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Global waste production is soaring to critical levels, and the trend shows no signs of slowing.

Waste in the Asia-Pacific region alone is projected to climb from 802 million tons in 2016 to an alarming 1.1 trillion tons by 2030.

Southeast Asia, in particular, is contributing significantly to this crisis. Waste generation has been rising quickly since 2000, hitting around 150 million tons in 2016. By 2030, this figure is predicted to more than double.

In this week’s Feature Story, we take you through proven and creative solutions to close the waste loop at your hospitality or travel business.

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Closing the Loop on Hotel Waste with Creative Solutions

Hotels worldwide are responsible for substantial waste streams, ranging from single-use plastics and uneaten food to discarded linens and outdated materials. These items often end up in landfills, releasing harmful gases like methane and depleting natural resources at an unsustainable rate.

Yet, every piece of this so-called "trash" has the potential to be repurposed, composted, or innovatively managed to prevent environmental harm.

Creative Waste Transformation Success Stories

The good news is, many hotels and enterprises across Asia are already stepping up, showing how materials often considered waste can be transformed into something useful.

By thinking outside the box and partnering strategically, these establishments give new purpose to discarded items, establishing a fresh benchmark for innovation in the hospitality sector.

Here's how some pioneers in the industry are demonstrating what is possible.

Giving Linens a Second Life 

For SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) in the Philippines, old linens are becoming a symbol of community empowerment and environmental responsibility.

Through a flagship initiative called Tela Tales, the hotel group has upcycled over 3,300 yards of discarded linens into tote bags and other useful items since its launch in March 2024. To date, more than 260 bags have been handcrafted.

“Our goal is shared prosperity for all,” says Leah Magallanes, VP for Quality and Sustainability at SMHCC. “This isn’t charity—it’s about real, lasting transformation.”

SMHCC collaborates with local governments, designers, and artisans to align training, product development, and sales for measurable sustainability impact.

»»» Go deeper into three of Tela Tales’ innovative partnerships here.

Turning Hotel Textile Waste into Regenerated Fabric for Marketable Products

I Am Sustainable Studio collaborates with the hospitality industry to transform discarded linens into new materials, offering a scalable and eco-conscious solution to textile waste.

By breaking down old linens into fibers, the studio creates reusable materials that can be turned into fresh products.

This process avoids the intensive water and energy use of traditional textile production, saving up to 200,000 liters of water and preventing 3.6 tons of CO₂ emissions for every ton of textiles recycled.

Sandy Tiu, the studio’s founder, shares, “Unlike traditional upcycling methods—such as patching, stitching, or dyeing—which require intensive manual labor and only extend an item’s usability for a short period, our approach ensures a long-term, scalable solution.”

»»» Learn more about how I Am Sustainable Studio partners with hotels here.

Luxury Made from Rice Husks 

The collaboration between 21 Carpenter Singapore and design studio ipse ipsa ipsum shows how agricultural waste can make its way into luxury design. 

“The hotel sits on the site of Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee, a remittance house founded in 1936 that once helped migrant workers send money and handwritten letters back home. That history is etched, literally, into the building’s aluminum façade,” describes Saurabh Mangla, founder of ipse ipsa ipsum. “We took the same spirit into the design.”

»»» Take a look at the different rice-husk-made objects at 21 Carpenter Singapore here.

Coffee Grounds and Cooking Oil: A New Purpose

At JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, what was once everyday kitchen waste has been reimagined as a sustainable resource. Last year, the resort transformed 15 kilograms of used coffee grounds into 6 kilograms of briquettes, which serve as an alternative to traditional fuels for heating and cooking.

Alongside this effort, 9,000 liters of used cooking oil have been collected and redirected for conversion into biofuel. This proactive solution highlights the untapped potential in materials often considered waste.

»»» Find out how much waste JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa diverted from landfills here.

The full article includes more success stories about organizations creating tote bags from ocean trash, souvenir from plastics, and 4 steps to kickstart a hotel’s waste transformation journey.

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»»» Check out AST Sustainability Solution Providers Directory.

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