Introduction

2025 was another important year for Clean the World.

Through the Global Hospitality Recycling Program, participating hotels collect eligible used soap and plastic bathroom amenities through defined program routes, with associated program data tracked and reported. Alongside this environmental work, Clean the World and its partners continue to support the provision of soap and hygiene resources to communities around the world.

Across the year, Clean the World expanded hotel partnerships, received industry recognition, shared new case studies and continued conversations around the changing role of waste management and sustainability within hospitality.

Here are some of the highlights from 2025.

https://cleantheworld.org/recycling/

2024 Sustainability Milestones Review

2 January 2025

Clean the World began the year by looking back at progress made during 2024.

During the year, 178,000 new hotel rooms and 886 new hotel partners joined the Global Hospitality Recycling Program, taking participation to more than 1.4 million hotel rooms.

Clean the World also reported 1.5 million lb (680 tonnes) of material diverted from landfill during 2024 and approximately 7 million recycled soap bars produced through its program.

CEO Shawn Seipler credited participating hotels, volunteers and partners for helping expand the program and its reach.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/clean-the-world-2024-sustainability-milestones-global-impact/

Early-Year Momentum

Going Green Feature

22 January 2025

Sustainability-focused outlet Going Green featured Clean the World and the story behind its work with the hospitality industry.

An Instagram reel about Clean the World’s mission attracted more than 1.5 million views and 46,000 comments, while a related LinkedIn post received approximately 3,600 likes.

The feature also highlighted Clean the World’s reported cumulative results at the time, including the distribution of more than 100 million recycled soap bars and more than 13 million kg of material reported as diverted from landfill through the program since 2009.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/clean-the-world-going-green-sustainability-innovation/

EU CSRD Guidance

During 2025, Clean the World also explored the changing sustainability reporting landscape in Europe, including the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and European Sustainability Reporting Standards.

The discussion looked at how operational data can contribute to broader sustainability reporting and why hotels increasingly need greater visibility over individual material and waste streams.

Clean the World’s program reporting can provide participating hotels with information relating to areas such as collected material, property participation and program activity. This information may be used as one input within a hotel or hotel group’s wider sustainability reporting processes.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/clean-the-world-hospitality-recycling-program-supports-eu-csrd-compliance/

Spring Achievements

Greengage Sustainability Awards Shortlist

18 March 2025

Clean the World was shortlisted in four categories at the Greengage Sustainability Awards 2025:

Best Social Enterprise, Water, Waste & Resource Project of the Year, Rising Star for Austin Eaton and Sustainability Leader for Tommie Eaton.

The nominations recognised Clean the World’s work across hospitality waste management, social impact and industry engagement.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/clean-the-world-greengage-sustainability-awards-2025-shortlist/

PPHE Hotel Group Partnership

25 March 2025

In March, PPHE Hotel Group expanded its work with Clean the World across 17 hotels in the UK and Europe.

Participating properties began collecting eligible used plastic bathroom amenities through Clean the World’s program, creating a dedicated route for this recurring hotel material stream.

The partnership also highlighted an important point for the industry: moving from miniature toiletries to larger dispensers can reduce the number of individual containers used, but those larger containers still require an appropriate route once they reach the end of their useful life.

At the time the partnership launched, PPHE and Clean the World estimated that approximately 37 tonnes of plastic material could be collected annually across the participating properties.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/clean-the-world-pphe-hotel-group-global-hospitality-recycling/

Awards Season and Partner Progress

Greengage Awards Success

May 2025

Following four nominations earlier in the year, Clean the World received three Platinum awards and one Gold award at the Greengage Sustainability Awards.

The awards included:

Water, Waste & Recycling Project of the Year
Best Social Enterprise
Sustainability Champion – Tommie Eaton
Rising Star – Austin Eaton

CEO Shawn Seipler credited the Clean the World team and its partners for their contribution to the organisation’s continued development.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/clean-the-world-greengage-sustainability-awards-2025/

Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona

21 May 2025

Clean the World highlighted its partnership with the 433-room Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona.

By April 2025, the hotel had recorded the collection of:

265 kg of soap
4,630 kg of plastic bathroom amenity material

Its participation in the program was also associated with 3,113 recycled soap bars through Clean the World’s reporting.

