Closing the Loop on Hotel Waste with Creative Solutions
SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) in the Philippines has upcycled over 3,300 yards of discarded linens into tote bags through its flagship initiative called Tela Tales, which was launched in March 2024.
Global waste production is soaring to critical levels, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. Waste in the Asia-Pacific region alone is projected to climb from 802 million tons in 2016 to an alarming 1.1 trillion tons by 2030. Southeast Asia, in particular, is contributing significantly to this crisis. Waste generation has been rising quickly since 2000, hitting around 150 million tons in 2016. By 2030, this figure is predicted to more than double.
Hotels worldwide are responsible for substantial waste streams, ranging from single-use plastics and uneaten food to discarded linens and outdated materials. These items often end up in landfills, releasing harmful gases like methane and depleting natural resources at an unsustainable rate. Yet, every piece of this so-called "trash" has the potential to be repurposed, composted, or innovatively managed to prevent environmental harm.
Creative Waste Transformation Success Stories
The good news is that many hotels and enterprises across Asia are already stepping up, showing how materials often considered waste can be transformed into something useful. By thinking outside the box and partnering strategically, these establishments give new purpose to discarded items, establishing a fresh benchmark for innovation in the hospitality sector.
Here's how some pioneers in the industry are demonstrating what is possible.
Giving Linens a Second Life
For SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) in the Philippines, old linens are becoming a symbol of community empowerment and environmental responsibility. Through a flagship initiative called Tela Tales, the hotel group has upcycled over 3,300 yards of discarded linens into tote bags and other useful items since its launch in March 2024. To date, more than 260 bags have been handcrafted.
The initiative extends far beyond waste reduction. Tela Tales provides skills training to local women, with 50 participants across three SMHCC locations now equipped with advanced sewing and dressmaking expertise after 300 hours of training. Not only do these women gain economic opportunities, but they also contribute to a circular economy that transforms waste into something beautiful and functional.
Through its Tela Tales initiative, SMHCC has trained 50 local women for over 300 hours. Photos by SMHCC.
“Our goal is shared prosperity for all,” says Leah Magallanes, SMHCC’s Vice President for Quality and Sustainability. “We see the greatest impact when we collaborate with the right partners, from local governments to designers, who help align tailored training, product development, and the sale of these items to fuel sustainability with actual results. This isn’t charity; it’s about creating real, lasting transformation.”
The initial implementation was supported by Zara Juan, a homegrown designer known for championing the circular economy and Filipino artisans. Juan has been instrumental in the ongoing development of Tela Tales, offering her creative expertise to refine the design and functionality of its products.
Tela Tales continues to grow through innovative partnerships that amplify its mission. Two recent expansions bring fresh ideas to the initiative:
Brave Story is a social enterprise that creates dresses, tote bags, placemats, coasters, and stuffed toys using repurposed textiles. Through training communities to hand-embroider parts of these creations, Brave Story combines thoughtful design with eco-conscious production.
Repamana repurposes discarded hotel bed sheets into stylish garments and accessories. They tackle fabric waste creatively, offering innovative solutions for upcycling materials.
“It’s incredible to see what happens when waste is reimagined,” Magallanes adds.
Bags made from discarded linens. Photos by SMHCC.
Transforming Hotel Textile Waste into Regenerated Fabric for New Products
I Am Sustainable Studio collaborates with the hospitality industry to transform discarded linens into new materials, offering a scalable and eco-conscious solution to textile waste. By breaking down old linens into fibers, the studio creates reusable materials that can be turned into fresh products. This process avoids the intensive water and energy use of traditional textile production, saving up to 200,000 liters of water and preventing 3.6 tons of CO₂ emissions for every ton of textiles recycled.
“For our pilot program, we processed 1,200 kg of discarded textiles, breaking them down into fiber through mechanical recycling,” shares Sandy Tiu, the studio’s founder. “Unlike traditional upcycling methods—such as patching, stitching, or dyeing—which require intensive manual labor and only extend an item’s usability for a short period, our approach ensures a long-term, scalable solution.”
Its commitment to transparency and community collaboration sets I Am Sustainable Studio apart. “We work closely with local artisans, integrating regenerated yarns into traditional weaving practices to create marketable products,” says Tiu. “This approach not only preserves cultural craftsmanship but also introduces sustainable design into local economies.”
