My family and I traveled to the Miami area this past weekend. We were there for the fan fest to watch Argentina’s World Cup match against Cabo Verde. It was great fun, of course; I am biased toward Argentina given my wife was born there. We stayed at a dual-branded Tru by Hilton/Home2 Suites by Hilton in Fort Lauderdale.
I really like the designs of both brands. While I have stayed at other Tru by Hiltons in the last couple of years, I had not stayed at a Home2 Suites since 2013 when I was on a press trip to the dual-branded Home2 Suites by Hilton/Hampton Inn & Suites in Huntsville, Ala. In my column about that trip I wrote: “In the breakfast area, real china and utensils are used.” I remember being particularly impressed by the absence of paper or polystyrene plates and plasticware.
If you go to Hilton’s own website, it states: “[Home2 Suites by Hilton] has also introduced programs to reduce unnecessary plastic containers and packaging, such as providing reusable dishware in the suite and in the communal breakfast areas of the hotel.”
Should I Be Surprised?
It was quite a surprise to me to find polystyrene plates and plasticware at the Tru by Hilton/Home2 Suites by Hilton breakfast. I reached out to Hilton’s corporate communications department by e-mail and received this response:
“You are correct, the Home2 Suites brand standard requires reusable dishware. However, individual properties may periodically be out of compliance on a temporary basis due to unforeseen operational factors, supply constraints or other circumstances that require them to make alternative arrangements for the benefits of their guests. We have reached out to the property to confirm any reason why they may be out of compliance, but there has been no change to the Home2 Suites brand standards as it relates to reusable dishware.”
According to Toxic-Free Future, polystyrene foam contains the chemical styrene, which has been linked to cancer, vision and hearing loss, impaired memory and concentration, and nervous system effects. “What happens when you ingest hot liquids and possibly hot food from polystyrene foam cups and plates is that the styrene may leach out of the foam food service ware and into our bodies,” Toxic-Free Future says.
Adds Toxic-Free Future: “It may take 500 years to decompose and fills up an estimated 25 to 30 percent of the space in our world’s landfills, if it even ends up there. In addition, our lakes, waterways and oceans are suffering thanks to polystyrene waste.”
Long List of Problems with Plastic Utensils
According to AHIMSA, when heated, plastic utensils can leach toxic substances, like oligomers, into food. And recent studies have raised concerns over the exposure to these chemicals and the serious health conditions, including liver and thyroid diseases, cancer, and infertility, that are linked back to them. Single-use plastics also often contain additives like BPA and phthalates, known for endocrine-disrupting effects. Even alternatives marketed as BPA-free or phthalate-free may contain other harmful chemicals, continuing the cycle of risk.
Adds AHIMSA: “Designed for easy convenience and virtually indestructible in our lifetimes, plastic cutlery does not biodegrade. Instead, they slowly fragment into microplastics, contaminating every corner of the globe and posing serious threats to wildlife and ecosystems. The startling reality is that every piece of plastic ever disposed of still lingers somewhere on Earth, accumulating in places as remote as Mount Everest and as deep as the Marianas Trench.”
Also from AHIMSA: “The impact of single-use plastic cutlery goes beyond litter. The production of plastic cutlery has a serious environmental impact as well. Each year, over 300 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide. Because these items are primarily made from fossil fuels like natural gas and crude oil, their production is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. The extraction and transportation of these fuels emit between 1.5 and 12.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.”
Click here to learn more about the problems with single use plasticware.