General Manager Roger Brantsma discussed the importance of partnerships in supporting the property’s wider sustainability ambitions and operational approach.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/hilton-diagonal-mar-barcelona-sustainability-clean-the-world/

IMEX Frankfurt: Rebranding Sustainability

10 June 2025

At IMEX Frankfurt 2025, Clean the World ambassador Tommie Eaton joined the conversation around “sustainability fatigue” and how the industry communicates environmental and social issues.

His session focused on moving beyond jargon and communicating sustainability through stories, actions and examples that audiences can understand.

The discussion reflected a wider challenge for hospitality: as sustainability becomes increasingly embedded within operations, communications need to remain clear, relevant and supported by evidence.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/rebranding-sustainability-hospitality-imex-frankfurt-2025/

Manuel Rodriguez Interview

26 June 2025

In an interview with HMore, Clean the World’s European Director Manuel Rodriguez reflected on the question that helped inspire the organisation:

What happens to discarded hotel soap?

He discussed Clean the World’s growth from a small soap-recycling initiative into a program working with thousands of hotels, as well as the role of corporate volunteer experiences in assembling hygiene kits for communities in need.

Rodriguez also highlighted the significant opportunity that remained for more European hotels to establish dedicated routes for used bathroom amenities.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/manuel-rodriguez-shares-insights-global-mission/

Global Good Awards Circular Economy Shortlist

26 June 2025

Clean the World was shortlisted for the Circular Economy Award at the Global Good Awards in London.

The nomination recognised Clean the World’s work recovering used hotel amenities, processing eligible soap through its recycling program and supporting the distribution of recycled soap through hygiene programs.

The recognition added to a growing list of industry acknowledgements for Clean the World’s work across hospitality waste and social impact.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/clean-the-world-circular-economy-award-2025/

National Sustainability Awards Shortlist

9 July 2025

Clean the World was shortlisted in two categories at the UK National Sustainability Awards:

Circular & Recycling Program Award
Rising Star

The recognition highlighted Clean the World’s work with the hospitality industry, including the collection of hotel amenity materials and the distribution of recycled soap through its programs.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/clean-the-world-shortlisted-national-sustainability-awards-2025/

Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre

18 July 2025

In July, Clean the World highlighted its partnership with Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre, which Radisson identified as the UK’s first Verified Net Zero hotel.

Radisson reported a range of measures across energy, food, waste, amenities and hotel operations as part of the property’s wider Verified Net Zero approach.

Clean the World supports one specific part of this strategy by providing a route for eligible used bathroom amenity packaging through the Global Hospitality Recycling Program.

The hotel’s Verified Net Zero status is separate from its participation in Clean the World.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/radisson-to-support-the-uks-first-verified-net-zero-hotel/

Hilton Munich City

24 July 2025

Clean the World also highlighted the 483-room Hilton Munich City, one of the hotels participating in its bulk bathroom amenity program.

By July 2025, the hotel had recorded the collection of 6,731 kg of plastic bathroom amenity material through the program.

The case study explored how the collection process could be incorporated into normal hotel operations while providing the property with greater visibility over this specific material stream.

The hotel also shared details of its wider environmental initiatives, including renewable electricity, EV charging and partnerships across food, water and other areas of its operations.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/case-study-hilton-munich-city/

Celebrating Housekeepers and Industry Engagement

Housekeeping Heroes

September and October 2025

Clean the World launched its Housekeeping Heroes campaign to recognise the hotel teams responsible for making programs like this work day to day.

Housekeepers play an important operational role in identifying and collecting eligible used soap and plastic bathroom amenities before they are returned through the Clean the World program.

The campaign also highlighted findings around the importance of cleanliness to hotel guests and celebrated housekeeping teams from participating properties.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/celebrating-the-heartbeat-of-hospitality-september-2025/

Independent Hotel Show London

14 October 2025

Sustainability was a recurring theme throughout the Independent Hotel Show London 2025.

Austin Eaton joined the Profit with Purpose stage to discuss the relationship between environmental action, hotel operations and changing guest expectations.

Key themes included moving from commitments to practical action, improving understanding of individual waste streams and collaborating with specialist partners where appropriate.

Clean the World’s work with hotels was shared as one example of how properties can establish a defined route for used soap and plastic bathroom amenities.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/independent-hotel-show-london-2025/

ReLondon Circular Economy Session

28 October 2025

During Circular Economy Week, Clean the World joined ReLondon and Replacer for a discussion about hospitality waste.

The session explored the scale of material use across hospitality and the opportunities available when hotels better understand individual waste streams.

