Clean the World Reflects on a Year of Recognition as Leaders in Sustainable Hospitality in the UK and Europe
2024 has been a landmark year for Clean the World in the UK and Europe. The Europe and UK team has solidified its reputation as a leader in sustainability within the hospitality industry, driving critical conversations, inspiring action, and receiving prestigious awards. Below is a month-by-month reflection of a handle of our proudest achievements in 2024.
January 2024: Kickstarting the Year with New Portal updates for our Global Hotel Partners
February 2024: Clean the World Invited to Speak at Independent Hotel Show, Amsterdam
Austin Eaton, Head of Marketing for Clean the World Europe and the UK, was invited as a guest speaker at the Independent Hotel Show in Amsterdam. His presentation, titled “Sustainability is the Future,” emphasised the importance of sustainable solutions for hospitality businesses striving to meet ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and CSR (corporate social responsibility) objectives.
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April 2024: Partnership Showcase, DoubleTree By Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
In April, we highlighted our valued partner in the EU, DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station to showcase their participation and impact on our Hospitality Recycling Programme. This collaboration emphasises the tangible impact hotels can make through our programme.
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April 2024: MPB Geographical Better World Video Awards
Clean the World was shortlisted as one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious MPB Geographical Better World Video Awards. The submission highlighted the transformative impact of our recycling programme and its role in supporting both environmental and social factors.
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May 2024: Clean the World Attends the 2024 Preferred Hotels & Resorts Global Conference
In May 2024, Clean the World’s Europe team had the pleasure of attending the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Global Conference in Lisbon. The conference was all about pioneering sustainable solutions for hotel partners. Our team engaged in discussions and presentations on various topics in sustainability within the hospitality industry. The event marked Preferred’s largest conference gathering yet, drawing over 350 guests from the hospitality industry around the world!
The conference showcased Clean the World as a recycling solution for Preferred partners worldwide. Clean the World’s Global Hospitality Recycling Program offers members a simple and impactful way to reduce their in-room waste by recycling their used soap and diverting their plastic bottled amenities from landfills.
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July 2024: Partnership with VANITY GROUP
Clean the World partnered with VANITY GROUP to provide their 10,000 hotel partners access to the Global Hospitality Recycling Programme. This collaboration marked a significant step forward in supporting end-of-life solutions for hospitality products across the UK, Europe and beyond.
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July 2024: Clean the World release global data to show Travelers Highlight Disconnect Between Wants and Expectations In Hotel Sustainability Practices
The conducted survey by Clean the World, highlighted a major discrepancy between guest expectations and guest assumptions of hotel practices.
The data showed that an overwhelming 88% of travelers factor sustainability into their hotel booking decisions. However, the results also indicated a significant gap between guests’ desires for sustainable travel and their confidence in hotels’ environmental commitments. The majority of people surveyed (58.7%) believe that most hotels do little, if anything, to recycle their bathroom amenities; the consensus being that their hotel simply bins all recyclable items after their stay.
Interestingly, due to this lack of trust in their hotel’s environmental commitments, some respondents seemed to take matters into their own hands. Just over half (51%) of people were inclined to take leftover bathroom amenities home with them at the end of a stay, out of which 57% believed their hotels would not responsibly dispose of them if left in the bathroom.
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October 2024: Global Good Awards Recognition, London
At the Global Good Awards in London, Clean the World was honoured with the Silver Award in the Waste Reduction and Minimisation category. Held at BMA House, this event recognized organizations such as DHL, eBay, and UNICEF for their sustainability efforts. Austin Eaton reflected:
“This recognition reinforces the importance of our Hospitality Recycling Programme and its contribution to reducing waste and supporting communities in need.”
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October: The Great Green Balloon Debate at HOSPA
Our Director in the EU, Tommie Eaton represented Clean the World at HOSPA’s Industry Leaders Event at the Bankside Hotel, London. During the debate, Tommie championed the circular economy, highlighting Clean the World’s efforts in transforming hotel waste into valuable hygiene resources, as well as promoting the circular economy.
