DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru Champions for a Positive Change in Communities with its First Ever Soap-Recycling Program

DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru Champions for a Positive Change in Communities with its First Ever Soap-Recycling Program | DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru recently collaborated with Diversey and Kechara Soup Kitchen Society Johor Bahru for its inaugural soap-recycling program, Soap for Hope. This soap-recycling program marks a first of its kind to take place within a Hilton hotel in Malaysia.

“It truly is an honor to be the first Hilton hotel in Malaysia to champion a campaign that is part of Hilton’s commitment to repurposing used goods for community needs that helps to give back to society,” said Daniel Alcaraz, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru.

(From Left to Right) Andrew Lam the Director of Operations of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru; Daniel Alcaraz the General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru and Haizir Mohd Yunos the IT Executive of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru

This innovative ‘Soap for Hope’ program pioneered by Diversey, is to recycle used soaps which focuses on three core objectives – saving lives by providing access to soap to communities who need soap but have no access; to provide livelihood to the local community through recycling and reprocessing soap to help hotels reduce waste by turning used soap into something useful again.

Alcaraz further commented, “This is a great initiative to not only preserve the environment but also support our local communities in need and together with the help of Diversey and Kechara, we can make a huge difference around us.”

Soap making workshop

In line with Hilton’s corporate responsibility, Travel with Purpose, this collaboration supports Hilton’s goal to double its investment in social impact and cut environment footprint in half by the year 2030.

“To date, Hilton hotels all over the world are doing their part in soap recycling. Over 437,000 kg of soaps has been recycled in Hilton Asia Pacific alone and that amounts to 3.5 million new soap bars, how amazing is that!” said Alcaraz. “While the concept of soap recycling is still very new in Malaysia, we have already managed to recycle 24,000 kg of soap and that amounts to 191,000 new soap bars.”

Attendees participating in the Soap making workshop

To date globally, Hilton hotels across 127 countries have successfully participated in their very own Soap for Hope campaigns to recycle all guests used soap bars, and will continue to take place with all other properties around the world in committing to sending zero soap to landfills by the year 2030.

“By sending zero soaps to landfills we are not only giving back to the community but also saving lives,” said Alcaraz. “Many children lose their lives due to poor sanitization and that breaks our hearts. As the leading hospitality company in the world, we intend to do our part in making the world a better place for the communities around us.”

Final product from the Soap making workshop

In addition to its soap-recycling program, Hilton leads many sustainability initiatives through Hilton's Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy that helps to impact the world both socially and environmentally. From reducing food waste to cutting water usage in operations by 50% and to giving back to the community by volunteering, creating opportunities for all regardless of race, gender or orientation, Hilton commits itself to a driving a positive social and environmental change.

“From here, we can only be moving upwards. We intend to take this to the next level and with the help of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), we will be doing just that,” said Alcaraz. “From hotel to hotel then city to city, slowly we will gather each individual hotel in Johor to recycle their used soaps as a form of giving back to the community.”

For more information on the hotel, kindly visit DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru.