AKARYN sets to become ‘single-use plastic’ free

AKARYN Hotel Group, Thailand’s home-grown luxury boutique hotel brand, is on a mission to become a single-use plastic free hotel company by June 2019.

The group’s newest hotel, akyra TAS Sukhumvit Bangkok, is leading the way by becoming the first new hotel in Asia to launch without any single-use plastic in its rooms or F&B outlets. akyra Manor Chiang Mai quickly followed suit, becoming free of single-use plastic in October 2018. All other Aleenta and akyra hotels in AKARYN Hotel Group’s are now set to achieving this goal.

“Our hotels are now extending the initiative”

Anchalika Kijkanakorn, the group’s founder and managing director, commented: “Our eco-friendly approach began by sourcing glass bottles and containers, as part of a commitment to use no single-use plastic in our restaurants or bars. Our hotels are now extending the initiative by presenting guests with stylish stainless-steel water bottles upon arrival, which they can refill and use at any time during their stay.”

AKARYN Hotel Group also uses locally manufactured celadon pottery containers for its bathroom amenities and essential oils, biodegradable bin bags in all rooms, and reusable shopping bags are available for guests who want to indulge in a spot of retail therapy.

Today, the dangers of using plastic are pretty obvious with over eight million tonnes of plastic thrown away each year and the confirmed existence of a “Seventh Continent of Waste” spread over 3.4 million square kilometres in the Pacific Ocean.

“Consumers are now actively seeking out responsible businesses”

Kijkanakorn added: “Consumers are now actively seeking out responsible businesses that take care of our planet. We are proud to have been such a company since we first began operating some 16 years ago.”

AKARYN Hotel Group’s properties across Thailand are all involved in providing positive contributions to their local communities. As a long-term partner of the Pure Blue Foundation, which supports marine conservation projects (such as turtle nurturing), they have made a companywide commitment to eliminate single-use plastics by June 2019.