Reducing Plastic a Priority for Lub d Hostel Group

“Refill Not Landfill” was a campaign initiated in Cambodia to reduce the use of plastic bottles

Siem Reap- Lub d Siem Reap opened less than 6 months ago, and has already saved over 82,000 plastic water bottles, and approximately 6,200 plastic straws from entering, and damaging the environment by implementing a few simple easy steps, ensuring a massive reduction in the careless use of plastics typically used by hotels & hostels.

By replacing two 500 ml plastic water bottles in every private room, with refillable glass bottles we managed to save over 21,456 single-use plastic bottles. The glass bottles are washed, sanitized, and re-filled every day.

“Refill Not Landfill” was a campaign initiated in Cambodia to reduce the use of plastic bottles, by replacing them with reusable aluminum bottles, and setting up free water refill stations throughout the city. Lub d saw great value in this campaign and joined this initiative, and began selling aluminum bottles, adding free water refill stations, and eliminating 500 ml bottles. We have saved about 60,000 bottles, adding up to over 82,000 bottles in under 6 months.

When it came to plastic straws, replacing them with stainless steel straws for in-house use, and biodegradable straws for takeaway drink, helped us eliminate over 6,200 straws from entering and destroying the environment. Plastic bags and food containers for takeaway food take anywhere between 500 to 1,000 years to decompose. With a short life of 2 years, we started using biodegradable food containers for takeaway food as well.

We have now begun the process of introducing recycling for all remaining plastic, glass, and aluminum items that are to be disposed of. By working closely with local collectors who only distribute the recyclable items on to small privately businesses / families who derive their incomes made through the sale of items such as handbags and various other items made from recycled products, we hope to support the local community, and do our part in supporting the environment. Our goal, by adopting these initiatives in Siem Reap, is to now ensure the rest of our properties across Southeast Asia, remove all plastics from guest rooms. We believe this small initiative is achievable for many hotel & hostel businesses, and hope we can encourage other businesses to do the same.

Lub d Cambodia Siem Reap, Address: 7 Makara (St), Wat Bo Village, Sangkat Sala, Kamroeuk, Siem Reap City, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Reducing Plastic a Priority for Lub d Hostel Group

Reducing Plastic a Priority for Lub d Hostel Group