To reinforce their sustainability impact, partner hotels receive detailed reports quantifying exactly how much textile waste they’ve diverted, the carbon savings achieved, and the water conserved. “We believe in giving businesses tangible data that proves their sustainability efforts are more than just words,” Tiu adds.
While many hotels donate or recycle used linens, there’s an opportunity to take these efforts further by considering the entire lifecycle of these materials. Partnering with organizations like I Am Sustainable Studio ensures that textile waste is repurposed rather than shifted elsewhere in the supply chain. Lifecycle thinking is key to building a genuinely sustainable model.
“At I Am Sustainable Studio, we’re not just fixing a waste problem. We’re proving that sustainability isn’t a compromise—it’s an evolution,” says Tiu.
Screenshots from I Am Sustainable Studio’s profile.
Crafting Totes from Ocean Trash
In Thailand, Banyan Tree Krabi has partnered with local artisans from Souvenirs from the Sea to provide hotel guests with upcycled tote bags made from washed-up trash collected from nearby beaches.
"The Souvenirs from the Sea project is the brainchild of a local vendor who scours the shores around Krabi each morning, picking up debris and, with a keen artistic eye, selecting those items that can be cleaned, dried, and modified into safe, colorful, eco-friendly souvenirs for tourists. Her partnership with Banyan Tree Krabi is proving to be a win-win situation for everyone," shares Thepsuda Loyjiw, Sustainability Manager of Banyan Tree Krabi.
The initiative doesn’t just clean beaches; it provides financial assistance to local artisans and educates guests about marine conservation.
“I have been creating products from ocean waste for nearly 11 years. Coastal communities along the Andaman Sea are participating in collecting marine debris, and some of it is used to craft bags based on my designs, providing them with income. So far, we have collected over ten tons of ocean waste and will continue this effort,” says Wiyada Kowsanti, owner of Souvenirs from the Sea.
Each tote tells a story, sparking conversations about responsible tourism while reminding guests of their role in protecting marine ecosystems. Photos by Banyan Tree Resort.
Closing the Plastic Loop with Second Life
One of the most inspiring additions to the growing list of waste-to-worth transformations comes from Second Life, a social enterprise focused on collecting and recycling ocean plastic.
Screengrab from Second Life website
Measurable Impact on Plastic Waste
According to the Second Life Annual Report 2024, the organization has collected 5,413 metric tons of plastic waste across the Andaman Coastline of Thailand in the provinces of Krabi, Ranong, Trang, and Phang-Nga since its inception in 2020, with 1,026 metric tons in 2024 alone.
Of this, 95% was sent to recyclers, 4% was kept in stock, and 1% was sent for energy recovery.
Screengrab from Second Life Annual Report 2024
The annual report highlights not just the plastic diverted from waste streams but also the economic benefits generated. More than 2,000 local waste collectors earn fair wages through the initiative, significantly improving livelihoods while solving a pressing environmental problem. Over $1.2 million was funneled back into local economies in 2024 through job creation and community-based projects.
Relevance for Coastal and Island Hotels
Many hotels situated along coastlines and on islands are particularly vulnerable to the plastic waste crisis, with debris often washing ashore and threatening the ecosystems tourists come to experience. Second Life's partnership model offers an actionable framework for hotels to implement sustainable waste management practices. By collaborating directly with Second Life, hotels can help divert significant amounts of plastic from entering waterways while supporting circular economy within their communities.
Luxury Made from Rice Husks
The collaboration between 21 Carpenter Singapore and design studio ipse ipsa ipsum shows how agricultural waste can make its way into luxury design.
“The hotel sits on the site of Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee, a remittance house founded in 1936 that once helped migrant workers send money and handwritten letters back home. That history is etched, literally, into the building’s aluminum façade,” describes Saurabh Mangla, founder of ipse ipsa ipsum. “We took the same spirit into the design.”
(L) The minibar snack baskets were inspired by hawkers who carried goods in baskets across poles. (R) Rice husks were transformed into tea boxes and coasters accented with brass elements to elevate their aesthetic appeal. Photos by ipse ipsa ipsum.
21 Carpenter sought to preserve heritage with sustainable and functional pieces in its spaces. “ipse ipsa ipsum played a pivotal role in bringing our vision and thoughtfulness to life,” says Tarun Kalra, the hotel’s General Manager. "They skillfully transformed upcycled and reclaimed materials into bespoke creations that enhanced both aesthetic appeal and functionality while embodying a sense of luxury."
