Here are EIGHT BUDGET-FRIENDLY TIPS for saving the Earth while saving some cash , straight from ISPA ’ s last two “ Environmental Sustainability ” Snapshot Surveys :
Here are EIGHT BUDGET-FRIENDLY TIPS for saving the Earth while saving some cash , straight from ISPA ’ s last two “ Environmental Sustainability ” Snapshot Surveys :
1 .
CONSIDER CLOTH A cheap way to reduce your environmental footprint is by switching to reusable cloth towels in bathrooms instead of paper towels . Same goes for tablecloths and napkins at a spa restaurant or café . “ Instead of using paper towels to dry off hands in the restrooms , we have rolled up washcloths for guests to use .”
2 .
SAVE MONEY OVER TIME
Disposable plastic items aren ’ t just bad for the environment ; they ’ re also a repeated money sink . Investing in reusable items — glass water bottles , ceramic dishes — will help save the Earth while also saving you money over time . not much more expensive and are positioned and perceived as premium products , so your customers will appreciate your commitment to going green .
5 .
GET
LOW ... LOW-FLOW
While low-flow toilets , sinks and showers have an upfront cost , they ’ re still a relatively cheap way to reduce your spa ’ s wastewater — and the reduced water usage will help the fixtures pay for themselves over time , to boot .
7 .
WASTE NOT , WANT NOT LED bulbs and energy-efficient cooling are great , but here ’ s something that ’ s more effective and cheaper : ensuring equipment is turned off when not in use . Setting your A / C setpoint just a degree or two higher can make a positive impact , and ensuring that lights are only on when they ’ re needed is a budget-conscious way to improve sustainability .
3 .
DONATE UNWANTED
ITEMS It doesn ’ t get much more budget-friendly than this . Reduce your waste by donating old linens , towels , robes and equipment to local charities , like homeless shelters and local humane societies . “ We donate our used linens , towels and bathrobes to a local animal shelter on a regular basis .”
4 .
BUY BIODEGRADABLE It ’ s impossible to switch out every disposable product your spa uses for a reusable one . For those things that can only be used once , try to find a biodegradable equivalent . They ’ re often
6 .
GROW
YOUR OWN If your business has a restaurant or café onsite , try growing your own organic produce . Your customers will love it and you ’ ll reduce the amount of produce you purchase , which is often shipped from around the world . Double-down by composting your food waste and using it to fertilize your garden rather than store-bought fertilizer .
“ All organic waste in our cafe goes into our organic garden . The garden then gives back produce to the cafe .”
“ Conserve utilities during hours when the spa is closed by turning off non-essential equipment and keeping ambient temperature at average 76 degrees .”
8 .
GO PAPERLESS With modern day point-of-sale software and technology , it ’ s more possible than ever to go paperless without paying an arm and a leg . The same goes for your menus ; using tablets to display digital menus eliminates paper use and can have a high impact per dollar spent when it comes to sustainability . “ We ’ ve moved our entire accounting department to a paperless system with a great deal of success .” n
for MorE idEas on how to save cash while going green , read ISPA ’ s Environmental Sustainability Snapshot Surveys online at https :// experienceispa . com / resources / research .
October 2018 ■ PULSE 49