not recommended. Hotel owners who will be changing their furniture pieces can donate or sell their old furniture so that it can be reused (GreenUsesForWaste, 2010). On the second part, utmost care should be taken in selecting the new furniture to ensure that it follows the standards that have been set for green products. Many marketers pose products as eco-friendly even if some of the raw materials used in its production do not conform to the standards. Hotel owners should be careful not to buy these products because they are not only a waste of money but also poses risks to the health of the hotel occupants.
Green certification
In the United States and several other countries around the world, LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. Managed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and it provides certifications for buildings which meet environmental safety standards. (USGBC, 2009) The process of going for LEED certification can be cumbersome and requires that building architects, developers, project managers and interior designers all work in tandem to achieve the ultimate goal. The additional costs to be a green building and to be certified is also a serious subject that aspiring hotels must cover. The expenses in incorporating environment-sensitive features in a building can add anywhere between 0.8 and 11.5 to the building costs, depending on whether the building is trying for a silver, gold, premium, or platinum certification. However, it gives an essential leverage to the building owners and, if any, its occupants. (Ling-B, 2008)
For hotels, an LEED certification is most important for its positive publicity. In a 2008 interview, fourteen hotels have been named by the USGBC as being green certified through its LEED certification system. Among these hotels are Kandalama Hotel (Sri Lanka), Len Foote Hike Inn (Georgia), the Palazzo (Las Vegas), Gaia Napa Valley (California), Proximity Hotel (North Carolina). Apart from the fourteen, more than 400 are still trying to get certified, a sign that sustainable tourism is the most sought after feature for todays hotels. For those who are certified, the benefits are tremendouspositive publicity, which often comes free savings from operational costs, since sustainable operations can decrease the cost in several aspects better image for the prospective hotel guests more guests and even tax credits from the city government. (Ling, 2008)
Simple knowledge on environment-friendly measures can go a long way. The use of bamboo, for one, can be a good start. The bamboo, which is a grass, matures faster than other popular furniture wood. It only takes between five and seven years, in which time the bamboo is hard enough to become sturdy furniture pieces. The height of a fully grown bamboo can reach 70 feet, resulting in fast turnover and almost limitless supply. (Kollath, 2008) This is in contrast to the once popular oak or ash wood, which takes up to 45 years to become fully grown. Thus, even if they are replenished after being cut down, it will still take many years before the new tree fully grows. (Motavalli, 2002)
What Hotel Owners consider when going Green and purchasing eco-friendly furniture
The first thing that a hotel should look for is practicality, Is furniture practical or does it just look good Buying for the wrong reasons is against eco awareness because the property will throw away the piece(s), creating more useless waste n the process. If the hotel owner is ready to buy eco furniture, it is best to visit several eco-friendly furniture stores and compare based on need. Hotel owners can always created their own slick, eco-friendly design based on recycled material taken from the hotel. Who knows, it might even be fun to do so (DeLollis, 2007).
Buying new furniture when furniture begins to wear is not practical from both an environmental and financial perspective. Disposing of the furniture often involves burning it, which can release damaging chemicals. In addition, if hotel owners dispose of furniture, they need to replace it. New furniture needs manufacture and transportation, which processes add unnecessarily to the global carbon footprint. Furniture refinishing reduces these problems. A good refinishing job can make a hotels existing furniture like new at a fraction of the cost of new furniture and with no environmental damage. Ultimately, it may even be fun to do so.
Chapter 3 Archival Review
An archival review compares the literature to articles and data amassed from current commerce leaders. It gives the research pertinent information coming from actual industry practices. This section suggests schemes and advantages centralized around hotels purchasing eco-friendly furniture and fixtures. It also draws data from catalogs and manuals from commercial vendors and corporate initiatives and resources.
Many hotels have started applying eco-friendly initiatives. These associations applied programs that sustain their thrust of taking care of the environment (Harrington, 2008). An associations logo or brand is a key component to reaching consumers, which ultimately affects hotel selection. Therefore, visitors need to recognize the hotel brand. When hotels choose and market environmentally amicable alternatives, customers seek hotels that support their personal causes. When hotels successfully undergo environmental compliance, they attract more customers especially those who have similar concern for nature (Yancey, 2007).
Hotels
Proximity Hotel
One of the more popular LEED-certified hotels in the world is the Proximity Hotel in North Carolina. The hotel has over 70 sustainable practices. It uses efficient construction technology which allows them to save up to 41 of energy employs solar panels use of recycled, second-hand, and salvaged materials for its interiors and accent pieces natural lighting efforts to recycle a large percentage of their construction waste water conservation fixtures and even provides bicycles for its guests (Proximity Hotel, n.d.).
With 55 credits in its sleeve, the hotel has Platinum LEED certificationthe highest rank that may be given to a building. It even perfected several criteria, thus exceeding the minimum 52 mark to achieve platinum accreditation (Proximity Hotel, n.d.). Indeed, Proximity Hotel took sustainable tourism seriously. They did not only employ superficial measures for the sake of certification, they also exceeded the expectations of green tourism.
Sheraton Rittenhouse Square (Philadelphia)
The Sheraton Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia dubs itself as the most environmentally sound hotel in the continental United States (Han, 2002). The hotel converted five floors of a seventeen-story downtown office building into a 193-room hotel. The cost of the conversion was 20 million, but making it eco-friendly was inexpensive. For each room, 100,000 has been invested yet only 400 was needed to make each compliant to their environmental thrust. The budget was distributed among air filtration systems, organic furniture and fabrics, self-contained laundry areas, and an atrium with 40-foot tall bamboo which generated thirty-five percent more oxygen than most atrium plants. The hotel projected a threefold return on the 400 in three years (Han, 2002). Interestingly, after six months of operations, the average daily occupancy rate of the hotel was about fifteen percent higher than what was anticipated and higher than what was projected by G.F. Management, the property managers. In effect, revenue poured into the hotel more quickly (Carlson, 2005).
Bancroft Hotel
The Bancroft Hotel is a National Registered Landmark and a premier boutique hotel in Berkeley, California. In its redevelopment, the hotel teamed with The Refinishing Touch (TRT) to update their furniture (Rosato, 2009). This is part of a large-scale renovation for the 1928 hotel. Known for its historic appeal, exemplary customer service, and nature-sensitive practices, the Bancroft has become a part of the rich and diverse history of the Bay Area (Large, 2009).
After several upgrades in the 1990s, the Bancroft embarked on a new project with sustainability as its primary motivation. In the process, it aspired to preserve the history of the property with the least investment. The Bancrofts commitment to going green includes the use of organic cotton sheets and bamboo towels in each of its 22 guest rooms as well as the use of cork flooring, recycled carpet tiles, nontoxic paints, and earth-friendly cleaning solutions throughout the property (Heavin, 2008). Furnishings for the hotel were custom pieces based on the architects original 1928 drawings of the furniture for the building, designed to match the look and feel of the hotel and to maximize the space for each room. An on-site furniture refinishing company has been recruited to renovate the key pieces of Bancrofts furniture, ensuring that the design and specifications followed the original plans. (Barbara, 2007).