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October: Independent Hotel Show, London
Clean the World was again invited to host the ESG Hub for the second year running at the Independent Hotel Show in London. Led by Austin Eaton and Tommie Eaton, the team collaborated with Sarah Duncan (author of The Sustainable Business Book), Grace Greensitt from the Global Sustainability Index, and Mark Glenister from The Burnt Chef Project to discuss hospitality’s role in sustainability. The standout feature, the “Sustainability in Action Wall,” showcased attendees’ sustainability challenges and solutions.
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November 2024: Sustainable Hotel News Roundtable
Director of Clean the World in Europe, Tommie Eaton was invited to join other industry leaders at the Sustainable Hotel News Roundtable hosted at Hyatt Place London City East. The discussion focused on circularity as a driver for meaningful change, reinforcing Clean the World’s position as a thought leader in the industry.
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November: Green Hotel Club Partnership in Amsterdam
Clean the World hosted the Green Hotel Club (GHC) at our new European headquarters in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. This collaboration with 14 hotels and three dedicated partners highlighted our commitment to advancing sustainability within Amsterdam’s hospitality industry, this formed part of Clean the World’s partnership with the City of Amsterdam through the Impact Deal initiative.
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December 2024: Clean the World and CTW Events Join Forces to Build Hygiene Kits for Those in Need
On 10th of December, CTW Events and Clean the World joined forces to host a memorable backpack build event at our new offices in Aalsmeer, Netherlands. This special gathering brought together partners from across Amsterdam to create a meaningful impact and support school children in Romania, sponsored by Volvo Cars and Save the Children.
Volunteers from ADA Cosmetics, Circular Plastics Academy (CPA), and the dedicated teams of CTW Events and Clean the World united with a shared mission: to assemble 2,100 backpacks filled with essential school supplies for children in Romania. Each backpack represents hope, opportunity, and the tools to support these children on their educational journeys.
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December 2024 : Manuel Rodriguz, Director of Operations for Clean the World Europe and UK interviews with CTS
In December 2024, Manuel Rodriguz, Director of Operations for Clean the World Europe and UK was asked to do an interview with Dutch organisation CTS to gain insight and knowledge from Manuel’s vast experience within operations.
Read the full interview here:
December 2024: Clean the World’s Austin Eaton, Recognised in Sustainable Hotel News’ Year-End Expert Insights
Clean the World’s Austin Eaton, was featured in Sustainable Hotel News’ end-of-year expert insights acknowledging our teams efforts in driving sustainability discussions and initiatives in the hospitality industry.
Austin Eaton, Head of Marketing for Clean the World Europe and UK, was included in the insights feature alongside key industry figures including:
- Glenn Mandziuk – CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance-
- Amber Westerborg – Director of Sustainability & Impact, The Social Hub
- Randy Durband – CEO, GSTC – Global Sustainable Tourism Council
- Sarah Habsburg – Sustainability Consultant, Responsible Hospitality and Training for SMEs
- Joanne Taylor-Stagg – General Manager, The Athenaeum, London
- Kai Parfitt – ESG Manager, The Athenaeum, London
- Bryan Oknyansky – Senior Architect & Head of Sustainability, Studio Moren
- Tinu Mathur – Founder and Chief Creative, Mathur & Co
- Debbie Hindle – Chair, International Centre for Responsible Tourism Global
- Natalie Campbell MBE – CEO, Belu
Austin, highlighted the need for hotels to translate sustainability intentions into meaningful action.
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Looking Ahead to 2025: Actionable Sustainability Required by the Hospitality Industry.
Reflecting on the year, Austin Eaton shared his thoughts:
“While there has been an increased focus on sustainability within the UK and European hospitality industries this year, translating words into meaningful action remains a challenge. Limited time, resources, and a failure to recognise the true value of sustainability are still barrier collectively as an industry we most support each other to overcome, and to realise sustainability can go hand in hand with running a successful business. Integrating sustainable initiatives into operations is no longer a luxury it’s a necessity.”
He added:
“My advice to hoteliers for 2025: ask the right questions, seek solutions, and most importantly, take action. Start with that first step.”
A Year to Remember
From receiving industry recognition and awards to driving critical conversations and forming impactful partnerships, 2024 has been a remarkable year for Clean the World in Europe and the UK. We remain committed to supporting hotels in their sustainability journeys and look forward to building on this momentum in 2025 and beyond.
Together, we are making the world a better place.
