MANILA, Philippines — Hotels are among the busiest establishments during the holidays, and it’s no secret that it takes logistics and careful planning to give Filipino families the time of their lives in a home away from home.
But with the country facing an environmental crisis amid frequent calamities, it’s becoming increasingly clear that intervention is needed before the Philippines’ natural resources reach an irreparable state. Hotels and resorts are known for generating a significant amount of food and linen waste, given the high volume of guests and the intensity of daily operations.
In light of these challenges, how do these establishments contribute to the push for sustainable living? Here’s how some local establishments are holding themselves accountable through their environmental initiatives and upcycling programs.
Okada Manila Hotel in Parañaque City
Launched in 2024, the Okada Green Heart initiative has been promoting environmentally responsible practices that aim to contribute to the fight against climate change.
The sustainability program covers six bases of their environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles. Waste management, energy efficiency, and water conservation are just some of the issues that the Okada Green Heart addresses with its various programs and initiatives.
On September 19, the Parañaque-based hotel led a Coastal Cleanup Drive alongside the Okada Boardwalk Seaside in line with their defense against marine pollution, with around 358 volunteers from the Okada Green Heart program collecting a whopping 4.49 metric tons of trash from the coastlines.
They also collaborated with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) for the Motolite Balik Baterya Program, which helped upcycle 33,000 kilograms (kg) of used batteries into 80 desks and chairs for the Tambo Elementary School Unit 1 in Parañaque City.
Okada Manila is a hotel and resort located in the Entertainment City complex along Manila Bay. It opened its doors to patrons and guests on New Year’s Eve 2016. It is owned by Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Incorporated.
Atmosphere Resorts and Spa in Dauin, Negros Oriental
Established in 2008, Atmosphere Resorts and Spa was built on an old coconut plantation in the Negros Islands. Being situated opposite the tourist destination Apo Island, the resort supports marine conservation and environmental awareness.
In collaboration with the host local government unit and Oriental Negros International School, the resort co-founded the Institute for Marine Research (IMR) in Dauin.
The IMR is a grassroots nonprofit that focuses on research on marine ecosystems to create conservation strategies for the Philippines.
It offers courses for aspiring marine biologists and nature advocates in diving and coral reef preservation. Guests can apply as a research assistant, research fellow, research assistant with divemaster internship, or research assistant with instructor development.
All of the courses provided are certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, an international dive training organization founded in California.
Also under the IMR is the Dauin Municipality Long-Term Reef Monitoring Project, which helps monitor the coral reefs’ threats and population in the Dauin Inshore Reef and on Apo Island.
Raffles Hotel in Makati City
The Makati-based hotel, which has been open since December 2012, was lauded with the Green Globe Certification Standard in 2023, an internationally acclaimed certification group known for recognizing sustainable tourism in hotels.
Raffles Hotel Makati was the first-ever hotel in the Philippines to be awarded the certification.
The hotel collaborated with Solarius Energy, a Nueva Vizcaya based solar dealer, to be one of the first in providing electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities in support of energy preservation and cleaner transportation.
The hotel has also established Green Team, an environmental task force consisting of prominent figureheads across Raffles Hotel’s organization. Task force members are in charge of monitoring and implementing sustainable practices across the area.
In 2023, Raffles Hotel Makati partnered with Virlanie Foundation in an effort to donate excess food from their in-house buffet, Spectrum, to the members of said foundation. As of July 2024, the hotel has donated a total of 2,760 kg of food.
The hotel isn’t shy about waste management either, as they are also in talks with the Integrated Waste Management through a composting program. Since their first collaboration in 2024, Raffles Hotel has composted 36,540 kg worth of trash.
Mövenpick Resort & Spa in Boracay
Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay (MRSB) in July 2024 introduced “No Bin Fridays: Reducing Waste One Meal at a Time,” in alignment with their goal of mindful consumption and sustainability.
Every Friday, the in-house kitchen team prepares meals that are made with minimal to zero food waste. They go so far as closing trash bins to minimize leftovers and promoting a culture of awareness in food consumption.
In September 2024, the hotel collaborated with No Space 4 Waste (NS4W), a Boracay-based nonprofit dedicated to controlling the waste that gets sent to its landfill.
The hotel collated 428 glass bottles, and 147 kg from these bottles were crushed to create alternative beach sand and eco-friendly hollow blocks for construction.
‘Tela Tales’ by SM Hotels and Convention Centers
More than 10,000 yards have been upcycled by SM Hotels and Convention Centers’ (SMHCC) sustainability initiative called Tela Tales, promoting proper waste reduction and community engagement.
After its launch on World Recycling Day in 2024, the program has given women volunteers a livelihood “one textile at a time” as taken from their slogan. SMHCC collaborated with social designer and entrepreneur Zarah Juan in making the designs from used hotel materials like bedsheets, banquet linens, and towels.
Through the program’s drive in recycling and transforming materials to something new, Tela Tales was able to answer the call for environmental reform and shaping women’s skills with the nearby SM Hotels in the area. Volunteers are spread out from places like Tagaytay, Nasugbu, and Quezon City.
The volunteers are directly affected by their participation in the program, as a part of the proceeds goes to them, further supporting the livelihoods of women in local communities.
Snuggle Mates, the newest product line of Tela Tales, is heavily inspired by the company’s other properties nationwide. With the help of the volunteers, the program was able to produce items like Bamboo the Panda for Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Ozzy the Bear for Taal Vista Hotel, among other toys.
In January, Tela Tales ventured of Metro Manila for the first time, launching in Bacolod and Iloilo.
In Iloilo, Tela Tales collaborated with the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines–Iloilo (HPFPI) wherein local craftsmen produce unique products that the community may find useful.
HPFPI is an organization that pushes for urban inclusivity and decent housing, with the goal of securing tenure and improved economic conditions.
In Bacolod, the program collaborated with nonprofit Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) to create the products.
The NVC is dedicated to combatting hunger and poverty. Tela Tales Bacolod will produce Christmas ornaments made from empty Nespresso Pods as collected by Nespresso Philippines.
All of the finished products will be showcased for sale at Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo and Bacolod, giving artisans another livelihood platform. The proceeds will go directly to their partner organizations’ charity programs, like the NVC’s Mingo Meals Nutrition Program.
The Mingo Meals Nutrition Program is an initiative that brings nutritious meals to impoverished families. Mainly marketed to feed infants and toddlers, the instant porridge consists of locally sourced rice, mung beans, and malunggay.
In a country like the Philippines where environmental challenges is constant, sustainability isn’t a trend — it has become a necessity.
The initiatives that these hotels have started are just one step closer to help consumers realize that the environment needs more than just simple likes and shares on social media. Everybody must be responsible in making the world greener. – Juliana Chloe Gonzales/Rappler.com
Juliana Chloe Gonzales is a Rappler intern studying AB Communication Arts at the De La Salle University.
