Published: February 28, 2022 / Updated: November 9, 2022

The ” Law Concerning the Promotion of Resource Recycling of Plastics ” (Plastic Resource Recycling Law), which was approved by the Cabinet in March 2021, will finally come into effect in April 2022. The 12 specified plastic products to be reduced include amenity goods used in hotels and inns, such as toothbrushes, combs, and shower caps. As the law is about to come into effect, many hotels are preparing to comply.

In this column, we will introduce key points to understand about the “Plastic Waste Recycling Law” and examples of actual plastic reduction efforts being made at hotels in Japan and overseas. We hope that you will use this information as a hint for considering how to respond to this issue.

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Table of Contents

What is the Plastic Resource Recycling Law?

The “Law Concerning the Promotion of Resource Recycling of Plastics,” also known as the “Plastic Resources Recycling Law,” “Plastic Recycling Law,” or “New Plastic Law,” was approved by the Cabinet in March 2021 and is scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2022. The law, also known as the “New Plastic Recycling Law,” was approved by the Cabinet in March 2021 and is scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2022.

The law promotes the 3Rs (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle) + Renewable.
Reduce: Reduce the generation of waste. Reduce waste.
Reuse : Reuse products and parts.
Recycle: Use of recycled resources <Recycle as resources again
Renewable: To replace resources with sustainable resources.

Target business operators are required to select effective measures from among the methods of provision and innovations of products using specified plastics, and work on “rationalization of use of products using specified plastics”.

 

Eligible Businesses

Businesses that provide 12 items designated by the government as products using specified plastics, such as supermarkets, convenience stores, and hotels.

Retailers of various goods ( including non-store retailers)
Food and beverage retailers ( excluding vegetable and fruit retailers, meat retailers, fresh fish retailers, and liquor retailers, including non-store retailers)
Accommodation business
Restaurants
Take-out
Delivery and food services
Laundry business

In addition, businesses that provided 5 tons or more of specified plastic products in the previous fiscal year are classified as “businesses that provide large quantities of specified plastic products” and may receive a recommendation, public announcement, order, etc. if their efforts are significantly inadequate.

 

Target products (12 items)

Forks, spoons, knives, muddlers, straws, hairbrushes, combs, razors, shower caps, toothbrushes, hangers, clothing covers

 

Required Initiatives

Devising ways to provide
Confirm with consumers whether they need it or not.
Offer points to consumers who do not need them.
Provided to consumers for a fee.
Encourage repeat use by consumers provided

Ingenuity of the products offered
Provide products that can be used repeatedly.
Provide ingenious products such as environmentally friendly products and sustainable products.
Providing the right size product for the product or service

 

Administrative Checkpoints

1. Goal setting ( setting goals and planning efforts to achieve them)
2. Rationalization of the use of specific plastic-using products ( control of plastic-using product waste)
3. Provision of information ( providing information to promote emission reduction by consumers, such as by posting in stores, publicizing on the Internet, etc., and indicating the importance of emission reduction on the products provided).
4. Establishment of systems, etc. ( establishment of a responsible person and other systems, training for employees, etc.)
5. Consideration of safety, etc. ( Safety, functionality, and other necessary circumstances must be taken into account when rationalizing)
6. Grasping the status of implementation ( efforts should be made to grasp the initiatives implemented and their effects, and to publicize them on the Internet, etc.)
7. Cooperation with related parties ( In order to effectively implement initiatives, consideration should be given to cooperate with the government, consumers, and related businesses. Cooperation shall be sought from business partners as necessary.)
8. Rationalization of the use of products made of specified plastics by signatories (Headquarters operators shall provide the necessary guidance regarding the rationalization of the use of such products in the operations of signatories. Signatories shall endeavor to cooperate.)

The Weekly Hotel Restaurant’s 2021 consumer survey found that 7.4% of respondents wanted plastic amenity alternatives at lower-priced hotels, while 20.7% said the same for higher-priced hotels. As for amenities that can be used at home, 17% of respondents at higher-priced hotels compared to 4.1% at lower-priced hotels, indicating that a higher percentage of respondents at higher-priced hotels believe that amenities are necessary compared to those at lower-priced hotels.
In the next section, we would like to introduce some examples of plastic reduction actually implemented in hotels in Japan and abroad, including the elimination of the provision of this product, its replacement with alternative products, and notification to customers.

1. Eliminate the provision of plastic straws

Small, thin straws are said to be more likely to slip through the waste disposal system and leak into the natural environment. Many hotels in Japan and abroad are already discontinuing the provision of plastic straws. Hilton Group hotels in Japan have eliminated plastic straws altogether since 2018. This will reduce the number of straws by 1.4 million per year. Prince Hotels has announced that it will discontinue disposable plastic straws at all of its hotels, ski resorts, and golf course restaurants and banquet halls in Japan in 2019.

2. Provide alternate straw muddlers upon request

The aforementioned Hilton Group and Prince Hotels provide paper straws and wooden muddlers only when requested by customers. The Capitol Hotel Tokyu is also discontinuing the use of plastic straws starting in 2019. The hotel has introduced wooden straws, which were developed in collaboration with environmental journalist Yuri Takeda and Aqura Home Co.Ltd. The wooden straws are said to be made from domestic timber, including thinned timber in Japan for forest conservation.

