LAS VEGAS—Cruelty free. Paraben free. No animal testing. No artificial colors. No synthetic ingredients. No phthalates, mineral oil and petrol-derived ingredients. These are just some of the phrases one has gotten used to when purchasing amenity products from companies that aim to be as environment and health conscious as possible. Concept Amenities, an amenities company that got its start in Australia and that now also has offices in the United States, Europe and Singapore, is aiming to add another phrase to the mix: “Carbon Neutral.”
According to Chris Holmes, Product Development Manager for Concept Amenities, the company is currently offering its customers the opportunity to purchase 100 percent carbon neutral products—amenities that have had their carbon emissions offset through the purchase of carbon offsets from the Australia-based Carbon Reduction Institute (CRI). Gary Coward, President and COO of Concept Amenities, says a number of companies and hotels already have moved to carbon neutral guest amenities. These include Vantage Hospitality Group, Red Lion Hotel Group, five Best Western International brands, Bellagio, Aria and Vdara.
Offering carbon neutral amenities is another step forward in Concept Amenities’ sustainability journey. In 2009, the company introduced EcoPure into its plastic products. EcoPure, according to Bio-Tec Environmental, the company that makes it, is an organic additive that enhances the biodegradation of traditional plastic products when placed in a biologically active landfill environment. According to Concept Amenities, all of the outer cartons for its products are currently made from 100 percent recycled cardboard. The company is currently investigating the feasibility of caps made from recycled plastic and intends to introduce this to its products in 2017.
Concept Amenities is currently a 25 percent carbon reduction company. This means that one-quarter of all of the carbon emissions associated with employee travel, product production and transportation, etc. is offset through the purchase of carbon offsets. The goal of Concept Amenities is to be a 100 percent carbon reduction company within the next five years.
Ambitious Sustainability Goal
“Our real end game is that all of our products will be carbon neutral and that we will be 100 percent carbon neutral as a company,” Coward says.
“Our own impact is minimal in the big scheme of things but as an industry our carbon footprint is like a size 14 shoe,” Holmes adds. “Perhaps the amenities industry as a whole will do the same and we can make a real difference.”
The money raised through the purchase of carbon offsets is supporting projects in India, China, Kenya, Mali, and the United States. In China, for example, the purchase of carbon credits is helping to finance the construction of wind turbines. In Mali, a Cookstove Project is supported that helps reduce the demand for wood and charcoal. Coward says his company can work with a hotel or hotel company to support projects in a requested country.
The project associated with an amenity project is indicated through a number on the amenity container. “When you put the CRI logo on a bottle, you have to have the number so you know the project,” Coward says.
Concept Amenities is currently considering incorporating Fair Trade ingredients into its products—a step Coward says has to be commercially viable.
In addition to its environmentally responsible product, packaging and carbon neutrality initiatives, Concept Amenities also is the founding sponsor of Soap Aid. Soap Aid collects waste soap and reprocesses it for use by those in need.
Coward says his company would like to do more and faster. “Our passion is far greater than our resources,” he says. “Our vision is far advanced of where we are.”
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