RT successfully converted the furniture with accuracy and appeal. To keep the original designs and to create new pieces of furniture from existing ones, the RT team modified the height and decreased the depth of armoires. They aligned drawers and transformed them into desks. The tops of the armoires were used for new countertops too (Heavin, 2008). This proves RTs track record in furniture refinishing, fabric design and re-upholstering, armoire modifications, and customized granite production. Well-known in all industries, the company has saved up to half a million hardwood trees from destruction by refinishing old furniture and making it useful again (Shepard, 2007).
Hotel Services
The Refinishing Touch
The Bancroft Hotel is only one among the many establishments and individuals who have been benefitted by the expertise of The Refinishing Touch (RT). By its name, it can be identified with high-quality renovations of furniture pieces, making them useful again and avoiding, or delaying, their disposal. RT features on-site production, making customization easier and more accurate. (Heung, et al., 2006) The company is also cost-friendly, and their service decreases the demand for wood which should be used in creating new furniture. In effect, deforestation is lessened (Ahles, 2008). Barnard (2003) agrees that RT provides an important service for hotel owners, and this service is extended in the way the hotels serve their clientele.
As an added feature, RT provides what they call the Global Furniture Asset Management which helps hotels and other client establishments in assessing their budget and funds in terms of their furniture and fixture, noting that these are the companys assets too. By doing this, RT claims that the investments made on furniture can be recovered and maximized. (Carlson, 2005)
EGM Green
EGM Green is the pioneer in green casino tables, gaming seating, and luxury lounge furniture. It is a consulting, design, and manufacturing firm which aims to supply the hotel and casino market with one hundred percent eco-friendly gaming products. One good feature of EGM Green is that hotel owners using their products can earn points towards LEED certificationan important edge in the highly competitive certification demand for hotels. The product line includes poker tables, blackjack tables, roulette tables, mini-baccarat, and more, all of which are made of eco-friendly materials. There is also a variety of seating products (Motavalli, 2002).
EGM Greens offering is a breakthrough in the hospitality furniture business because they offer more than the usual pieces. They concentrate on casino products, which many hotels need. Thus, instead of ordering especially-made casino furniture, hotels can choose among the wide variety of EGM Greens products. The initiative also supports the hotels sustainable programs.
CSC Furniture Enterprises
CSC Furniture Enterprises, a known company which makes and distributes fine furniture pieces, knows that their industry highly relies on forests, and so it takes measures to conserve their resources. They also accept the fact that green hotels choose furniture partners with the same mission of helping the environment. Thus, CSC creates furniture pieces with minimal waste yet maintaining high standards of quality. Though wastes cannot be eliminated, CSC is able to trim theirs by throwing away only the defective and unusable parts (Carson, 2005). CSCs maintenance of a reforestation process is a commendable move. Without the supply of wood coming from forests, the furniture industry will never be the same. It will also be more difficult for hotels that are going green.
Chapter 4 Analysis
In analyzing the findings, a matrix comparing the companies discussed in the Archive Review with the three aspects included in the research framework (social, economic, environmental) has been created. Thus,
Table 1. Matrix of Affectivity in Hotels and Hotel Services
HotelsHotel
Almost all of the establishments, hotel or hotel service, shared similarities in considering social responsibility. The same can be said for the environmental aspect, though this is in part caused by the main thrust of the topic, which is the environment. On the other hand, Proximity Hotel and EGM Green are not affected by economic aspects. This is shown in the grandiosity of Proximitys efforts to be a green hotel. It is also obvious in the high price range of EGM Greens pieces. However, as what has been justified in the discussion, these investments pay off.
With the growing sensitivity of consumers towards green living, it became a pre-requisite for many businesses to get by. Most are keen on riding the bandwagon while some are genuinely concerned with the amount of carbon footprint that humans are leaving. Either way, businesses have accepted the fact that environmental sustainability is now an important facet in any industry. Hotels have accepted this fact too, and this gave a boost to green tourism.
Over the years that followed, hotels have started competing in this aspect. Applying for an LEED certification became a primary yet essential step in becoming green certified. One way in which hotels are changing is through their furniture. To be true to their environment-friendly ideology, hotels need to make sure that the furniture pieces that they use are up to the standards of green tourism. This means that the items are not only safe to the users but also followed the stringent process of production that ensures no harm to the environment.
Consumers who are sensitive about green living are always concerned about the health effects of synthetic substances. Chemicals which are now ever-present in almost everything that people use everyday pose serious health risks. Hotels are designed to provide a second home for travelers, business people, families, and many other social groups. With this said, it is obvious why the hospitality industry have taken measures to be environmentally sustainable. Indeed, if customers are starting to live green in their own homes, they would prefer to check in hotels which share the same vision and values as they do.
Apart from the health concerns, many hotels are becoming green to keep up with the trend. More and more establishments are becoming certified, and this additional investment proved to be a big help in increasing positive publicity and income. This became a motivational factor for many hotels. For them becoming green is not only good for the health, it is also good for business. However, the rise in the hype on green tourism led to disinformation. Some establishments would claim support for green tourism even if they do not follow the standards for becoming certified. Some hotels announce certification even if the products and furniture that they use and the construction process that they underwent does not match those that are prescribed.
Many hotels do this because of the steep price tag that green tourism may require. LEED certification experts agreed that the higher certification a hotel is aspiring for, the higher the additional costs that it shoulders to improve their establishment. Furniture-wise, nothing can be farther from the truth. A quick glance at online catalogs would reveal that green furniture are in fact more expensive than regular furniture. The price difference widens if the furniture being compared is mass-produced. On the other hand, there are hotels like the Sheraton Rittenhouse Square which were able to incorporate green living standards for fewer than 5 of their total construction expenses.
This shows that cost management is essential for hotels who are trying to become green certified but has very limited capital to use. As furniture items make up for a large percentage of hotel expenses, it is wise for hotel owners to consider three options
reuse old furniture to avoid disposing them, then applying environment friendly measures in other aspects such as in water supply, lighting, and fixtures
recycle old furniture so that they are not disposed but their materials are replaced by environment-friendly ones or
replace old furniture with new green furniture, and then the old pieces can be sold or given away.
Through services such as RTs Global Furniture Asset Management, hotels can set a budget and strictly follow it when deciding on their green furniture and fixtures. Apart from this, the hotels can also easily integrate green furniture on their existing lineand even use their existing line to have environment-friendly pieces. Short of using these services, creativity and ample knowledge on environment-friendly materials are keys to cost-effective procurement of green furniture and fixtures. The use of bamboo is a very common option for many hotels who decided to take part on green tourism.
Learning from existing LEED-certified hotels and green tourism advocates will be a good way for hotels to start participating in this sustainability programs. The Proximity Hotel, a Platinum LEED-certified establishment, counts more than 70 environmentally-sustainable practicesfrom using solar panels to providing bicycles to its guests. The Bancroft Hotel, on the other hand, exemplified how hotels can incorporate green living on little budget as well as using old furniture to recreate a green environment.
With the growing demand on green furniture, more and more companies are also starting to offer lines of eco-friendly furniture, furniture restoration, and refinishing. EGM Green, The Refinishing Touch, and CSC Hotel Furniture are just three among the many establishments who can help hotels plan on their green tourism furniture. When the furniture pieces have become eco-friendly, the fixtures and other aspects can follow suit to match the initiative.
Yet the bottom line in this whole discussion revolves around the business perspective of a hotel. Capital-wise, going green can mean additional expenses for the hotel. This raises the needed capital, whether a hotel is just starting or even renovating. On the other hand, it has been found that hotels who have environment sustainability programs receive more guests. This translates to more income.
