The Green Partnership Guide
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12 STEPS TO HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRI ENDLY SETTING FOR OUR GUESTS, FOR OURSELVES, AND FOR OUR FUTURE Author’s note: We are indebted to Ontario Hydro and to several departments of our federal and provincial governments as well as a number of universities and environmental organizations in Canada and the U.S.for much of the data which follows. Written by Warner Troyer 01992 Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts All cartoons 01992 by Tim Robertson. Printed on Recycled Paper.” Introduction: CPH&R Green Partnership Policy ................................................ 1 12 STEPS TO A GREENER PLANET Step 1: Reduce; Reuse; Recycle .................................................... 5 Step 2 Eliminate Excessive and Unnecessary Packaging ...... 8 Step 3: Eliminate All Aerosols & Phosphates ........................... 14 Step 4: Buy Recycled Paper Products Wherever Possible ...... 16 Step 5: Recycle Everything Possible & Practical ...................... 18 Step 6: Replace Incandescent Lights with Fluorescents......... 23 Step 7 Save our Precious Water ................................................... 27 Step 8: Buy Organic Foods Wherever Possible ........................ 33 Step 9: Establish a Guest Recycling Program ........................... 37 Step 10: Redistribute Used Amenities to Charity ...................... 39 Step 11: Establish a Toxic Waste Disposal Program .................. 41 Step 12: Establish a Green Corporate Purchasing Policy ......... 44 2 GREENING YOUR DEPARTMENT Introduction ....................................................................................... 47 I. Waste Disposal ......................................................................... 48 11 . Laundry ...................................................................................... 49 111 . Kitchen ....................................................................................... 55 IV . Grounds & Golf Course Management ................................ 69 V. Rooms Division... ........................................................................ 78 VI . Stores & Purchasing ................................................................ 86 VII . Housekeeping ........................................................................... 87 VIII. Repairs and Renovations ....................................................... 89 IX . Food Services ............................................................................ 99 SUCCESS STORIES......................................................................... 101 GREEN CONTACTS .......................................... See Table of Contents in Green Contacts Section Note: The Green Contacts section is numbered separately from the rest of the manual. In 1990, Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts undertook the development of a green program for all of our hotels in Canada. Our aim was to institute the highest possible standards of environmental responsibility throughout the chain. We formed environmental committees at every one of our hotels to lead the green program in-house. We did an environmental audit of all our hotels in Canada, looking for areas where we could introduce more nature-friendly products and practises. We asked professional environmental consultants for ideas on ”going green.” And most importantly, we asked our 10,000 employees in Canada how they felt about introducing a green program. Our employees gave us an overwhelming vote of support (over 90% said they strongly favoured starting a green program) and they also gave us lots of great ideas on where to start greening our hotels. The message from environmentalists, guests, co-workers and members of our communities was clear: Get in sync with nature. Use our skills and knowledge to build a safe, clean-and-green future for our children. Become industry leaders - and planet savers. We agree with this message. In response, we’ve developed this, THE CPH&R The Green Partnership Guide - an accessible and friendly GREEN manual designed to help our employees implement the exciting PARTNERSHIP and aggressive green program which we have developed in POLICY response to your suggestions and ideas. Our objective? For CPH&R to become a world leader and pace setter in establishing responsible environmental practices for the hotel industry. Anything less would be a denial of our heritage and our history and a write-off of our future and the rich rewards of responsible environmental citizenship. In 1991, environmental questionnaires were distributed to all CPH&R employees. Here are some of the things you told us: 95+% of you see our environment as a critical issue. 89% want to know more about what you can do to help. 82+% would volunteer extra time and effort to help. Page 1 Green Policy 92+% agree CPH&R efforts will help our planet. 