Certifications to look for when purchasing eco-friendly straws for your hotel

Certifications to look for when purchasing eco-friendly straws for your hotel

When purchasing eco-friendly straws for your hotel, it's essential to pay attention to certifications that ensure the products you choose meet environmental and social standards. As a hotel committed to an eco-responsible approach, you must ensure that the straws, as well as other products such as disposable tableware, paper cups, and plastic glasses, you offer your guests are sustainable, biodegradable, compostable, and environmentally friendly. In this article, we'll explore the key certifications to look for to help you make an informed choice while reducing the use of disposable plastic and packaging.

Why certifications are important for eco-friendly hotels

As consumers become increasingly aware of the impact of their consumption, particularly that of disposable products such as plastic straws, plastic cups, and plastic bottles, certifications play a crucial role. They guarantee that the eco-friendly products you use, such as stainless steel straws, cups, or disposable tableware, comply with strict standards, ensuring they do not contribute to the increase in plastic waste in the oceans or in the trash.

For a hotel, using certified products—whether straws, plates, paper cups, or compostable bags—allows you to meet the expectations of environmentally conscious guests. Additionally, these certifications enhance your brand image as an establishment committed to sustainable development and the fight against plastic pollution. By adopting certified compostable and reusable products, you reduce your hotel's environmental impact while avoiding the use of disposable plastic, polystyrene, and other non-recyclable materials.

Top certifications to look for in eco-friendly straws

When you buy eco-friendly straws, as well as plastic cups or paper cups, there are several certifications that guarantee that the product is environmentally friendly and uses natural resources. Here are the most important ones:

1. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification

FSC certification guarantees that the materials used to make cardboard straws or disposable packaging come from sustainably managed forests. This certification is particularly important for products made of wood, bamboo, or cardboard, which rely on responsible management of natural resources. By choosing FSC-certified products, you contribute to the protection of biodiversity while limiting your impact on the environment.

2. OK Compost Certification

OK Compost certification guarantees that the straws, bio-based plastic cups, and other disposable products you use are fully compostable, whether in domestic or industrial settings. These products decompose without producing toxic waste. This process helps reduce plastic waste, thereby promoting home composting and reducing waste sent to the trash.

3. USDA BioPreferred Certification

This certification guarantees that the products you offer, such as bio-based straws or paper cups, are made from renewable biological materials, such as corn starch. This certification is ideal for hotels and canteens looking to offer alternatives to single-use plastics and reduce their energy consumption while adopting an eco-responsible approach.

4. BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certification

The BPI label certifies that bio-based plastic straws, glasses, or cups are biodegradable and decompose naturally, thus contributing to environmental protection. For hotels and cafes looking to reduce the environmental impact of their consumption, BPI-certified products are an ideal choice to avoid the production of plastic waste.

5. Fair Trade Certification

Fair Trade certification ensures that straws and other reusable or disposable products are produced under conditions that respect workers and communities, while following strict environmental standards. By choosing Fair Trade certified products, you promote respect for the environment while offering sustainable alternatives to your customers, such as reusable stainless steel straws or polypropylene cups.

How to choose the best certification for your hotel

Choosing the most appropriate certifications for your hotel depends on several factors related to recycling and environmental friendliness:

• Analyze your environmental priorities : If your hotel or restaurant focuses on waste management and composting, opt for compostable straws or OK Compost-certified cups. If you want to avoid single-use plastic products, USDA BioPreferred and FSC certifications are essential.

• Choose reusable or recyclable products : Using reusable cups, bio-sourced plastic glasses, stainless steel or PLA (corn starch) straws allows you to offer sustainable solutions, thus limiting waste and trash that ends up in the trash or the oceans.

• Work with certified suppliers : Ensure your suppliers meet environmental, ecological, and eco-responsible standards. You can visit our Straws-Berry story page to learn about our commitment to the environment, recycling, and reducing disposable packaging.

Benefits for hotels adopting certified eco-friendly straws

Adopting straws, cups, compostable plastic bags or other certified ecological products has many advantages for hotels and canteens committed to sustainable development:

1. Reducing the ecological footprint
   By choosing reusable straws, biodegradable plates, and other compostable or recyclable products, you reduce the environmental impact of your hotel or café. This includes reducing plastic waste, bags, and other disposable packaging, thereby promoting recycling and respecting the environment.

2. Satisfaction of environmentally conscious customers
   Customers are looking for products and services that align with their environmental values. By adopting stainless steel straws, bio-sourced glasses, or recyclable containers, you can meet their expectations while respecting natural resources.

3. Competitive advantage
   Adopting eco-friendly practices and using bio-based and sustainable products, such as reusable straws or compostable cups, allows you to differentiate yourself from hotels that continue to use disposable plastic products, such as polystyrene or plastic bottles. This can become an important selling point for retaining environmentally conscious customers and reducing waste in public spaces such as cafeterias and hotels.

Conclusion

Certifications are a vital way to ensure that the eco-friendly products you offer in your hotel or cafe—whether they're straws, paper cups, biodegradable plastic tableware, or compostable bags—meet strict environmental standards. Choosing products that are FSC, OK Compost, USDA BioPreferred, BPI, or Fair Trade certified assures your guests that you're adopting responsible, environmentally friendly practices. It's time to switch to sustainable, compostable, and recyclable solutions to reduce the environmental impacts of disposable products.