All of these show the scenario for hotels which are aspiring to be environmentally sustainable. Indeed, there are many factors to consider. In becoming certified, there are many guidelines to follow and requirements to meet. Going green is a difficult process, and costly at that. However, the benefits for the hotels are tremendous. They do not only show care for their employees and guests, they also show concern for the environment.
Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendations
The demand for green furniture has never been bigger. Hotels who are going green is starting with their furniture and fixtures, and they are often torn between replacing their existing collections and having them recycled or refinished. Either way, this is a good sign that the tourism industry is continuously adapting sustainability measures. It also has many benefits.
Harmless to health. Guests in green hotels can rest assured that they are using eco-friendly fixtures and products. This makes green hotels more appealing than accommodations with no environment sustainability programs. With eco-friendly furniture and fixtures, the quality of air and overall effect of the business to the guests and the environment is more positive.
Harmless manufacturing process. Eco-friendly furniture underwent processes that are safe for the environment. Trees or, in the case of bamboo, grasses that has been used to manufacture these types of furniture are replaced and the finishing that is used in these are biodegradable and non-toxic. This lessens the problem of deforestation in the long run.
Cost-effective. Renovating into green tourism can cost a lot, but creativity can actually be used to make procurement of green furniture cost effective. Refinishing, recycling, or buying second-hand green pieces can cost less yet provide more benefits to the hotel.
Going back, it will be remembered that a matrix of interconnecting factors has been shown to illustrate how the economy, society, and environment affects the quality of sustainable hotel interiors. In return, eco-friendly furniture also affects these factors. After a thorough research, the said matrix can now be expanded to include important findings on the relationship of these factors.
Figure 3. Expanded Overlapping Matrix
Hotels often consider these three things when getting green furniture. First, the economic value of the purchase is considered. The effects on the capital cost, operating cost, taxes and the value of the property is determined. Social factors are also looked into. Being in the tourism industry, the perception of the public, including the customers, is important. Marketing is another aspect that hotels observe. Lastly, the environmental factor of going green is regarded.
Through the research, it has been found that all of these factors play a big role in a hotels decision to go green. In effect, these factors help the hotel maximize their profits as well noting that going green can result to more customers. Many hotels can stand true to this, which can serve as an inspiration to new players in the green tourism area.
In summary, the writer believes that several aspects of operation helped in the rise of green tourism, specifically in the hospitality industry.
Government regulation. As more government agencies are imposing strict measures on taking care of the environment, more hotels are responding positively. This also standardizes the certification process and sets the boundaries between the real green establishments and those who are just calling themselves sustainable, further protecting the welfare of the consumers.
Guest demand. As more people are becoming sensitive about environmental concerns, more hotel guests will appreciate the initiatives of green hoteleven making them a primary choice over others. In the process, more hotels try to compete in this area. As the competition grows, the benefits of the hospitality industry to the environment increases as well.
Long-term benefits. Hotels are accepting the fact that becoming environment friendly may cost some money, but the rewards exceed the expenses. Establishments who become sustainable look at these expenses as investments because they pay off, even covering the additional operational costs.
Hotels should also consider many things when going green. This will make the transition easier and more effective. Moreover, thorough study on the process will also ensure that the hotel will be able to buy furniture pieces that are genuinely environment friendly. The following points are recommendations that hotels can reflect on
Hotels can create a team that will manage the companys environmental programs.
Broken or worn furniture pieces, or those that have toxic finishes, can be refinished and reused.
Replacing furniture collections can contribute to waste haste, which is contrary to the thrust of green tourism.
Recycling is a very good option instead of throwing away old furniture.
If hotels have decided that they do not want to reuse or recycle their old furniture, donating or selling them is a better alternative.
Wood furniture should be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, certifying that the wood used in them is harvested in a controlled environment that contributed no harm to the environment.
The finish on the furniture should be non-toxic and biodegradable.
Flame retardant products, including foams for pillows and couches, should be avoided as it can be detrimental to health. Green furniture should not have these chemicals.
Eco-friendly fabrics come in a variety of design to match any interior design. This can contribute to the green initiative of the hotel.
Hotels can start with furniture, but there are more ways to promote green tourism. It should be noted that using eco-friendly furniture is not enough to be LEED certified. Other measures should be made to reinforce environment sustainability.
Using green furniture is an important step on becoming sustainable, but there should be sensitivity on the process. It has been concluded that even though going green is an additional investment, it can be a rewarding move. The rewards are not only monetary, the positive publicity and the good marketing entailed are also advantageous to the hotel. Thus, business-wise, it is a recommended option for the hospitality industry.
When hotels are just starting, buying new furniture that follows the green standards is an easy option. The problem, however, lies on hotels which are undergoing transition between regular furniture collections and eco-friendly series. Environmental protection means procuring green furniture, but also being careful about the disposal of the old ones. Waste haste can be a problem which is as big as the problem of toxicity. If hotels are able to become sustainable while looking at both aspects, then they can truly say that the project has really succeeded.
Green tourism may appear as a marketing platform, but the whole point of going green is the environment. The rising concern on environmental issues has become global, and it follows that green tourism has gone global too. In any case, the main premise of environmental sustainability is to reduce the effects of the hospitality industry in the environment in as much aspect as it can reach. Ultimately, this can make the stay of the guests more enjoyable, the work in the hotel more rewarding, and the business of the hotel more meaningful.
It can be said that a hotel is environmentally sensitive if it has altered its equipment, policies, and practices to minimize its damage to the environment. Indeed, there are hundreds of practices that a hotel can implement to minimize the so-called carbon footprint of its business and consumers. However, it cannot be said that all hotels who have pledged at becoming environmentally sustainable are holistic at it. It should also be noted that becoming environmentally friendly will require a major shift for the hotels, and improper management of this shift can create further waste that can be equally harmful to the environment.
Many hotel owners start with eco-friendly furniture in view of creating an eco-friendly atmosphere. Furniture distinguishes a hotel from its competitors and many eco-friendly models reflect both style and comfort. However, careful selection is a must. Most of the available furniture in this category is made out of a variety of materials such as recycled wood or paper bi-products, second-generation steel and metal products, and bio-based non-toxic materials that cause less pollution. There are eco-friendly furniture that are inexpensive while maintaining design appeal that is essential for the hotel business, but there are some who transcend the typical and for which consumers will have to pay a steep price. Yet the best thing about becoming environmentally sensitive is the self-satisfaction to hotel owners that they have done something to benefit the environment, their business, and the customers.
This research covers three important facets in using sustainable hotel interiors. It is proposed that there are three overlapping aspects that need to be discussed. First, there is the social aspect which promotes how the internal and external environments in the hotel are affected by its use of eco-friendly furniture. Secondly, there is an economic aspect which includes the financial concerns that is involved in this transition. Lastly, the main focus of using eco-friendly furniture is the environment. Thus, it is important to consider this and to accept that it affects and is affected by both the social and economic aspects in the framework.
Definition of Terms
Throughout the paper, the term green living, green tourism, green products, and green furniture are used. For clarity, it should be noted that the use of the word green in these phrases denote being environment-friendly. Environment friendly, eco-friendly, and environmental sustainability are also catch phrases throughout the paper. This refers to the feature of furniture and fixtures in relation to sustainability, wherein the raw materials used should be safe, biodegradable, and sourced from sustainable processes.
