According to the Global Hotel Decarbonisation Report, which outlines the hotel sector’s decarbonisation pathway and impactful actions the sector can take, hotels must reduce their absolute carbon emissions by 66% by 2030 and by 90% by 2050 in order to meet the 2-degree Celsius cap set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.

More and more, we find travellers are seeking travel experiences with hotels who are making progressive steps to reduce their carbon footprint. The outcome? Sustainable hotels are carving a niche for themselves – and it couldn’t come a moment sooner.

In this blog, we'll delve into the realm of environmentally conscious hotels, and the changes hotels can make to reduce their impact on the earth. We’ll outline how Dorsett Melbourne is taking steps towards a greener future, spearheaded by the dedicated Head of Sustainability at Dorsett Hospitality International.

Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry

The hotel and hospitality industry, while providing unparalleled experiences for guests, also faces significant environmental challenges.

  • According to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, hotels produce approximately 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

  • The Sustainable Australia Fund emphasises that sustainable practices are essential not only for the planet but also for business longevity, as modern travellers increasingly prioritise environmentally conscious accommodation.

  • Deloitte's 2023 tourism report further underlines the urgency for sustainable transformations in the hospitality sector. It highlights that guests, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are making choices based on a hotel's commitment to environmental responsibility.

These reports suggest that as travellers become more environmentally conscious, the demand for sustainable hotels is on the rise. And at Dorsett Melbourne, we're committed to leading by example when it comes to the implementation of more environmentally friendly processes.

Our Sustainable Initiatives

At Dorsett Melbourne, we recognise that reducing our carbon footprint plays a key role in reaching the country’s climate change targets. It’s our responsibility as a business operating in the Australian hospitality industry to not only lower our carbon emissions, but also to align our sustainability initiatives with climate change goals.

Needless to say, it’s a big task and one that we’re still working towards. But our commitment is unwavering – and we’re all ears when it comes to suggestions for improvement.

In June 2023, we had sustainability travel influencer, author, speaker, and mum Erin Rhoads of The Rogue Ginger stay with us and review our hotel. From the bamboo room keys to the preserved flowers, Erin helpfully illustrated her favourite eco elements and even provided some suggestions, which Dorsett Melbourne is in the process of implementing.

Some of Erin’s top-rated eco initiatives at Dorsett Melbourne include:

No Single-use Plastic Water Bottles

Preserved flowers and glassware on a table

In our efforts to reduce single-use plastic, we’ve replaced plastic water bottles with reusable glassware in every room. By doing so, we are helping remove up to 4,000 water bottles from circulation each month. Guests can now stay refreshed while contributing to a significant reduction in plastic waste.

As Melbourne and larger Victoria are home to some of the world’s cleanest and best-quality drinking water, we feel confident that guests will appreciate and support this conscious change.

Housekeeping Opt-Out Program

From May 2024, we will invite guests to opt out of daily housekeeping in exchange for a daily $10 Food and Beverage credit. This not only reduces water and energy consumption but also encourages guests to actively participate in our green initiatives.

Think of it like this: If every person chose to reuse their towels while staying at Dorsett Melbourne, we could save almost one million litres of water per year*.

*Based on the average hotel occupancy from April 2023-March 2024 and an average length of stay of one night.

Bamboo Room Keys

Dorsett Melbourne bamboo room keys with breakfast plates

Taking another step towards eliminating plastic waste, we’ve replaced traditional plastic room keys with bamboo alternatives.

This small change has a substantial positive impact on the environment. Bamboo is a natural, renewable and biodegradable material that breaks down over time, whereas plastic, of course, does not.

In the same vein, Dorsett Melbourne has also eliminated the use of standard business cards to reduce waste further. Instead, we use digital business cards – or none at all!

Elimination of Single-Use Toiletries

Embracing the mantra of "reduce, reuse, recycle," we have eliminated single-use toiletries from our rooms.

Instead, you’ll find large refillable bottles of indulgent Elemis products, promoting a more sustainable approach to personal care.

Incorporation of Preserved Flowers

Vase of preserved white flowers

In a move towards environmentally conscious decor, Dorsett Melbourne has chosen preserved flowers over fresh. Our beautiful blooms are all locally sourced from a small business, which uses native-grown varieties wherever possible.