Austin Eaton shared Clean the World’s reported results at the time, including more than 92 million recycled soap bars distributed and more than 13 million kg of material reported as diverted from landfill through the program.

The session also explored the social side of Clean the World’s work, including corporate events where participants assemble hygiene kits for distribution through community partners.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/relondon-clean-the-world-circular-economy-hospitality/

Late-Year Reflections

The Ripple Effect Podcast

14 November 2025

Clean the World founder Shawn Seipler joined comedian Jenna Kim Jones as the first guest on The Ripple Effect podcast.

The conversation revisited the question Shawn asked while travelling for work: what happens to the soap guests leave behind in hotels?

From that starting point, the discussion explored the growth of Clean the World, the recycling of used hotel soap, hygiene-kit programs and the importance of partnerships in expanding the organisation’s reach.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/shawn-seipler-jenna-kim-jones-the-ripple-effect-episode-1/

A Virtuous Cycle

17 November 2025

A Virtuous Cycle returned to the early story behind Clean the World.

While travelling for work, Shawn Seipler noticed that partially used soap bars were being replaced each day in hotel rooms. After asking what happened to them after guest use, he began exploring whether there could be another route for the material.

That question ultimately led to the creation of Clean the World in 2009.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/a-virtuous-cycle/

HOSPACE 2025

19 November 2025

At HOSPACE 2025 in London, Clean the World shared observations from one of the UK hospitality industry’s major technology and finance events.

Artificial intelligence dominated many conversations, alongside discussions around sustainability, operations and changing guest expectations.

The event also provided an opportunity to highlight a less visible waste challenge: larger-format and refillable bathroom amenity systems still generate plastic packaging when containers reach the end of their useful life.

Clean the World’s program provides participating hotels with a dedicated route for eligible used soap and plastic bathroom amenities, helping properties better understand and manage this specific material stream.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/hospace-2025-sustainability-hotel-insights/

Housekeeping Today UK Feature

The November/December 2025 edition of Housekeeping Today UK featured an article by Shawn Seipler titled Housekeepers: Unsung Sustainability Heroes.

The article explored the role housekeeping teams can play in hotel waste management, including separating and collecting used soap and bathroom amenity packaging.

It also highlighted Clean the World’s work with thousands of hospitality partners and the importance of housekeeping teams in making the program work at property level.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/housekeepers-hotel-sustainability-heroes/

Additional Hotel Case Studies

iQ Hotel Milano

The 69-room iQ Hotel Milano joined Clean the World in November 2019.

By 2025, the hotel had recorded the collection of:

679 kg of soap
1,839 kg of plastic bathroom amenity material

Its participation was also associated with 13,689 recycled soap bars through Clean the World’s program reporting.

The case study highlighted how a relatively small independent hotel can integrate the collection of used bathroom amenities into its wider operational approach.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/iq-hotel-milano-clean-the-world-sustainable-hospitality/

Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu

Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu joined Clean the World’s program in March 2024.

By 2025, the property had recorded:

1,757 kg of material through the program
502 kg of soap collected
10,111 recycled soap bars associated with its participation

General Manager Emmanuel Perot highlighted how the program complemented the hotel’s wider values and allowed the property to connect hotel operations with a wider social purpose.

https://cleantheworld.org/blog/fairmont-le-manoir-richelieu-quebec/

Looking Back on 2025

Clean the World’s 2025 highlights demonstrate what can happen when hotels, employees, industry organisations and partners work together around clearly defined environmental and social actions.

Across the year, Clean the World expanded partnerships, shared new hotel case studies, received industry recognition and continued to help participating properties create a dedicated route for eligible used soap and plastic bathroom amenities.

The hospitality sustainability landscape is continuing to evolve, alongside growing expectations around waste management, reporting and the evidence behind environmental claims.

For Clean the World, the focus remains straightforward: help hotels collect and manage an often-overlooked material stream, track the associated program data and continue connecting hospitality participation with wider social impact.

Learn more about the Global Hospitality Recycling Program:

https://cleantheworld.org/recycling/

About Clean the World

Clean the World is a social enterprise helping hotels collect and recover eligible used soap and plastic bathroom amenities, with program data tracked and reported.

Through the Global Hospitality Recycling Program, participating hotels collect eligible materials through defined program routes. Soap and plastic follow different processes depending on material type and geography.

Clean the World also works with partners to support the provision of recycled soap and hygiene resources to communities in need.

https://cleantheworld.org/