Purpose of the Study
This study investigates the various benefits that hotel owners can have if they purchase and use eco-friendly furniture and fixtures in their hotels. The research shall cover the benefits in terms of impact to customers and capital expenses. Ultimately, findings to these two aspects can be used to conclude on the impacts of using eco-friendly furniture to a hotels business growth.
Research Problem and Questions
The main focus of the research will revolve around this central question In what ways, does purchasing eco-friendly furniture and fixtures benefit a hotel In the process of research the following topics shall also be covered.
Standards. What are the standards that furniture and fixtures need to meet in order to be considered environmentally friendly
Costs. What are the cost differences between eco-friendly versus the typical standard furniture and fixtures
Design. What are the design differences between eco-friendly versus the typical standard furniture and fixtures
Composition. What are the environmental differences between eco-friendly versus the typicalstandard furniture and fixtures
Green certification. What is the process for a hotel to become green certified
Conceptual Framework
This study explores the concept of using eco-friendly furniture in hotels and how this benefits their business. The primary focus is its relationship to the ecological, economical, and sociological standpoints of a hotel. The strategies and approaches presented in this paper will help increase the sustainability of hotels by minimizing their negative impacts on the surrounding ecosystems and cultures while increasing their positive contributions to the environment, cultural heritage preservation and community development. When all three elements (economical, social and environmental) come together, they provide a sustainable hotel.
The figure below illustrates the provisions a sustainable hotel.
Figure 1. Overlapping framework.
Research Framework
In order to understand eco-friendly furniture and fixtures and its benefits to a hotel owner, the research will examine the associated literature to provide theoretical evidence regarding the topic. The primary focus of the study will be to analyze the five sub-questions and their relationship to the proposed research problem. There is also an archival review which introduces companies from which data will be drawn to enhance the research of the proposed topic. The backgrounds from these companies will provide a realistic approach to the research which, if compared with the theoretical aspect as provided by the literature review, will provide the findings for the study including information on the accessibility of products and initiatives that can be easily and cost-effectively implemented to enhance the design and operations of any hotel. The information derived from the literature, comments from qualified hotel owners and brand leaders, and archival reviews from an array of successful worldwide hotel companies will be presented to the reader to show how a transition to an eco-friendly hotel is possible.
Overall, the main purpose of this study is to examine the various benefits that hotel owners gain by purchasing and using eco-friendly furniture and fixtures. It is hypothesized that by undergoing an eco-friendly conversion the financial strength of a hotel can increase, generating a positive and relatively prompt return on investment for any investor or operator. Through the analysis of the literary and archival reviews that will be made for the research, conclusions and recommendations will be provided as a response to the central and underlying research questions as enumerated above.
SHAPE MERGEFORMAT
Figure 2. Research framework.
Significance of the Study
Every day people are becoming more aware of the environment and the need to protect it. From merely recognizing the perils of using plastic bags, the concern to the environment has become conclusive and global. Today, even consumer services are being probed by customers. Instinctively, environmentally sensitive consumers choose products and services which are environmentally sound as well. Buying furniture made out of natural raw materials or recycling processes is a sound, albeit costly, move for most. On top of it being a personal choice, it is also a good business decision and strategy especially for those who are in the hospitality business because of the benefits.
Eco-friendly furniture products are completely harmless to the customer because it is composed of non-toxic and reusable materials. There is a guarantee that the process that the furniture goes through will not harm anyone in the hotel environment. Even wooden furniture can be eco-friendly for every tree cut for the creation of such furniture, another is planted. Some wooden furniture are also made from reclaimed wood. All of the processes that eco-friendly furniture use have minimal negative impact on the environment. When hotels use such furniture, they show concern for the environment and for their individual customers. This study hopes to illustrate how this can benefit a hotels business.
CHAPTER II Literature Review
Following rising concerns about global warming, some individuals favor environmentally friendly furniture. There are many advantages to using furniture made from eco-sensitive materials. They do not only reduce deforestation, they also encourage recycling which can lessen the waste haste and prevent known harms to the environment (Rosato, 2009). Furniture manufacturers use a wide range of materials. Though some customers may not notice whether a piece of furniture is manufactured using eco-friendly materials, the trend is changing rapidly because of the different environmental awareness programs. Conducting a thorough search of the furniture market yields a variety of eco-friendly furniture offerings. When choosing eco-friendly furniture, it is not necessary to compromise on quality, style, and design. Any furniture material, including wood, metal, and plastic, can be eco-friendly based on its preparation and manufacturing process (Doberstein, 2002).
According to Barbara (2007), technological advances have greatly improved our lifestyles. However, there are also negative impacts brought about by innovation. Even inside hotels, the quality of air is still questionable (Bowe, 2005). In response to this, the hotel industry embraced the growing craze on environmental stewardship. The market for eco-friendly furniture rose as hotels started investing on non-toxic and safe furniture, which is what green products are all about (Harrington, 2008).
In the old times, rare and exotic trees are cut down and exorbitantly priced for making equally rare and expensive furniture (Kollath, 2008). Today, a new tree should be planted to replace each one that has been cut. Nontoxic bonding agents are also used, a far cry from the highly contaminating products that was being used once (Carlson, 2005 Motavalli, 2002).
A 2009 North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index study showed that eco-friendly hotels made great strides in awareness, guest satisfaction, and participation in sustainable programs since the previous reporting period in 2008. In a study by J. D. Powers, over 66,000 guests who stayed in North American hotels between May 2008 and June 2009 have been surveyed. Some notable findings about environmental concern within lodging places taken directly from the release included (a) guest awareness of the hotels green programs increased significantly in 2009 and (b) 66 percent of guests said they were aware of the same hotels conservation efforts, up from 57 percent in 2008 (Rosato, 2009).
Awareness of the green programs had a strong impact on the overall guest satisfaction. On average, satisfaction was more than 160 points higher among guests who reported awareness of the hotels environment sustenance programs, compared to guests who were unaware (Perry, 2006). The study illustrated that green hospitality had a firm hold on the industry and that, overall, it was being done well.
For healths sake
The media continues to feature eco-friendly furniture and its benefits therefore increase its popularity. According to Bowe (2005), eco-friendly furniture made from renewable or recycled resources contained very few harmful chemicals. On the other hand, many types of conventional furniture contained high levels of toxic halogenated fire retardants. Studies revealed Americans tested for toxins had halogenated fire retardants stored in their bodies, with babies and children showing the highest levels (DeLollis, 2007). Infants and children were the most vulnerable to the effects of halogenated fire retardant chemicals, which traveled through the placenta and breast milk. Levels of halogenated fire retardants in breast milk increased 40-fold since the 1970s (Perry, 2006). All of these show the health risks that can be avoided if people are more aware of the compositions of the products and services that they use. The trend on fire retardant furniture and home accessories are not only harmful to the health but also to the environment. The same can be said of other furniture made out of more chemicals than natural raw materials.
The challenge is even higher for the hotels. With the thrust to bring maximum comfort and safety to their occupants, they are in the best position to promote the use of furniture that are not only stylish but also safe for the health of their clientele. While exposure is questionable because most hotel guests stay for short periods of time, the long-term investment is the impression on the guests. Sustainable development is always pleasing, and guests will appreciate it to know that a hotel took the long mile to make their stay safer through environmentally friendly furniture.
