BRUSSELS (8 SEPTEMBER, 2016): Radisson Blu, the iconic hotel brand driven by innovation and design, is delighted to announce its new partnership with the Soap for Hope™ program, which recycles used hotel soaps to create fresh bars for distribution in local communities with limited access to hygiene and sanitation.
The Soap for Hope™ program works in partnership with Sealed Air, the leader in food safety and security, facility hygiene and product protection. Soap for Hope™ was pioneered by Sealed Air to save lives by giving free soap to communities with limited access to soap, to create local entrepreneurs and to help hotels reduce waste through recycling.
Capitalizing on the success of projects in Georgia and in the Philippines, 23 Radisson Blu hotels* across Africa, Indian Ocean, Middle-East and APAC will collect used soap bars and pass them to Sealed Air representatives. Local entrepreneurs are then shown how to recycle the soap using an innovative cold-press method, which takes less than ten minutes to complete and requires no running water or electricity. The used soap is then distributed to local communities.
Inge Huijbrechts, Vice President Responsible Business at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, explained: “We are delighted to join the Soap for Hope™ program with Sealed Air. We have been impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment from participating hotels. The program creates shared value between our business and the communities in which we operate. Providing local access to better hygiene aligns closely with the brand’s Blu Planet program to encourage water mindfulness.”
Stefan Phang, Sealed Air’s Regional CSR and Sustainability Director, commented: “A typical 400-room hotel generates 3.5 metric tons of solid soap waste each year. Hand-washing with soap is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diarrhea and respiratory diseases in developing countries, where millions of children every year suffer from diseases that could otherwise have been prevented. Partnering with Radisson Blu will provide an opportunity for us to grow our presence in emerging markets, where access to sanitation is a critical component of improving healthcare.”
Soap for Hope™ has been launched in 62 cities and 22 countries together with 249 partner hotels. To date, 750 tons of used soap has been recycled into 6.2 million new bars and every year, about 400,000 people in local communities benefit from this program.
*Participating Hotels:
Radisson Blu Cebu, Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel Tbilisi, Radisson Blu Nairobi Upper Hill, Radisson Blu Hotel Dakar, Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton Johannesburg, Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront Cape Town, Radisson Blu Poste Lafayette Resort & Spa Mauritius, Radisson Blu Azuri Resort & Spa Mauritius, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, Radisson Blu Marina, Radisson Blu Residence Dubai Marina, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Media City, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Downtown, Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah, Radisson Blu Yas Island, Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah, Radisson Blu hotel, Riyadh, Radisson Blu hotel Dahran, Radisson Blu Hotel Yanbu, Radisson Blu Hotel Jeddah, Radisson Blu Hotel Royal suite Jeddah, Radisson Blu Hotel Plaza Jeddah, Radisson Blu resorts Jizan
NOTES TO EDITORS
More resources are available at: www.radissonblu.com/bluplanet and on Radisson Blu Blog
For further media information please contact:
Lucie Cardona, [email protected], Tel: +32 2 730 7832
Jonathan Astle, [email protected], Tel: +44 (0)7881 924 924
ABOUT RADISSON BLU®
Radisson Blu® is one of the world’s leading hotel brands with nearly 300 hotels in operation in 69 countries and territories. Radisson Blu’s vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality is characterized by a unique Yes I Can!SM service philosophy, and all of its first class hotels offer a range of signature features that are empathetic to the challenges of modern travel, including the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Distinguished the world over as the brand with Hotels Designed to Say YES!SM, Radisson Blu offers a vivid visual celebration of leading-edge style where the delight is in the detail. Radisson Blu hotels are located in prime locations in major cities, airport gateways and leisure destinations across the world.
Radisson Blu is a part of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, which also includes Quorvus Collection, Radisson®, Radisson RED, Park Plaza®, Park Inn® by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM. For reservations and more information visit, www.radissonblu.com. Connect with Radisson Blu on social media: @RadissonBlu on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.com/RadissonBlu.
ABOUT SEALED AIR
Sealed Air Corporation creates a world that feels, tastes and works better. In 2015, the Company generated revenue of approximately $7.0 billion by helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals in the face of today's biggest social and environmental challenges. Our portfolio of widely recognized brands, including Cryovac® brand food packaging solutions, Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning and Diversey® cleaning and hygiene solutions, enables a safer and less wasteful food supply chain, protects valuable goods shipped around the world, and improves health through clean environments. Sealed Air has approximately 23,000 employees who serve customers in 169 countries. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com
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Sustainable Brands Staff
Published Sep 9, 2016 2am EDT / 11pm PDT / 7am BST / 8am CEST