Several years ago, during my time as a Practice Nurse, I worked with a GP who shared an incredible story with me. One of his close friends was a professional problem solver, someone who approached challenges from unique angles and often spotted things others missed. This friend was hired by a large hotel chain to find ways to save money.
He spent time wandering through the hotel, observing everything—the restaurants, bars, bedrooms, and reception areas. The solution he eventually proposed not only saved the company millions, but it also had a profound environmental impact. It was such a simple idea that it spread to hotels all over the world.
And what was this brilliant idea? Just a few words printed on a small piece of paper:
"Please help us reduce unnecessary laundry."
You’ve likely seen this message countless times. It goes something like this:
"Every day, millions of towels are washed in hotels around the world. Please help us reduce our energy and water consumption. Towels left in the bath or shower mean ‘please change.’ Towels hung up mean ‘I’ll use them again.’"
Such a simple concept, yet the impact was enormous—saving water, energy, and labor across the globe. It’s a great reminder that sometimes the best solutions are right in front of us.
Our Small Change at The Highland Weigh
Inspired by this story, we’ve made our own small change at The Highland Weigh. We know how much you love our blue fabric napkins—we do too! However, we noticed that sometimes napkins would end up in the laundry even when they hadn’t been used.
So, we made a simple adjustment: if you’re just ordering cake, pastry, or a scone, we won’t automatically add a napkin to your plate. Of course, you can still request one, or help yourself from the pile at the counter. And don’t worry, we’ll still provide napkins with any food ordered from the kitchen.
This small change has led to a 75% reduction in our laundry. That means 75% less water and energy usage, less wear and tear on our napkins, and fewer resources wasted.
Think Big, Start Small 😊
Sometimes, even the smallest changes can make a big difference. We’re excited about this step and the positive impact it has, and we hope it inspires you to think about little changes you can make in your daily life too!
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