Keeping up with the trend
The use of environmentally friendly solutions presents a unique challenge in procuring products to be used in hospitality services (Harrington, 2008). Hotels usually require a high turnover rate for furniture and fixtures. Hotels may replace their current furniture and fixtures because of durability issues, such as damage or age. They may also try to renew or refresh their look, a step which sometimes require buying new items.
The furniture industry is similarly quick at updating their styles and purposes to keep up with the needs of their customers, hotels included. In the process, mass production has become inevitable. This also made pricing more competitive for the buyers. If hotels buy the regular furniture, they can keep up with the trends and answer their needs without spending a fortune. However, products made in mass production facilities typically have a high impact on the environment with the process involving widespread use of non-renewable resources (Ahles, 2008). Thus, it becomes more important for hotel owners to be more conscious about the furniture that they buy for their customers use.
Today, a lot of eco-friendly products are available in the marketplace and the number of hotels making claims on environmental sensitivity increased (Heavin, 2008). Kollath (2008) agrees that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should address green marketing claims in order for consumers to trust the products they purchase as environmentally friendly, in case some hotels abuse the claims. True enough, the FTC gave notices and charged several hotels with making unsubstantiated, false and deceptive claims regarding bamboo fabric and other textile products marketed as green and environmentally friendly. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the bamboo fabric prevalent in the retail marketplace was the same as rayon (Carlson, 2005), and manufactured in the same way. Bamboo has always been advertised as a top eco-friendly fabric however, converting bamboo into yarn fiber required the identical cellulose fiber extraction process as making rayon from other trees and plants (Barnard, 2003). This is otherwise known as green washing and threatened not only the customers but the groups supporting the green movement as well. Other than the FTCs Green Guide, there were no federal mandates with respect to the use of the terms green or eco-friendly. Europe surpassed the United States in this area by establishing guidelines and standards before a product or service can be called eco-friendly (Perry, 2006).
Genuine ingenuity
It is important for the FTC to ratify claims of products and services as eco-friendly as any confusion can lead to a chain that is fatal to the movement. When a product advertises that it is eco-friendly, a hotel may buy it in its effort to be similarly eco-friendly. When the product is not actually true to its claims, it will not only smear its name but also that of the hotel that used it. It can topple down the whole effort of becoming a green hotel. This shows how important it is for the FTC to guard against false claims and labels on environmental compliance. Oftentimes, the key is in the factsif a product contains even the littlest amount of artificial material or chemical, the label should say so (Barnard, 2003, p.122-124).
There are some characteristics that furniture pieces need to possess to be called sustainable. Depending on their composition and the processes in which they are made, a product may belong in any specific category of environmental compliance. For instance, the use of wood in furniture products requires special attention to maintain an environmentally compliant production. Documentations are required to certify the harvesting location of the wood to ensure that regulated harvesting techniques have been used. Trees used for furniture create two categories based on the age of the tree at the time of the harvest. The first category includes trees from one to twelve years and the second from thirteen to twenty years. The one- to twelve-year trees accumulate a higher green percentage than the older trees. The one to twelve year tree count as ninety percent recycled content, while the thirteen to twenty year trees count as seventy percent rapidly renewable. Lumber from trees older than the twenty years do not count toward green percentage. Bamboo, however, is the exception to the age rule. With the extremely fast growth rate of the bamboo plant, the EFFC recognizes bamboo as a rapidly renewable resource and, therefore, counts it as a one hundred percent recycled product (Barnard, 2003).
Another notable feature of green furniture is its finish. While ordinary furniture uses lacquers, varnishes, and other finishing agents that contain harmful chemicals, green furniture uses FDA-approved finishing agents that are water- or oil-based (Barbara, 2007). Green furniture manufacturers guarantee a non-toxic and hundred percent environmentally friendly wood surfaces (Heung, et al., 2006). If hotel owners have growing concern with the number of pollutants released into the environment and the amount of forest that companies destroy, green furniture is the perfect choice. Though it can cost more, the benefits to the business and the environment are definitely worth the price. (Barnard, 2003).
Heung, et al. (2006) agrees that customers and even hotel owners may be puzzled about real eco-friendly products, especially furniture items. Below are some criteria that can be used to identify them
Use of alternative materials. The most popular base and accessory to furniture pieces is wood, but modern trends have diverted into other materials as well. Less use of wood in furniture production exemplifies fewer trees that have been cut and fewer forests that has been disturbed (Motavalli, 2002).
Certification. Not all wood furniture is detrimental to the environment. Wood furniture which comes with certification from the Forest Stewardship Council and similar agencies in other countries shows that the manufacturer cuts and replants trees in an acceptable manner to replenish the supply they take (Barnard, 2003).
Repurposing. There are furniture that may not have certification but are still made out of eco-friendly processes because they undergo recycling and repurposing. One houses door may become a hotels table. The hotels former sofa can be turned into benches. Fallen trunks can become furniture pieces too. All of these can be styled into functional pieces while still maintaining concern for nature.
Variety. Many people think that eco-friendly furniture lack style. For instance, some feel that plush couches cannot be earth-friendly and vice versa. Many people view eco-friendly furniture as being limited to wood, selected fabric or leather (Motavalli, 2002). However, modern furniture designs have succeeded in incorporating environmentally sustainable materials with current trends.
Price wars
With this campaign towards environmental awareness, the question of price becomes a secondary yet a very important part of the discussion. As it is commonly regarded, green furniture normally costs more. A synthetic ottoman, for example, may cost as low as 60 but a comparable bench made out of bamboo can cost 10 more. Green coffee tables can go as high as 250, a long shot at the 80 that non-green furniture varieties has (Target, 2010).
Illustrative price difference of regular and green furniture in Target.com (2010)
Regular Furniture at Target.com Eco-Friendly Furniture at Target.com
Instinctively, the price difference is due to the added expenses of using green raw materials too. Wood need to be taken from certified sources, finishing compounds must be made out of biodegradable formula, and all the other factors of creating green furniture must follow the strict rudiments of green living. No part of the process should harm the makers, the consumers, or the environment. Alter (2006) agrees, saying that when consumers appreciate the benefits of going green, they will be willing to pay the price difference just for the sake of sustainability.
Indeed, this is the best-case scenario. However, mass-produced low-cost furniture can always be the best option for hotels to maximize their profits. At a time when cost cutting is at its peak, business owners are always ready to choose the options that will save and those that will make more money. On the contrary, this can bring about significant effects on the environment and the users as well.
Reuse, recycle, or replace
Eco-friendly refurbished furniture reduces the hotels demand on the environment by preserving furniture created long ago. It prevents cutting down and wasting new trees and also lessens the garbage that needs to be disposed off. It also helps hotel owners improve their interiors with updated fine quality pieces of furniture instead of letting these old furniture go. (Motavalli, 2002). Han (2002) points out that wood products used centuries ago to create furniture pieces need maintenance and not disposal. However, there is challenge in maintaining old furniture. Aged finishes, including lacquer, turn black, translucent, and then semi-opaque. This can affect the look of the original wood, apart from the fact that aging can cause furniture finishes to become brittle and peel off easily (Heavin, 2008). Sometimes, even the best preservation conditions can offer little help for aging furniture and so hotel owners may just look at buying new ones.
