The Irish Hospitality Institute (IHI), with technical support from the CLean Technology Centre (CTC) and Hospitality Solutions Consulting (HSC), and cofunding  under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cleaner Greener Production Programme (CGPP) have developed and introduced a cleaner production (CP) programme for Irish hotels. This incorporated CP audits, identification of CP opportunities and assistance with development of CP programmes.

The progress and results achieved have resulted in a CP model for Irish hotels together with a benchmark of achieved standards.

Results and conclusions of the programme included:

– 56 Hotels were involved in the programme in more than 20 counties.
– Hotels involved in the programme included 3, 4 and 5 Star hotels ranging in size from 30 to 255 bedrooms.
– Training sessions and workshops were held throughout the programme, with over 600 person training sessions delivered.
– Detailed Environmental Reviews were carried out and Cleaner Production Plans created for the participating hotels.
– Environmental Management principles were introduced to more than 3,000 employees.
– Best practice standards were identified.

Quantifiable environmental achievements by the end of 2006 included:

– the diversion of 1,113 tonnes of waste from landfill;
– the reduction of more than 3,000 tonnes of CO2 output;
– the reduction of more than 5,000 tonnes in water consumption.

The programme, which involved approximately 10 per cent of the total hotel stock in the country, identified future environmental and economic savings across the industry.  An estimate of the total economic benefit to Irish hotels is €81.4 million per annum at 2005 prices.  There is a possibility of:

– the diversion of 56,000 tonnes of waste from landfill;
– the reduction of 162,000 tonnes of CO2 output;
– the reduction of more than 4,500,000 tonnes in water consumption.

Click here to download the final report of this programme

Click here to see the Greening Irish Hotels websire and here to learn more about the the Cleaner Greener Production Programme (CGPP).