In addition, Red Carnation Hotels, a British luxury hotel group, uses pasta straws made of perforated pasta in addition to paper and bamboo straws.

Another popular alternative is sugarcane straws that do not spoil the mouthfeel or flavor of the drink. 4Nature, Inc.’s ” sugarcane straws,” which are used in a total of approximately 800 cafes, restaurants, and hotels nationwide, collect used straws from each store and compost them at the company’s composting plant in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture.

3. Eliminate installation of amenities

THE THOUSAND KYOTO in Kyoto has announced that it will no longer install amenities in guest rooms in time for the April 2022 enforcement date of the Plastic Circulation Law. This includes toothbrushes & toothpaste sets, razors, brushes, combs, shower caps, body towels, and hair bands.

4. Provide replacements that can be used repeatedly for a fee.

The hotel will also offer environmentally friendly room amenities for a fee to guests who forget to bring their own amenities. The amenities for sale are not disposable, but can be taken home and used over and over again, and include a bamboo toothbrush, wooden brush, and razor. A take-home bag will also be provided.

Various types of environmentally friendly hotel amenities are on the market these days, ranging from those with a natural atmosphere to those with luxurious designs. Some products can be personalized with the hotel’s original logo, making it possible to create originality for the hotel.

5. Replace with environmentally friendly materials

The Peninsula Tokyo is renewing its amenities, including shower caps, toothbrushes, and razors, to be more environmentally friendly. These amenities are made from sustainable materials such as cornstarch, wheat, wood, and recycled metals.

6. Provide recyclable amenities

The Imperial Hotel Tokyo is working with partner companies to recycle amenities used in guest rooms, such as slippers, toothbrushes, and hairbrushes. The amenities are sorted and collected by room attendants, crushed and processed, and recycled into solid fuel. The Peninsula Tokyo also uses recyclable aluminum packaging for shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body milk, and soap.

7. Elimination of mini bottles for amenities

InterContinental Hotels Group also announced the elimination of small bottled bathroom amenities such as shampoo in its approximately 843,000 hotel rooms worldwide. The group used an average of 200 million mini-bottles each year across its hotel properties. These amenities are being replaced with large bottles provided in guestrooms.

 

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8. Implementation of amenity buffet

The JR West Via Inn Hotel Group has implemented an amenity buffet. By allowing customers to use only the amount they need, the company is working to reduce plastic waste.

9. Tell at the time of reservation whether amenities are available.

If amenities are not provided, it is important to be sure to inform guests of this at the time of reservation. It may also be necessary to sell them to guests who forgot to bring their own.

10. Dissemination via website and press releases

Many hotels have already set up special pages such as “SDGs Initiatives” and “Environmentally Conscious Initiatives” on their official websites, or by sending out press releases on their stance and policies.

[THE THOUSAND KYOTO official website] THE THOUSAND KYOTO: (Room amenities to be plastic-free) SDGs action to travel with your favorite amenities
[The official website of the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo] Environmental activities, Reducing environmental impact / Increasing environmental benefits / Spreading awareness of our activities
[Hankyu Hanshin Hotels Co., Ltd Press Release] Hankyu Hanshin Hotels, Committed to SDGs, to Reduce Plastic Waste, to Change In-Room Amenity Goods to be Provided at Front Lobby Starting April 1
[VIA INN HOTEL CHAIN Press Release] Announcing the start of initiatives to reduce single-use plastics in cooperation with customers

SNS can also be used to disseminate newly introduced initiatives in real time.

11. Display in guest rooms

Even if they are replaced with environmentally friendly products, clearly stating that they can be taken home and used repeatedly will help improve customer awareness. It may be a good idea to display this information in guest rooms on posters or POP, or to attach a note to amenities.

Editor’s Note

How was it? This column provided examples of measures hotels can take to prepare for the “Plastic Resource Recycling Law,” which will go into effect on April 1, 2022.
According to a survey of travelers’ attitudes toward hotels and inns conducted by IGOODS CO., LTD in December 2021, 71.1% of all travelers have a favorable impression of “environmentally conscious inns”. Of these, 74.7% of repeat travelers are “very aware” or “aware” of “ethical consumption,” which is consumption that takes the earth into consideration. Many hotels are considering the introduction of sustainable amenities because of the enforcement of the Plastic Waste Recycling Law, citing “the law will be enforced” and “there will be penalties,” but it is expected that the introduction of sustainable amenities will have a multifaceted effect, including attracting repeat guests.

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[Reference Site] The Hilton Effect
[Reference Site] The Capitol Hotel Tokyu: The World’s First “Wood Straw” Wood Straw Project
[Reference Site] THE THOUSAND KYOTO: (Guest room amenities to be plastic-free) SDGs action to travel with your favorite amenities
[Reference Site] Imperial Hotel: Environmental Activities
[Reference Site] THE PENINSULA TOKYO:Rooms
[Reference Site] Weekly Hotel Restaurant Online: How should hotels and inns reduce the use of plastic amenities? Here are some tips.
[Reference Site] 71% of travelers have a favorable impression of “environmentally friendly” hotels.

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