One option that hotel owners can undertake is to remove the old finish using eco-friendly furniture techniques, including the use of earth-friendly finishes that are now available. This will regain the original beauty of the wood (Ahles, 2008). The beauty in repurposing and reviving old pieces is that the quality of older wood is generally better than what is available today. Todays finishes have very little comparison to the artisanship of old woodworks. The durability of old furniture is also guaranteed. In fact, most pieces made from wood more than twenty years ago will outlast the pieces made today (Heung, et al., 2006).
The production of furniture traditionally gives little concern to environmental sustainability. In the old times, there are no sustainable programs. Wood is harvested to provide consumer needs, and there is no consciousness on whether these resources will run out. There is also very little thought given on the processes and extra materials being used on furniture production. It is a good thing that most antique furniture can be used for generations. Thus, many hotels have used their antique furniture for long periods, minimizing the waster haste in the environment.
Perhaps, sustainability is best analyzed when a hotel is buying new furniture to either replace or add to their existing collection. Throughout the research, several options have been mentioned. Recycling is one of them. The hotels reuse or repurposing of existing furniture can provide for new needs while maintaining zero waste. Incorporating it with the use biodegradable paints and finishes add up to the sustainability of the process. Perry (2006) suggests the use of floorboards and wood cladding which are most appropriate for recycling.
Short of reusing and repurposing existing furniture, the hotel may also opt for second hand items that are often available through antique shops and flea markets. These does not only save the environment, it is also low in cost and the choices are frequently unique. There is also a wide range of styles and options available which means that there are pieces that will meet the needs of every one (Bonda Sosnowchik, 2007, p125).
Yet if a total revamp is required, thus pushing for a demand in brand new pieces, the hotel owner needs to take care of two things disposing the old and selecting the new. The decision to dispose old furniture is an important one because the thrust of green living is to reduce waste, recycle, and reuse. Thus, throwing away old furniture is not recommended. Hotel owners who will be changing their furniture pieces can donate or sell their old furniture so that it can be reused (GreenUsesForWaste, 2010). On the second part, utmost care should be taken in selecting the new furniture to ensure that it follows the standards that have been set for green products. Many marketers pose products as eco-friendly even if some of the raw materials used in its production do not conform to the standards. Hotel owners should be careful not to buy these products because they are not only a waste of money but also poses risks to the health of the hotel occupants.
Green certification
In the United States and several other countries around the world, LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. Managed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and it provides certifications for buildings which meet environmental safety standards. (USGBC, 2009) The process of going for LEED certification can be cumbersome and requires that building architects, developers, project managers and interior designers all work in tandem to achieve the ultimate goal. The additional costs to be a green building and to be certified is also a serious subject that aspiring hotels must cover. The expenses in incorporating environment-sensitive features in a building can add anywhere between 0.8 and 11.5 to the building costs, depending on whether the building is trying for a silver, gold, premium, or platinum certification. However, it gives an essential leverage to the building owners and, if any, its occupants. (Ling-B, 2008)
For hotels, an LEED certification is most important for its positive publicity. In a 2008 interview, fourteen hotels have been named by the USGBC as being green certified through its LEED certification system. Among these hotels are Kandalama Hotel (Sri Lanka), Len Foote Hike Inn (Georgia), the Palazzo (Las Vegas), Gaia Napa Valley (California), Proximity Hotel (North Carolina). Apart from the fourteen, more than 400 are still trying to get certified, a sign that sustainable tourism is the most sought after feature for todays hotels. For those who are certified, the benefits are tremendouspositive publicity, which often comes free savings from operational costs, since sustainable operations can decrease the cost in several aspects better image for the prospective hotel guests more guests and even tax credits from the city government. (Ling, 2008)
Simple knowledge on environment-friendly measures can go a long way. The use of bamboo, for one, can be a good start. The bamboo, which is a grass, matures faster than other popular furniture wood. It only takes between five and seven years, in which time the bamboo is hard enough to become sturdy furniture pieces. The height of a fully grown bamboo can reach 70 feet, resulting in fast turnover and almost limitless supply. (Kollath, 2008) This is in contrast to the once popular oak or ash wood, which takes up to 45 years to become fully grown. Thus, even if they are replenished after being cut down, it will still take many years before the new tree fully grows. (Motavalli, 2002)
What Hotel Owners consider when going Green and purchasing eco-friendly furniture
The first thing that a hotel should look for is practicality, Is furniture practical or does it just look good Buying for the wrong reasons is against eco awareness because the property will throw away the piece(s), creating more useless waste n the process. If the hotel owner is ready to buy eco furniture, it is best to visit several eco-friendly furniture stores and compare based on need. Hotel owners can always created their own slick, eco-friendly design based on recycled material taken from the hotel. Who knows, it might even be fun to do so (DeLollis, 2007).
Buying new furniture when furniture begins to wear is not practical from both an environmental and financial perspective. Disposing of the furniture often involves burning it, which can release damaging chemicals. In addition, if hotel owners dispose of furniture, they need to replace it. New furniture needs manufacture and transportation, which processes add unnecessarily to the global carbon footprint. Furniture refinishing reduces these problems. A good refinishing job can make a hotels existing furniture like new at a fraction of the cost of new furniture and with no environmental damage. Ultimately, it may even be fun to do so.
Chapter 3 Archival Review
An archival review compares the literature to articles and data amassed from current commerce leaders. It gives the research pertinent information coming from actual industry practices. This section suggests schemes and advantages centralized around hotels purchasing eco-friendly furniture and fixtures. It also draws data from catalogs and manuals from commercial vendors and corporate initiatives and resources.
Many hotels have started applying eco-friendly initiatives. These associations applied programs that sustain their thrust of taking care of the environment (Harrington, 2008). An associations logo or brand is a key component to reaching consumers, which ultimately affects hotel selection. Therefore, visitors need to recognize the hotel brand. When hotels choose and market environmentally amicable alternatives, customers seek hotels that support their personal causes. When hotels successfully undergo environmental compliance, they attract more customers especially those who have similar concern for nature (Yancey, 2007).
Hotels
Proximity Hotel
One of the more popular LEED-certified hotels in the world is the Proximity Hotel in North Carolina. The hotel has over 70 sustainable practices. It uses efficient construction technology which allows them to save up to 41 of energy employs solar panels use of recycled, second-hand, and salvaged materials for its interiors and accent pieces natural lighting efforts to recycle a large percentage of their construction waste water conservation fixtures and even provides bicycles for its guests (Proximity Hotel, n.d.).
With 55 credits in its sleeve, the hotel has Platinum LEED certificationthe highest rank that may be given to a building. It even perfected several criteria, thus exceeding the minimum 52 mark to achieve platinum accreditation (Proximity Hotel, n.d.). Indeed, Proximity Hotel took sustainable tourism seriously. They did not only employ superficial measures for the sake of certification, they also exceeded the expectations of green tourism.
