Essentials Zero Waste Checklist for Airbnb’s and Short term Rentals
This is an Airbnb Essentials checklist with a difference. As you more than likely know by now, guests desperately want environmentally friendly options in 2021.
To set yourself apart from the other 2 million listings you need to urgently get with the times and improve your Eco credibility with these Airbnb Must Haves.
The idea is to think about stocking your short term rental with durable, long lasting items that will stand the test of time. And when these items, after many years of use, are finally ready to be retired, they will biodegrade back into nature in a few months or years.
NB - Remember to tell your guests about your eco initiatives, in your Airbnb listing and in your rental welcome pack.
Host Checklist:
1. Toiletries
Choose eco-friendly toiletries whenever possible
No plastic bottles anywhere in the bathroom, please.
- Use small bars of soap instead of liquid hand-wash and body wash (and if you must use liquid, buy a very big bottle and decanter into glass or ceramic dispensers)
- Think solid shampoo and conditioner bars (www.spirenz.com)
- Naked toilet paper (or wrapped in paper – not plastic)
- Bamboo/ wood soap racks, soap dishes, toilet roll holders, towel rails
- Bamboo or compostable handle toothbrush if you are going to offer these
- Box of tooth tablets instead of plastic toothpaste or aluminium toothpaste tubes
- Vanity kits: offer paper or bamboo stick earbuds, organic cotton cleansing pads
2. Kitchen
- Bamboo/ wood chopping boards
- Reusable Containers with lids to store left overs in the fridge
- Lunch wrap – paper wrap for sandwiches, leftover pizza etc
- Glass jars of coffee or paper sachets of coffee or coffee bags
- Coffee press instead of coffee pods
- Teabags stored in a glass jar with lid or tea bags in paper wrap
- Dish wash liquid – buy a very big recyclable/ refillable bottle and decanter into oil pourer or pump bottle – be sure to label!
- Dish brushes, dish clothes, tea towels – bamboo and cotton
- Paper towels/ serviettes – unbleached paper
- Filter water jug or glass bottles of water
- A few re-usable shopping bags for a quick trip to the store
3. Laundry
- Laundry powder – buy in bulk and decanter into smaller container with a scoop (you can normally just use a tablespoon – less is more)
- Provide a clothes drying rack for air drying
- Wool Drying Balls – if you need a dryer pop some of these balls in a bowel on top – they significantly reduce drying time
4. Furniture and fittings
- Buy good quality, durable furnishings for your rental – it will save you money and landfill in the long run.
- Buy wood/ bamboo/ jute/ cotton/wool – any natural fibres where possible (instead of plastic, PVC, vinyl – synthetics)
- Reusable Grocery bag for guests convenience
This is a journey, small changes done by many people can have a massive impact.
Content by Melissa from Spire NZ - Hotel Toiletries
Hotel Soap (Plastic free, Eco-Friendly, Biodegradable, Compostable Packaging)My little company is trying to change the world by reducing plastic is hotels, motels and short term rentals by offering hotel bar soap and guest size shampoo bars as an alternative to plastic bottled soaps.