Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi introduces vegan hotel rooms

EMIRATES RECYCLED OVER 500,000KG OF GLASS AND PLASTIC IN 2022

EMIRATES SAID that it recycled more than 500,000kg of plastic and glass last year – almost equivalent to the weight of one of its fullyloaded A380 aircraft. The materials were gathered by collecting waste onboard its aircraft, which was then sent to a recycling plant in Dubai.

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi recently unveiled its vegan rooms. A total of six units in the property have been designated as vegan rooms. As such, Mandarin Oriental says that they have “sustainable bedding and cruelty-free bath amenities”.

Furthermore, furniture, fixtures and equipment in the rooms are made from non-animal products. The amenities are by Palatino, the terry and linen by Cachet, in-room cleaning takes place using plant-based products, and guests can avail of a vegan spa treatment and also a bespoke vegan dining menu and mini-bar offerings. Outside of the room, and on the property, guests can ask for bamboo beach towels, 100 per cent plant-based sunscreen by Sunkiss, and plant-based water bottles at the hotel’s beach club too.

Elsewhere in the UAE, in February this year, the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai opened Kind by M.O., a beachside eco-conscious concept store that offers a collection of sustainable resort wear, swimwear and accessories. The store’s accessories include recyclable clothing tags that can be replanted to grow flowers as well as custom-made mannequins made from 100 per cent recycled materials. In addition to Mandarin Oriental-branded products, the store also retails items from 10 sustainable brands.

The glass is separated by colour and crushed. This ‘cullet’ or recycled glass that is ready to be re-melted, is then sent to glass manufacturers in the UAE to include in their batch mix for new bottles. The plastic bottles meanwhile are cleaned, chopped into flakes, melted into pellets, and sent to manufacturers to make other plastic products.

Emirates offers sustainable blankets made from recycled plastic bottles to economy class passengers on long-haul flights. Each blanket is made from 28 recycled plastic bottles. Emirates says that over the last six years, these blankets have prevented more than 95 million plastic bottles from going to landfills. Recycled plastic, on the other hand, is used to make the airline’s complimentary toy bags, baby amenity kits and toys. Its belt bags, duffle bags and backpacks are also constructed from a yarn that is made using 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles. Each Emirates kids’ backpack is made from 5.5 recycled plastic bottles and each duffle bag from seven. The production of the Emirates children’s bags, the airline says, has in turn saved eight million plastic bottles from landfills.