Jinyoung Jeon
Fairleigh Dickinson University Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies
Aixa Ritz
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Food Waste Management
Mr. Shinji Shiraga, a representative in the general affairs department of Hotel Granvia Kyoto, stated that the hotel started a project with the center for environmental education at Kyoto University of Education in 2006. The project was to make compost from food waste accumulated at the hotel restaurants. As a further step, they grew organic herbs using the compost and used the herbs in the restaurant for their food preparation.
Producing Bio-diesel Fuel from Waste Cooking Oil
Mr. Shiraga informed me that Hotel Granvia Kyoto gives the waste cooking oil to Kyoto City to make bio-diesel fuel for the city buses. He also said that the hotel cut down 25 tons of waste cooking oil annually by making bio-diesel fuel for the city buses. This is an excellent example of cooperation between a hotel and the government for sustainable practices.
Recycling Chopsticks
Hotel Granvia Kyoto recycles used chopsticks, which is one of the most innovative activities for sustainability. Mr. Shiraga said that the hotel gathers used chopsticks from hotel restaurants or banquet halls and washes them. It then sends them to a paper manufacturing company to make paper. The chopsticks are fully recycled and used for making tissue, magazines, and other paper.
Other Activities
Hotel Granvia Kyoto is making efforts to reduce, recycle and set a goal for zero waste. Mr. Shiraga said, in order to reduce the consumption of disposables, the hotel is utilizing dispenser-type amenities to refill the bottles. By adopting the dispenser-type amenities in guest rooms, the hotel can reduce 19 tons of plastic bottles annually. In the guest rooms, the hotel is using a water saving toilet system that can save a great amount of water. Also, the hotel uses refrigerators in hotel rooms that are not generating freon gas, making them environmentally friendly. Moreover, the hotel restaurants also use eco-friendly dishwasher detergent and use a measured amount of the detergent that is less harmful to the environment.
In the past, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan for a long time. UNESCO listed Kyoto as a World Heritage Site in 1994. People in Kyoto are proud of being part of Kyoto. Compared to other cities in Japan, Kyoto City is practicing many sustainable activities.
The impact of Hotel Granvia Kyoto is enormous in the hospitality industry. The hotel received KES (Environmental Management System Standard in Kyoto) for the first time in the hotel industry in 2005, and the hotel also was recognized as the most environmentally friendly hotel in Kyoto City. Most importantly, the hotel is collaborating with the government and some companies by making compost from food waste, growing plants with the compost, and producing bio-diesel fuel from waste cooking oil.
The innovative activities the Hotel Granvia Kyoto are beneficial for the company while the hotel is maintaining the environment. The hotel is cutting unnecessary energy use by attaching films to windows that are effective for keeping the temperature comfortable in summer and winter, installing a water saving system in the kitchen, and utilizing LED for lighting. Mr. Shiraga said that these endeavors allow the hotel to use less energy and drastically reduce CO2 emissions. He also said the hotel reduces tons of food waste and plastic bottles usage that can reduce its cost significantly.
Education is the most effective way for people to realize why they have to think and work in sustainable ways. Hotel Granvia Kyoto is not only concerned with the environment but also it is inspiring people to think about the environment. The hotel holds events for both children and parents by planting vegetables using the compost from food waste. The event definitely inspire people to think more about the planet. Moreover, Hotel Granvia Kyoto employees are cleaning Kyoto Station twice a month to maintain the clean environment. Finally, the hotel is located in one of the most historical cities in Japan, so many tourists from all over the world as well as Japan are exposed to the sustainability processes in the hotel. Therefore, these activities are very influential and inspiring for other businesses.
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Shinji Shiraga, A representative in the general affairs department of Hotel Granvia Kyoto
Many hotels in the world generate tons of waste every day due to the consumption of disposables. Especially, many of hotels offer complimentary water bottles, small plastic shampoo containers, cardboard, and change bedsheets or towels every day because of its convenience and cleanness. Hotel Granvia Kyoto is one of the best sustainable hotels in Japan with reducing food waste, refilling guestroom amenities, using a water saving toilet system, producing bio-diesel fuel from waste cooking oil, and recycling chopsticks to make papers. Hotel Granvia Kyoto received an award from the government because of its endeavors to do business in a sustainable way.