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Design for Living by Reg Block
This month Common Ground features the Royal York Hotel in Toronto because of its
leadership role in developing environmentally proactive programs that conserve
energy, reduce waste, develop green space and redistribute food to the needy.
The Royal York, part of the Fairmont chain of hotels and resorts, launched a quest
to reduce the impact of its operations on the environment. Fairmont's policy
is, "the environment is not out there, it is the air we breathe, the water
we drink and the places we live, work and play." The Fairmont Hotel and
Resort green partnership program began in 1990 based on a company-wide employee
survey. This led to Green Partnership Phase I, an initial plan to make improvements
in the areas of waste management, energy conservation, water conservation and
purchasing practices.
All Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, including The Royal York, began by implementing
Three Rs: reduce, reduce and reduce. With the target of reducing landfill waste
by 50 percent, Fairmont began comprehensive recycling programs diverting thousands
of pounds of glass, aluminum, plastic, newspaper, cardboard and compost to recycling
depots while donating used soaps and amenities to local charities and shelters.
Meanwhile, food and beverage departments made commitments to phase out disposable
items.
In an effort to conserve energy, water and reduce greenhouse emissions, hotels
are being retrofitted with efficient fluorescent lighting, water saver aerating
shower heads and all hot water tanks operate at conservative standard temperatures.
Additionally, corporate policy has been imposed requiring the replacement of all
toilets that use more than two gallons per flush and guests are encouraged to
participate in the optional towel and sheet exchange program that helps reduce
use of energy, detergent and water by laundry departments.
The tremendous success of Phase I led to Phase II of Fairmont's green partnership
program where each hotel competes to achieve as many of the 200 prescribed environmental
initiatives set forth as possible. It is not unusual for winning hotels to complete
more than 100 elements like the adopt-a-shelter program that supplies shelters
and families in need with beds, furniture, linen, food and various amenities.
Many environmentalists are concerned with the eco-footprint made by golf courses.
Because of this, Fairmont has enrolled all its golf courses in the Audubon cooperative
sanctuary system, with the goal of reducing pesticide use, conserving and testing
water, educating the public and establishing natural habitat for flora and fauna.
Further to this, Eco-Meet was developed as an environmentally friendly conference
program to address eco-service, eco-cuisine, eco-accommodation and eco-programming.
These initiatives include 50 percent reduction of animal protein, meeting room
recycling stations, biodegradable corn starch pens, disposable-free food and beverages,
a variety of guest room environmental services, eco-tourism activities for delegates
and vegetarian cuisine supported by onsite organic herb gardens.
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts publishes a green partnership guide that encourages
employees and others to adopt environmentally friendly policies and programs.
This comprehensive handbook, now in its second edition, is endorsed by David Suzuki
who says, "It is a concrete example of how businesses can involve employees
in something everyone can feel good about. It's good for business, it's
good for morale, and it's good for the planet."
Common Ground commends Toronto's Royal York Hotel and the Fairmont chain
for implementing environmental policies that make a difference and for helping
set precedents that can affect changes in how other corporations deal with conservation
and environmental responsibility. More than 40 Fairmont Hotels and Resorts can
be found throughout the world in places like Mexico, Bermuda, Barbados, USA, the
Middle East and Canada, home to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on the west coast,
Fairmont Palliser in Calgary and The Royal York Hotel in Toronto, to name a few.
Visit their website www.fairmont.com
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