Rice husks, one of Asia's most abundant agricultural wastes that are often just burnt or discarded, were transformed into tea boxes, coasters, and minibar snack baskets accented with brass elements to elevate their aesthetic appeal. This fusion transforms what was once viewed as disposable into refined, desirable design pieces. “Rice husks are often undervalued, but when paired with materials like brass, they become symbols of elegance and innovation, making them more desirable,” shares Mangla.
He also shared the inspiration behind repurposing waste into elegant design pieces. “The idea came from a simple question—how can we give value to what’s usually thrown away?”
What’s most inspiring is how this initiative addresses multiple issues at once. Upcycling waste that would otherwise be burned prevents air pollution while also supporting the hotel’s commitment to design and functionality.
“When every material has a purpose, sustainability becomes less of a checklist and more of a lived experience," says Mangla.
Guests have responded enthusiastically, praising the creative pieces and appreciating the hotel’s dedication to sustainability. “Their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to contribute to environmental sustainability during their stay,” shares Kalra.
Mangla encourages hoteliers to take the leap into innovative designs, saying, “Start small. Choose one overlooked material and treat it with as much respect as marble or brass. When design meets purpose, the outcome is not just beautiful; it’s meaningful. And that’s the kind of luxury people remember.”
The Garden Terrace Bar cart is made from 455kg of reclaimed wood from old doors and windows, giving discarded materials a new purpose in a place rich with history. Photo by 21 Carpenter Singapore.
Palm Fronds: From Waste to Resource
At Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, fallen palm fronds used to be a logistical headache, often requiring diesel-fueled transport to remove the debris. However, the resort has turned this waste into a valuable resource through its Frond Circles initiative.
By stacking palm fronds into 1.5-meter-high circular piles, the resort allows them to decompose naturally, creating nutrient-rich mulch. This simple yet effective method eliminates the need for off-island transportation, significantly reducing emissions and operational costs.
The first Frond Circle, launched in March 2021, has yielded impressive results. After just over two years, it provided 50 bags of nutrient-packed mulch, each weighing 20 kilograms, to sustain the resort’s lush landscaping.
This low-tech solution is easy to replicate for other tropical resorts, proving that impactful practices don’t always require complex systems.
"Being able to embrace something so simple with such wonderful outcomes is encouraging," shares Sharon Garrett, Director of Marketing. "Our sustainability efforts continue to evolve, and we aim to share what works with our colleagues and the wider industry. Collecting data and facts is an important part of what we are doing. We have shared our case study with the head office, and we hope the activity will become a best practice for island destinations."
Frond Circles eliminate the need for diesel-powered transport, reducing the resort's carbon footprint while managing garden waste directly on-site. This initiative also supports soil enrichment and ensures that the pristine grounds of the upscale property are maintained sustainably. Photos by Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives.
Coffee Grounds and Cooking Oil: A New Purpose
At JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, what was once everyday kitchen waste has been reimagined as a sustainable resource. Last year, the resort transformed 15 kilograms of used coffee grounds into 6 kilograms of briquettes, which serve as an alternative to traditional fuels for heating and cooking.
Alongside this effort, 9,000 liters of used cooking oil have been collected and redirected for conversion into biofuel. This proactive solution highlights the untapped potential in materials often considered waste.
The resort has also diverted 28,881 kilograms (28.88 tons) of recyclables from landfills by sorting and sending materials such as cardboard, glass, plastic, and aluminum to specialized recycling facilities for reprocessing.
These efforts were part of the resort’s sustainability-led initiatives across food & beverage, waste management, and resource conservation in 2024.
4 Steps to Kickstart Your Hotel’s Waste Transformation Journey
1. Map your waste.
Start by understanding what waste your property produces and where it comes from. Categorize materials like linens, plastics, glass, or food scraps. Conducting an audit helps you identify which areas need the most attention and which categories require the most effort. That’s where creativity can make a difference.
2. Work with local partners for creative solutions.
Collaborate with designers, local artisans, upcyclers, and recycling organizations to give waste a new life while supporting the community. Choose partnerships that prioritize closed-loop systems and local economic empowerment, ensuring solutions remain sustainable in the long run.
3. Engage your team.
Provide training to equip your team with the skills and knowledge to manage waste more effectively and champion sustainable practices. Recognize their contributions. A motivated staff drives the success of waste initiatives.
4. Share your impact honestly and transparently.
Guests are drawn to brands that are honest about their efforts and progress. Use storytelling to connect with them, but always back up your claims with measurable results. Regularly share updates to show progress.