88+% will take more pride in jobs with a ”green” CPH&R. The results of this survey constitute nothing less than a mandate from our employees. The Green Partnership Guide has been developed in response. You want to act with environmental responsibility - and this manual is designed to show you how. A number of CPH&R facilities have already begun major greening initiatives. Many recycle bottles, tins, cardboard and newspapers; some have installed water-saving showerheads, others have low- flow aerators in water taps; three dedicated facilities have even moved to reduce water flows in toilets. We face an immediate and critical need to reduce and conserve energy. By following the sensible and simple steps outlined in the CPH&R Green Partnership Guide, we can extend the best possible environment-friendly practices to every department of every one of our hotels; and at the same time as we’re helping to protect our environment, we’ll all benefit from substantial savings as well. Here’s what The Green Partnership Guide Contains: PART ONE 12 STEPS TO A GREENER PLANET - realistic and clearly defined steps and timing in all areas where CPH&R can make a positive difference. PART TWO: GREENING YOUR DEPARTMENT - co-ordinated policy and guidelines to help every Department in every CPH&R location pursue these goals. PART THREE SUCCESS STORIES - Great Environmental Ideas THE CPH&R from 15 Canadian hotels. GREEN PARTNERSHIP PART FOUR GREEN CONTACTS - a highly detailed POLICY information base to help all Departments achieve these goals. Please read The Green Partnership Guide carefully; and as you work with it, give us your feedback and experience-based judgement. Through your local environmental committee, send us your comments, questions, suggestions and proposals: they’re essential to the success of our mutual voyage of discovery and progress. As our Green Partnership program progresses, we’ll be asking you questions, too; and we’ll share your ideas with your green partners in all our locations. Remember - our mutual progress in Page 2 this huge and vital undertaking depends on our collective ability Green Policy to share ow experiences, learn from our mistakes, and build on our successes. To quote Madam Gro Harlem Brundtland, Chairman of the UN Commission on Environment and Development: "The environment is where we all live." Today, no one can be excused from the critical campaign for responsible environmental citizenship to save this fragile planet where we all live. Using the CPH&R Green Partnership Guide, we can all begin the campaign - right now. ACTION PLAN Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts has set the following goals: A. WASTE MANAGEMENT 1. Set target for a 50% reduction in landfill waste (average for chain) and a 20% reduction in paper use by December 1992; 2. Re-distribute and/or recycle all used soap and amenities; 3. Establish programs at all properties to recycle the following: a. all paper b. newspaper C. all cans d. organic waste e. all motor oils f. cardboard g. plastics h. all bottles i. coat hangers j. printer cartridges ACTION PLAN 4. Establish a policy and procedure for the identification and disposal of hazardous waste; 5. Initiate a "phase out" program to reduce or eliminate the use of the following items in CPH&R restaurants and cafeterias: a. individual sugar packages b. individual creamers c. individual condiment containers d. disposable cups 6. Introduce "blue boxes" for collection of recyclable materials (glass, tins, etc.) in all guest rooms, chain-wide; Page 3 Green Policy B. ENERGY 7. Initiate a retrofit of all appropriate lighting from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs (Environmental Choice standard) at all properties; 8. Replace all showerheads and taps with low-flow alternatives (Environmental Choice standard); 9. Establish a standard temperature for the setting of all hot water tanks (recommended 130F); C. PURCHASING 10. Establish a corporate purchasing policy that imposes, where appropriate, Environmental Choice standards as the minimum standard for purchase of and/or conversion to "environmentally friendly" products; 11. Convert all necessary paper products to unbleached kraft or recycled materials (minimum Environmental Choice standard); 12. Streamline use of cleaning agents and, where available, replace with non-aerosol products; eliminate hazardous chemicals and synthetic perfumes; 13. Purchase only re-refined motor oil-and re-inked printer ribbons for use at CPH&R; 14. Initiate negotiations with suppliers to eliminate and reduce packaging; 15. Initiate strategic alliance with Canadian Organic Growers to purchase organically grown foodstuffs; D. WATER 16. Establish corporate policy to make toilet dams mandatory in all CPH&R toilet tanks that flush more than two