Sheraton Rittenhouse Square (Philadelphia)
The Sheraton Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia dubs itself as the most environmentally sound hotel in the continental United States (Han, 2002). The hotel converted five floors of a seventeen-story downtown office building into a 193-room hotel. The cost of the conversion was 20 million, but making it eco-friendly was inexpensive. For each room, 100,000 has been invested yet only 400 was needed to make each compliant to their environmental thrust. The budget was distributed among air filtration systems, organic furniture and fabrics, self-contained laundry areas, and an atrium with 40-foot tall bamboo which generated thirty-five percent more oxygen than most atrium plants. The hotel projected a threefold return on the 400 in three years (Han, 2002). Interestingly, after six months of operations, the average daily occupancy rate of the hotel was about fifteen percent higher than what was anticipated and higher than what was projected by G.F. Management, the property managers. In effect, revenue poured into the hotel more quickly (Carlson, 2005).
Bancroft Hotel
The Bancroft Hotel is a National Registered Landmark and a premier boutique hotel in Berkeley, California. In its redevelopment, the hotel teamed with The Refinishing Touch (TRT) to update their furniture (Rosato, 2009). This is part of a large-scale renovation for the 1928 hotel. Known for its historic appeal, exemplary customer service, and nature-sensitive practices, the Bancroft has become a part of the rich and diverse history of the Bay Area (Large, 2009).
After several upgrades in the 1990s, the Bancroft embarked on a new project with sustainability as its primary motivation. In the process, it aspired to preserve the history of the property with the least investment. The Bancrofts commitment to going green includes the use of organic cotton sheets and bamboo towels in each of its 22 guest rooms as well as the use of cork flooring, recycled carpet tiles, nontoxic paints, and earth-friendly cleaning solutions throughout the property (Heavin, 2008). Furnishings for the hotel were custom pieces based on the architects original 1928 drawings of the furniture for the building, designed to match the look and feel of the hotel and to maximize the space for each room. An on-site furniture refinishing company has been recruited to renovate the key pieces of Bancrofts furniture, ensuring that the design and specifications followed the original plans. (Barbara, 2007).
RT successfully converted the furniture with accuracy and appeal. To keep the original designs and to create new pieces of furniture from existing ones, the RT team modified the height and decreased the depth of armoires. They aligned drawers and transformed them into desks. The tops of the armoires were used for new countertops too (Heavin, 2008). This proves RTs track record in furniture refinishing, fabric design and re-upholstering, armoire modifications, and customized granite production. Well-known in all industries, the company has saved up to half a million hardwood trees from destruction by refinishing old furniture and making it useful again (Shepard, 2007).
Hotel Services
The Refinishing Touch
The Bancroft Hotel is only one among the many establishments and individuals who have been benefitted by the expertise of The Refinishing Touch (RT). By its name, it can be identified with high-quality renovations of furniture pieces, making them useful again and avoiding, or delaying, their disposal. RT features on-site production, making customization easier and more accurate. (Heung, et al., 2006) The company is also cost-friendly, and their service decreases the demand for wood which should be used in creating new furniture. In effect, deforestation is lessened (Ahles, 2008). Barnard (2003) agrees that RT provides an important service for hotel owners, and this service is extended in the way the hotels serve their clientele.
As an added feature, RT provides what they call the Global Furniture Asset Management which helps hotels and other client establishments in assessing their budget and funds in terms of their furniture and fixture, noting that these are the companys assets too. By doing this, RT claims that the investments made on furniture can be recovered and maximized. (Carlson, 2005)
EGM Green
EGM Green is the pioneer in green casino tables, gaming seating, and luxury lounge furniture. It is a consulting, design, and manufacturing firm which aims to supply the hotel and casino market with one hundred percent eco-friendly gaming products. One good feature of EGM Green is that hotel owners using their products can earn points towards LEED certificationan important edge in the highly competitive certification demand for hotels. The product line includes poker tables, blackjack tables, roulette tables, mini-baccarat, and more, all of which are made of eco-friendly materials. There is also a variety of seating products (Motavalli, 2002).
EGM Greens offering is a breakthrough in the hospitality furniture business because they offer more than the usual pieces. They concentrate on casino products, which many hotels need. Thus, instead of ordering especially-made casino furniture, hotels can choose among the wide variety of EGM Greens products. The initiative also supports the hotels sustainable programs.
CSC Furniture Enterprises
CSC Furniture Enterprises, a known company which makes and distributes fine furniture pieces, knows that their industry highly relies on forests, and so it takes measures to conserve their resources. They also accept the fact that green hotels choose furniture partners with the same mission of helping the environment. Thus, CSC creates furniture pieces with minimal waste yet maintaining high standards of quality. Though wastes cannot be eliminated, CSC is able to trim theirs by throwing away only the defective and unusable parts (Carson, 2005). CSCs maintenance of a reforestation process is a commendable move. Without the supply of wood coming from forests, the furniture industry will never be the same. It will also be more difficult for hotels that are going green.
Chapter 4 Analysis
In analyzing the findings, a matrix comparing the companies discussed in the Archive Review with the three aspects included in the research framework (social, economic, environmental) has been created. Thus,
Table 1. Matrix of Affectivity in Hotels and Hotel Services
HotelsHotel
Almost all of the establishments, hotel or hotel service, shared similarities in considering social responsibility. The same can be said for the environmental aspect, though this is in part caused by the main thrust of the topic, which is the environment. On the other hand, Proximity Hotel and EGM Green are not affected by economic aspects. This is shown in the grandiosity of Proximitys efforts to be a green hotel. It is also obvious in the high price range of EGM Greens pieces. However, as what has been justified in the discussion, these investments pay off.
With the growing sensitivity of consumers towards green living, it became a pre-requisite for many businesses to get by. Most are keen on riding the bandwagon while some are genuinely concerned with the amount of carbon footprint that humans are leaving. Either way, businesses have accepted the fact that environmental sustainability is now an important facet in any industry. Hotels have accepted this fact too, and this gave a boost to green tourism.
Over the years that followed, hotels have started competing in this aspect. Applying for an LEED certification became a primary yet essential step in becoming green certified. One way in which hotels are changing is through their furniture. To be true to their environment-friendly ideology, hotels need to make sure that the furniture pieces that they use are up to the standards of green tourism. This means that the items are not only safe to the users but also followed the stringent process of production that ensures no harm to the environment.
Consumers who are sensitive about green living are always concerned about the health effects of synthetic substances. Chemicals which are now ever-present in almost everything that people use everyday pose serious health risks. Hotels are designed to provide a second home for travelers, business people, families, and many other social groups. With this said, it is obvious why the hospitality industry have taken measures to be environmentally sustainable. Indeed, if customers are starting to live green in their own homes, they would prefer to check in hotels which share the same vision and values as they do.
Apart from the health concerns, many hotels are becoming green to keep up with the trend. More and more establishments are becoming certified, and this additional investment proved to be a big help in increasing positive publicity and income. This became a motivational factor for many hotels. For them becoming green is not only good for the health, it is also good for business. However, the rise in the hype on green tourism led to disinformation. Some establishments would claim support for green tourism even if they do not follow the standards for becoming certified. Some hotels announce certification even if the products and furniture that they use and the construction process that they underwent does not match those that are prescribed.
Many hotels do this because of the steep price tag that green tourism may require. LEED certification experts agreed that the higher certification a hotel is aspiring for, the higher the additional costs that it shoulders to improve their establishment. Furniture-wise, nothing can be farther from the truth. A quick glance at online catalogs would reveal that green furniture are in fact more expensive than regular furniture. The price difference widens if the furniture being compared is mass-produced. On the other hand, there are hotels like the Sheraton Rittenhouse Square which were able to incorporate green living standards for fewer than 5 of their total construction expenses.
