Rockville, Maryland – 16 November 2016
Choice Hotels International enters into a partnership with Clean the World to collect and recycle hotel soap and bottled amenities that will help fight the spread of hygiene-related illnesses.
Clean the World is a social enterprise dedicated to changing lives while simultaneously diverting hotel waste from landfills.
The discarded items collected from Choice properties will be hygienically recycled and then distributed to people who are at risk of contracting preventable diseases.
“At Choice, we have a comprehensive platform – Room for Responsibility – that outlines our key corporate social responsibility initiatives,” says Steve Joyce, chief executive officer of Choice Hotels.
“One of its pillars is our Room to be Green initiative, which focuses on reducing, reusing and recycling as well as promoting environmentally friendly practices throughout our hotel system and corporate offices. We’re pleased our partnership with Clean the World helps further our efforts while supporting those in need.”
The other pillars of Choice’s Room for Responsibility programme include Room to Give (volunteering and philanthropy), Human Rights and its partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
Since 2009, Clean the World’s global operation has contributed to a 30 percent reduction in pre-adolescent deaths from hygiene-related illnesses by providing soap and hygiene education to make hand washing a lifelong habit and encourage vigorous childhood development.
“It’s hard for most of us to imagine how important soap is to people who are struggling,” says Shawn Seipler, founder and CEO of Clean the World.
“The folks at Choice Hotels get it, and we are thrilled to have them join us at this level. By making a commitment to our sustainable, socially responsible programme, Choice will turn trash into treasure and help change lives around the world.”