This not only reduces waste but also adds a touch of timeless elegance to our surroundings.

Integration of Recycling Bin Systems

To encourage responsible waste disposal, each room at Dorsett Melbourne is equipped with a recycling bin. This is a big step in the right direction for sustainability in hospitality, and we’re proud to not only provide recycling options, but also to see that our guests are using them so responsibly and diligently.

By implementing in-room recycling bins, we hope to empower you to actively participate in recycling efforts during your stay, contributing to the development of green hotels.

So, what can and can’t be recycled*?

Recyclable

Non-Recyclable

Hard plastic bottles and containers

Soft plastics like food wrappers and plastic bags

Paper and cardboard (scrunched or folded is best for space-saving)

Cling wrap

Aluminium cans and foil

Long-life milk or juice containers

Steel cans

Nappies and nappy wipes

Empty aerosol cans

Window glass, glassware, Pyrex and crockery

Cleaned glass bottles and jars

Food or garden waste

Polystyrene and foam

Clothing and textiles

Batteries

Waxed cardboard

*For further clarification on what you can recycle, visit the City of Melbourne recycling guide.

Partnership with Bardee

In our quest to combat food waste, Dorsett Melbourne has joined forces with Bardee, an innovative platform with a mission to reduce food wastage. Bardee connects businesses like ours with surplus food from local eateries at discounted rates, ensuring that perfectly good food doesn't go to waste.

Bardee's initiatives align seamlessly with Dorsett Melbourne's commitment to social connectivity and active wellness, fostering a community-driven approach to sustainability:

  • Through Bardee, we save 100% of our compostable waste from going to landfills, where food waste rots and turns into greenhouse gases.

  • For every 120 litres of waste picked up from Dorsett Melbourne each week, we effectively save 10,660kg of CO2 from the environment each year.

  • This equates to a carbon cost saving of $3,575 per year.

We’re also pleased to report that the Dorsett Melbourne kitchens are on the way to being carbon-negative, a huge move for the Food & Beverage sector within our hotel.

Green Globe Certification

Dorsett Melbourne is pleased to announce that we’re currently in the process of obtaining Green Globe Certification.

This provides certified standards by which our hotel operates, allowing us to take active steps every year towards lowering our carbon emissions further with the support and resources of Green Globe.

Active Support for Earth Hour

Earth from space showing lights switched off

23rd March at 8:30pm

As a part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, Dorsett Melbourne actively participates in Earth Hour each year.

This global initiative is on the 23rd of March at 8:30pm and encourages businesses and individuals to turn off non-essential lights for one hour. This collective effort aims to raise awareness and help to combat climate change from every pocket of the globe.

During Earth Hour, our hotel will dim non-essential lights, creating a serene environment to inspire reflection on our environmental impact that also contributes to lowering our collective carbon footprint.

If you’ll be staying with us on the 23rd of March, we invite you to join us in switching off your room lights at 8:30pm for a meaningful Earth Hour Melbourne.

Challenge 60

This year, Earth Hour has introduced a fun yet impactful challenge to get people involved in driving a more sustainable future. Challenge 60 maintains that “it takes 60 minutes a day to make a real difference” and invites people from all around the world to challenge themselves to get active in nature for one hour each day between the 1st of March and the 23rd of March.

Interested in other local and online Earth Hour activities? There’s plenty to discover on their website – explore, learn, and get the little ones involved in this special worldwide initiative.

There are even prizes for money-raising initiatives, so get a team together and start fundraising for some fun WWF and Earth Hour merch.

Go Green With Dorsett Melbourne

Dorsett Melbourne hotel exterior with green trees

Make your next stay a stylish, comfortable, and environmentally conscious experience at Dorsett Melbourne. By choosing us, you're not just booking a room; you're embracing a commitment to sustainability without compromising on enjoyment and convenience.

We still have a long road ahead. There is so much more to be done in efforts to lower carbon emissions and make a real impact on climate change, especially in the hospitality industry. But with each new initiative comes a new leaf, and we’re committed to implementing bigger and better changes in the years ahead.

Experience the heart of Melbourne with a stay that aligns with your values and supports sustainable hotels – book your getaway at Dorsett Melbourne today.