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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) has been in effect since August 12, 2026. Under this regulation, starting in January 2030, the foodservice industry may no longer buy food or toiletries packaged in single-use plastic—for example, ketchup packets or individually wrapped bars of soap. This is increasing pressure on hotels, restaurants, and catering businesses to act. But how can a fast-paced and hospitable hotel routine be reconciled with resource conservation? And how can travelers contribute to greater sustainability in hotels? This is shown in a new report by WWF Germany, Kühne Logistics University (KLU), Motel One, and Leonardo Hotels.
In various projects, the partners have tested—in line with the circular economy principles of “reduce, reuse, reprocess, and recycle”—how resources can be conserved, waste avoided, and economic benefits achieved at the same time. The results make it clear: sustainability and economic efficiency are not a contradiction, but can reinforce one another.
At Motel One Aachen, for example, residual waste was reduced in favor of recyclable lightweight packaging through the use of trash can liners. This made it possible to divert an average of 4.6 metric tons of residual waste and reduce the costs for this waste stream by about 30 percent. “The potential cost savings from reduced residual waste, the environmental benefits, and the minimal additional effort required in hotel operations convinced us to continue this project in Aachen immediately after the pilot phase,” says Verena Ferner, Group CR & Sustainability Manager at the Motel One Group. The second project, the switch from single-use to reusable packaging for fruit salads, which took place at various Motel One locations in Hamburg, has proven in practice to offer significant potential for reducing single-use plastic, with stable return rates and a low rejection rate. During the test period, 2,261 single-use buckets, and thus 423 kilograms of single-use plastic were avoided.
At Leonardo Hotels Central Europe, the principle of the circular economy has been put to the test in practice during hotel acquisitions and renovations. Instead of simply disposing of existing furniture, it was systematically assessed to determine whether it could be reused, refurbished, or put back into service through comprehensive remanufacturing. In the pilot projects in Berlin and Hanover, a significant amount of furniture was thus able to be reused. The insights gained from these projects are now being incorporated into other renovation projects. In addition, recycling solutions for various materials: such as wood, plastics, and metals, have been implemented. The experience gained from the pilot projects forms the basis for tapping into additional material streams and further developing existing approaches in collaboration with additional partners.
“The pilot projects demonstrate that scalability is achieved through a systematic analysis of material flows and local conditions. At the same time, it is clear that a circular economy can only be successfully implemented in practice through collaboration with suitable partners,” says Natascha Michaelsen, Senior Project Manager ESG/CSR at Leonardo Hotels Central Europe.
Practical experience shows that the circular economy can be successfully implemented, particularly when it is integrated into existing operational processes. “In our view, it is noteworthy that the solutions were tested not under laboratory conditions, but during normal hotel operations. The project demonstrates how crucial close collaboration between hotels, suppliers, logistics service providers, and recycling companies is—as well as the active involvement and motivation of employees,” says Prof. Dr. Sandra Transchel, Professor of Supply Chain and Operations Management at Kühne Logistics University (KLU).
Guests can also make an important contribution: by giving preference to circular hotels when booking, treating furniture and amenities with care, using the waste separation systems provided, and accepting reusable options or using their own reusable containers.
For WWF Germany, the project results send a clear message to the hotel industry. “It is all too often claimed that environmental protection harms the economy. Our project results prove once again that the opposite is true for the hotel industry: Those who conserve resources, avoid waste, and use materials for longer can simultaneously reduce costs and strengthen their own long-term viability. The results thus make an important contribution to the transformation of the hotel industry. The potential is there—now it’s time to tap into it,” says Laura Griestop, an expert on the circular economy at WWF Germany.
Here you can find the full report “Circular Economy in the Hotel Industry,” (https://www.wwf.de/fileadmin/fm-wwf/Publikationen-PDF/Unternehmen/WWF-Kreislaufw...) which will also be presented tomorrow, Friday, September 18, at the international C2C Congress organized by the nonprofit organization Cradle to Cradle in Berlin. The study was carried out with financial support from Kaldewei, a long-standing WWF sponsorship partner.
About KLU: Kühne Logistics University (KLU) is a leading private, state-recognized university based in Hamburg, with a second campus in Saigon, Vietnam. Ranked among the top five percent of business schools worldwide (AACSB-accredited), KLU offers degree programs taught in English, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, PhD, and Executive Education programs in Business and Management, Business Analytics and Data Science, with a particular focus on Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Supported by the Kühne Foundation, KLU empowers future leaders to think and act with an Operations Mindset – analytical, data-driven, and solution-oriented. Research-driven faculty and strong ties to the global business community combine academic excellence with practical learning.
About the WWF: WWF Germany is part of the international environmental organization World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). For more than 60 years, the WWF network has been working around the globe to halt environmental destruction and shape a future in which people and nature live in harmony. Through approximately 100 national and international projects, WWF Germany is currently committed to preserving biodiversity and our natural resources. WWF Germany collaborates constructively with companies on projects, sector-wide initiatives, and bilateral partnerships to solve environmental problems.
About Motel One: The Motel One Group, headquartered in Munich, currently operates 111 hotels with more than 30,000 rooms in 14 countries (as of June 2026). The group includes the Motel One and The Cloud One Hotels brands. Since its founding in 2000, the hotel group has been known for its attractive locations, distinctive design, and consistent commitment to quality. With a diverse brand portfolio and a growing international presence, the Motel One Group is continuously expanding its offerings.
About Leonardo Hotels: Leonardo Hotels Central Europe, headquartered in Berlin, manages a portfolio of 130 hotels with over 22.000 rooms across 55 destinations and 11 countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal. The brand family includes: Leonardo Hotels, Leonardo Royal Hotels, Leonardo Boutique Hotels, Leonardo Smart Hotels, the lifestyle brand NYX Hotels by Leonardo Hotels, the carefully curated Leonardo Limited Edition, and master Serviced Apartments & Aparthotels. Leonardo Hotels Central Europe is part of the Fattal Hotel Group.
Prof. Dr. Sandra Transchel
Professor of Supply Chain and Operations Management, Kühne Logistics University (KLU)
sandra.transchel@klu.org
Circular Economy in the Hotel Industry
https://www.wwf.de/fileadmin/fm-wwf/Publikationen-PDF/Unternehmen/WWF-Kreislaufw...
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