In 2024, Spain recorded its eighth consecutive year of tourism growth, welcoming 94 million international visitors (source). This number is expected to rise even further in 2025 (source). The country now boasts 1,502,000 hotel beds across 14,130 hotels, with an average occupancy rate of 66% (source).
In total, 363.6 million overnight stays were registered in 2024, 241.7 million by Spanish residents, and 121.9 million by international tourists (source).
With such immense volume, it’s impossible to ignore the environmental impact of millions of single-use soap bars and plastic-bottled amenities discarded each year, much of which is destined for landfill.
As hotel guests, staff, and owners, we must start asking the right questions and take responsibility for how hospitality waste is managed.
A Spanish Hotel Taking Responsibility
Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona is setting the standard for responsible hospitality in Barcelona, Spain, and beyond. This flagship hotel in the heart of Barcelona is taking measurable action by responsibly managing their in-room soap and plastic bottled amenity waste through their partnership with Clean the World.
With 433 guest rooms, including 21 suites, and 22 meeting room and a firm commitment to environmental and social responsibility, Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona is showing that hospitality in Spain can be both high-end and impact-driven, while integrating sustainability throughout its operations.
An Impact-Driven Hotel in the Heart of Barcelona
Perfectly located, adjacent to the CCIB Convention Centre, and next to the Diagonal Mar shopping mall, Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona is a top destination for both business and leisure travellers. Moreover, the hotel hosts Purobeach Barcelona, an authentic urban oasis, opened seasonally to offer the best proposal of daytime leisure to the city. Guests enjoy access to a beach club, seasonal outdoor pool, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.
This Barcelona hotel’s efforts go far beyond guest comfort and expectations, they represent a broader shift toward responsible tourism in Spain.
Recycling That Makes a Real Difference
As part of Clean the World’s Full Bulk Recycling Program, recycling both soap and plastic-bottled amenities, Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona has already made a significant environmental and social impact on the program so far as of April 2025, with:
- Total Soap Collected: 265 kg
- Total Bottled Amenities Collected: 4,630 kg
- Total Waste Collected: 4,895 kg
- Total Soap Bars Distributed: 3,113
- Litres of Water Saved: 7,363
*Propriety impact reporting was developed in partnership with leading sustainability data management experts, Greenview
Clean the World’s Recycling Processes: Soap and Plastic Bottled Amenities
Soap bars are collected, ground down, sanitised, and third-party inspected before being distributed to communities in need, locally, and globally. Meanwhile, plastic bottled amenities are collected, liquid residue is removed and stored, the plastic is then cleaned, sorted, and shredded into granulate pellets that can be reused to create circular plastic products.
Leadership Buy-in to Sustainability is Key!
“At Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, we are deeply committed to making a global impact through our local action. As part of our Hilton’s global program Travel with Purpose, that aims to drive responsible travel and tourism globally creating a positive environmental and social impact across its operations, supply chain, and communities, our hotel strengthens its ties with local entities through solidarity projects developed throughout the year to turn this vision into reality. By forging meaningful partnerships with local and international organizations, and championing initiatives that promote social inclusion and environmental care we’re not just participating in our global sustainability strategy, we are leading it. A prime example is our collaboration with Clean the World Global Hospitality Recycling Program, which diverts waste from landfill, whilst transforming discarded soap bars into is into life-saving hygiene resources for communities in need. This commitment empowers our teams and reaffirms our shared commitment to building a more equitable and sustainable future, together.”
Comment — Roger Brantsma, Area General Manager, Hilton Iberian Peninsula
Supporting Hilton’s Global Sustainability Goals
Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals position the brand as a global leader in sustainable hospitality, but the real impact happens at the hotel level.
At Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, and across all Hilton properties participating in Clean the World’s Global Hospitality Recycling Program, meaningful change is driven by everyday actions. Every bar of soap recycled, and every plastic bottle diverted from landfill contributes to a global movement. It’s a powerful reminder that waste is a resource and that there is immense value in what we often throw away.
It’s this collective effort powered by the dedication of individual properties, that enables Hilton to drive measurable environmental and social impact on a global scale.
Partnerships with Purpose
Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona’s participation on Clean the World’s Global Hospitality Recycling Program is a great example of how scalable, practical solutions can deliver meaningful environmental and social impact.
Through strategic partnerships, education, and effective operational practices, hotels across Spain can drastically support environmental and social impact, as well as increase operational and organizational efficiency.
Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona is not just leading the change, it’s inviting the entire hospitality sector in Spain to follow.
To find out more about Clean the World’s Hospitality Recycling Program Click Here.
