Cutting down on laundry volume has been the focus of our industry for decades now with the now standard towel/linen replacement opt-out programs. Only recently, however, has there been chatter about eliminating some towels entirely. In the past year I have run across several suppliers that are aiming to do just that.
At this past fall’s Boutique Design New York, Magic Stone introduced its antibacterial bathmat made from natural stone that goes from wet to dry in seconds. According to the company, it can reduce annual expenditure on traditional floor towel bathmats by over 80 percent annually. The bathmats can be personalized with the hotel’s logo or other image or message.
At last year’s HD Expo, VOVO introduced its foot and body dryer with low/high, cool/warm, and foot dry/body dry power settings. One can dry oneself without using a towel—saving on towel use, energy, water, chemicals, labor, etc. The dryer looks like a scale that one would weigh oneself on.
Also at last year’s HD Expo, Valiryo introduced its body drying column for the shower. Unlike VOVO’s dryer, the Valiryo body dryer is vertical in nature with the dryers running the entire vertical length of the shower. The dryer offers 16 combinations of temperature and power. According to the company, its body dryer can reduce related laundry water costs by 100 percent, electricity consumption by 87 percent, CO2 emissions by 88 percent, and overall costs by 89 percent.
Has your property implemented any of these products? I would love to hear about it. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
