Longevity Retreat
30.11.2025 - 04.10.2026
| 3 nights
from 1944,- € per person
From idea to impact – Two actions that make a difference
Zero Waste in Hospitality – Part 2
Sustainability often starts with the smallest of choices – in the bathroom, at the foot of the hotel bed. Not through sacrifice, but with vision.
In our previous article, we asked: is a plastic-free hotel a realistic goal or just a dream? For us, one thing became clear: it’s not about eliminating all waste, but rather about using resources more thoughtfully – and rethinking our everyday hotel operations, step by step.
In our previous article, we asked: is a plastic-free hotel a realistic goal or just a dream? For us, one thing became clear: it’s not about eliminating all waste, but rather about using resources more thoughtfully – and rethinking our everyday hotel operations, step by step.
In this article, we highlight two concrete actions we've already taken on this path. Though they may appear minor at first, they create a significant and lasting impact: transitioning our courtesy products to refillable dispensers and consciously reducing the number of slippers provided in our resorts.
Courtesy Products: From single-use bottles to a refillable system
From the outset, we’ve placed the highest value on quality in our hotel cosmetics – offering products from our in-house ADLER Active Cosmetic Line, developed in collaboration with our Italian partner EffegiLab.
This skincare range, also used in our spas, is based on natural active ingredients and merges innovation with modern formulation technology.
Until 2024, we provided shampoo, shower gel, and conditioner in 150 ml HDPE bottles – a size larger than typical hotel miniatures, designed as a practical option that guests could take home. These bottles already bore the “I’m green™” label and were made from 95% bio-based plastic, making them more sustainable than many conventional packaging options.
However, they were still single-use products. And in the end, thousands of them were discarded after just a few uses – clearly at odds with our commitment to greater sustainability.
That’s why we took action in 2025:
Following extensive conversations with our spa managers, feedback from guests, and close collaboration with our partners, we made the switch to refillable 300 ml PET dispensers in all ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges.
This solution is both resource-conscious and user-friendly. The contents remain unchanged – with quality now further enhanced – only the packaging is new. Like HDPE, PET is a highly versatile plastic, but within our reusable systems, it particularly stands out for its durability, reusability, and ease of use in daily operations.
The results speak for themselves
Just six months after introducing the new system, the impact of this carefully planned change is unmistakable:
What’s more, producing fewer bottles means we now use less water, fewer plant-based raw materials, and less energy – a meaningful step toward conserving resources throughout the supply chain.
Putting it into perspective
If we were to stack all the saved bottles, the resulting tower would exceed 9,000 meters in height – taller than Mount Everest.
The avoided CO₂ emissions are equivalent to eight transatlantic flights or a round-the-world road trip.
Or to put it another way: it would take over 500 trees to absorb the same amount of CO₂ – making our refill system feel like a small, invisible forest.
Courtesy Products: From single-use bottles to a refillable system
From the outset, we’ve placed the highest value on quality in our hotel cosmetics – offering products from our in-house ADLER Active Cosmetic Line, developed in collaboration with our Italian partner EffegiLab.
This skincare range, also used in our spas, is based on natural active ingredients and merges innovation with modern formulation technology.
Until 2024, we provided shampoo, shower gel, and conditioner in 150 ml HDPE bottles – a size larger than typical hotel miniatures, designed as a practical option that guests could take home. These bottles already bore the “I’m green™” label and were made from 95% bio-based plastic, making them more sustainable than many conventional packaging options.
However, they were still single-use products. And in the end, thousands of them were discarded after just a few uses – clearly at odds with our commitment to greater sustainability.
That’s why we took action in 2025:
Following extensive conversations with our spa managers, feedback from guests, and close collaboration with our partners, we made the switch to refillable 300 ml PET dispensers in all ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges.
This solution is both resource-conscious and user-friendly. The contents remain unchanged – with quality now further enhanced – only the packaging is new. Like HDPE, PET is a highly versatile plastic, but within our reusable systems, it particularly stands out for its durability, reusability, and ease of use in daily operations.
The results speak for themselves
Just six months after introducing the new system, the impact of this carefully planned change is unmistakable:
- 73.5% reduction in bottle consumption
- 60,600 bottles saved per year – meaning these single-use containers never even enter circulation
- Around 1,093 kilograms of plastic avoided annually
- More than 6,558 kilograms of CO₂ emissions prevented
- Over 60% reduction in transport volume and storage needs – significantly lowering both emissions and logistical effort
- Reduced product consumption – saving the equivalent of 25 full bathtubs of liquid each year
What’s more, producing fewer bottles means we now use less water, fewer plant-based raw materials, and less energy – a meaningful step toward conserving resources throughout the supply chain.
Putting it into perspective
If we were to stack all the saved bottles, the resulting tower would exceed 9,000 meters in height – taller than Mount Everest.
The avoided CO₂ emissions are equivalent to eight transatlantic flights or a round-the-world road trip.
Or to put it another way: it would take over 500 trees to absorb the same amount of CO₂ – making our refill system feel like a small, invisible forest.
In 2025, we also took a major step – or rather, one step less – in how we equip our rooms and spas.
Until 2024, we provided approximately 70,000 pairs of slippers each year, placed by default in every room. The result: significant material usage and large volumes of slippers discarded after only a few days’ use.
The turning point came through transparent communication: Even before arrival, we inform guests about our new approach. Slippers are still available – but only upon request. At the same time, we encourage guests to bring their own from home. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and the level of guest understanding has been remarkable, as shows this comment from our guest satisfaction questionnaire:
"These days, bringing your own slippers should really be the norm, rather than expecting every hotel to always provide new ones. ADLER truly changed my perspective. Since then, I always bring mine – they’re more comfortable, a better fit, and a small act of environmental mindfulness in everyday life."
After just a few months of monitoring, the results are clear – and encouraging: about 50% reduction in distributed slippers, which annually translates to:
- 2,940 kilograms less plastic – roughly the weight of two mid-size cars
- 25.2 cubic meters of saved volume – equivalent to a hotel room filled entirely with slippers
- 17,640 kilograms fewer CO₂ emissions – equivalent to 13 transatlantic flights or the yearly CO₂ absorption of 1,411 trees
What do these numbers look like?
If we lined up all the slippers we saved, they would stretch 18.9 kilometers – the full length of Lake Garda from north to south.
A small gesture on the surface, but one that moves us significantly forward. And our efforts don’t stop here: we continue to monitor guest needs, reduce consumption wherever possible, and explore smart, sustainable alternatives.
Conclusion: a powerful signal – at every step
Sometimes it starts with a shampoo bottle or a pair of slippers – and it’s in these everyday choices that we see the true potential of combining values, systems, and guest awareness.
Through just these two targeted actions, we’re able to avoid over 4 tons of plastic and more than 24 tons of CO₂ emissions every year – by making sustainability an integral part of daily hotel operations.