Hotels in Korea will no longer provide disposable toothbrushes for free

Industry

Published: 28 Mar. 2024, 18:50 Updated: 28 Mar. 2024, 20:06

Hotels in Korea will no longer provide disposable toothbrushes for free

Signiel Hotel provides Diptyque bathroom amenities in multi-use dispensers. [LOTTE HOTELS & RESORTS]

Starting tomorrow, hotels operating in Korea will no longer be allowed to provide disposable items like toothbrushes for free.

This shift follows the implementation of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources, which will take effect this Friday. Under the legislation, all lodging facilities with 50 or more rooms, regardless of the location their headquarters, are mandated to cease offering disposable items free of charge, with fines of up to 3 million won ($2,220) for violations.

Major domestic hotel chains have begun transitioning their amenities to multiuse items in response.

Companies such as The Shilla Hotels & Resorts, Josun Hotels & Resorts, Lotte Hotels & Resorts, and Hanwha Hotels & Resorts are now providing large dispensers of products like shampoo, conditioner and body wash in guest rooms. Formerly complimentary items, such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, are now available for purchase upon request, with prices ranging from approximately 3,000 to 7,000 won at Josun properties, 2,000 to 3,000 won at Lotte hotels, and 3,300 won at Hanwha accommodations. Hotel Shilla offers a convenience kit consisting of nine items, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and razors for 30,000 won.

Some boutique hotels have installed amenity vending machines to accommodate the changes.

Walkerhill Hotel's amenities are made of environmentally-friendly materials. [WALKERHILL HOTELS & RESORTS]

While some consumers welcome these adjustments in the face of the alarming climate crisis, others raise concerns about the potential burdens placed on guests. In Taiwan, hotels allow customers to book rooms where disposable items aren't provided at a five percent discount.

“To offer discounts on accommodation fees directly in response to changes in disposable item policies requires careful consideration, given the various factors involved in pricing,” an official from Lotte Hotel said. “However, we remain committed to enhancing customer experiences while upholding both convenience and environmental protection.”

“Given that not all guests utilize complimentary amenities, offering accommodation fee discounts may be challenging,” an official from Josun Hotel said. “Instead, we have equipped each room with large dispenser products that match the brands that we previously used for amenities.”

Despite efforts to reduce disposable item usage within hotels, some fear that consumers may seek alternatives from convenience stores, potentially undermining environmental conservation efforts.

Hotel amenities, once complimentary, now come with a price tag, with many 5-star hotel items being sold online on second-hand platforms. The photo above showcases items listed on the Daangn platform on Thursday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hotels are exploring stricter measures, such as developing environmentally friendly products of their own, but practical challenges persist.

“While we have considered introducing environmentally friendly amenities, practical issues, such as cost, are being an obstacle,” noted an official from a hotel chain.

Amenity and rental industries, however, are benefiting from the stricter environmental policies.

Hanjin Group's cross-border mall, Slow Recipe, has collaborated with domestic brands to introduce vegan and environmentally friendly amenity products, which are set to be supplied to one of its hotel chains starting Friday.

While plastic bottles aren't subject to the new policy, some hotels chose to install water purifiers in each room. For instance, home appliance maker Coway has supplied the machines to Le Méridien Seoul Myeongdong and Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Times Square.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]