This shows that cost management is essential for hotels who are trying to become green certified but has very limited capital to use. As furniture items make up for a large percentage of hotel expenses, it is wise for hotel owners to consider three options
reuse old furniture to avoid disposing them, then applying environment friendly measures in other aspects such as in water supply, lighting, and fixtures
recycle old furniture so that they are not disposed but their materials are replaced by environment-friendly ones or
replace old furniture with new green furniture, and then the old pieces can be sold or given away.
Through services such as RTs Global Furniture Asset Management, hotels can set a budget and strictly follow it when deciding on their green furniture and fixtures. Apart from this, the hotels can also easily integrate green furniture on their existing lineand even use their existing line to have environment-friendly pieces. Short of using these services, creativity and ample knowledge on environment-friendly materials are keys to cost-effective procurement of green furniture and fixtures. The use of bamboo is a very common option for many hotels who decided to take part on green tourism.
Learning from existing LEED-certified hotels and green tourism advocates will be a good way for hotels to start participating in this sustainability programs. The Proximity Hotel, a Platinum LEED-certified establishment, counts more than 70 environmentally-sustainable practicesfrom using solar panels to providing bicycles to its guests. The Bancroft Hotel, on the other hand, exemplified how hotels can incorporate green living on little budget as well as using old furniture to recreate a green environment.
With the growing demand on green furniture, more and more companies are also starting to offer lines of eco-friendly furniture, furniture restoration, and refinishing. EGM Green, The Refinishing Touch, and CSC Hotel Furniture are just three among the many establishments who can help hotels plan on their green tourism furniture. When the furniture pieces have become eco-friendly, the fixtures and other aspects can follow suit to match the initiative.
Yet the bottom line in this whole discussion revolves around the business perspective of a hotel. Capital-wise, going green can mean additional expenses for the hotel. This raises the needed capital, whether a hotel is just starting or even renovating. On the other hand, it has been found that hotels who have environment sustainability programs receive more guests. This translates to more income.
All of these show the scenario for hotels which are aspiring to be environmentally sustainable. Indeed, there are many factors to consider. In becoming certified, there are many guidelines to follow and requirements to meet. Going green is a difficult process, and costly at that. However, the benefits for the hotels are tremendous. They do not only show care for their employees and guests, they also show concern for the environment.
Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendations
The demand for green furniture has never been bigger. Hotels who are going green is starting with their furniture and fixtures, and they are often torn between replacing their existing collections and having them recycled or refinished. Either way, this is a good sign that the tourism industry is continuously adapting sustainability measures. It also has many benefits.
Harmless to health. Guests in green hotels can rest assured that they are using eco-friendly fixtures and products. This makes green hotels more appealing than accommodations with no environment sustainability programs. With eco-friendly furniture and fixtures, the quality of air and overall effect of the business to the guests and the environment is more positive.
Harmless manufacturing process. Eco-friendly furniture underwent processes that are safe for the environment. Trees or, in the case of bamboo, grasses that has been used to manufacture these types of furniture are replaced and the finishing that is used in these are biodegradable and non-toxic. This lessens the problem of deforestation in the long run.
Cost-effective. Renovating into green tourism can cost a lot, but creativity can actually be used to make procurement of green furniture cost effective. Refinishing, recycling, or buying second-hand green pieces can cost less yet provide more benefits to the hotel.
Going back, it will be remembered that a matrix of interconnecting factors has been shown to illustrate how the economy, society, and environment affects the quality of sustainable hotel interiors. In return, eco-friendly furniture also affects these factors. After a thorough research, the said matrix can now be expanded to include important findings on the relationship of these factors.
Figure 3. Expanded Overlapping Matrix
Hotels often consider these three things when getting green furniture. First, the economic value of the purchase is considered. The effects on the capital cost, operating cost, taxes and the value of the property is determined. Social factors are also looked into. Being in the tourism industry, the perception of the public, including the customers, is important. Marketing is another aspect that hotels observe. Lastly, the environmental factor of going green is regarded.
Through the research, it has been found that all of these factors play a big role in a hotels decision to go green. In effect, these factors help the hotel maximize their profits as well noting that going green can result to more customers. Many hotels can stand true to this, which can serve as an inspiration to new players in the green tourism area.
In summary, the writer believes that several aspects of operation helped in the rise of green tourism, specifically in the hospitality industry.
Government regulation. As more government agencies are imposing strict measures on taking care of the environment, more hotels are responding positively. This also standardizes the certification process and sets the boundaries between the real green establishments and those who are just calling themselves sustainable, further protecting the welfare of the consumers.
Guest demand. As more people are becoming sensitive about environmental concerns, more hotel guests will appreciate the initiatives of green hoteleven making them a primary choice over others. In the process, more hotels try to compete in this area. As the competition grows, the benefits of the hospitality industry to the environment increases as well.
Long-term benefits. Hotels are accepting the fact that becoming environment friendly may cost some money, but the rewards exceed the expenses. Establishments who become sustainable look at these expenses as investments because they pay off, even covering the additional operational costs.
Hotels should also consider many things when going green. This will make the transition easier and more effective. Moreover, thorough study on the process will also ensure that the hotel will be able to buy furniture pieces that are genuinely environment friendly. The following points are recommendations that hotels can reflect on
Hotels can create a team that will manage the companys environmental programs.
Broken or worn furniture pieces, or those that have toxic finishes, can be refinished and reused.
Replacing furniture collections can contribute to waste haste, which is contrary to the thrust of green tourism.
Recycling is a very good option instead of throwing away old furniture.
If hotels have decided that they do not want to reuse or recycle their old furniture, donating or selling them is a better alternative.
Wood furniture should be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, certifying that the wood used in them is harvested in a controlled environment that contributed no harm to the environment.
The finish on the furniture should be non-toxic and biodegradable.
Flame retardant products, including foams for pillows and couches, should be avoided as it can be detrimental to health. Green furniture should not have these chemicals.
Eco-friendly fabrics come in a variety of design to match any interior design. This can contribute to the green initiative of the hotel.
Hotels can start with furniture, but there are more ways to promote green tourism. It should be noted that using eco-friendly furniture is not enough to be LEED certified. Other measures should be made to reinforce environment sustainability.
Using green furniture is an important step on becoming sustainable, but there should be sensitivity on the process. It has been concluded that even though going green is an additional investment, it can be a rewarding move. The rewards are not only monetary, the positive publicity and the good marketing entailed are also advantageous to the hotel. Thus, business-wise, it is a recommended option for the hospitality industry.
When hotels are just starting, buying new furniture that follows the green standards is an easy option. The problem, however, lies on hotels which are undergoing transition between regular furniture collections and eco-friendly series. Environmental protection means procuring green furniture, but also being careful about the disposal of the old ones. Waste haste can be a problem which is as big as the problem of toxicity. If hotels are able to become sustainable while looking at both aspects, then they can truly say that the project has really succeeded.
Green tourism may appear as a marketing platform, but the whole point of going green is the environment. The rising concern on environmental issues has become global, and it follows that green tourism has gone global too. In any case, the main premise of environmental sustainability is to reduce the effects of the hospitality industry in the environment in as much aspect as it can reach. Ultimately, this can make the stay of the guests more enjoyable, the work in the hotel more rewarding, and the business of the hotel more meaningful.
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