IHCL & Forest Essentials team up for plastic free luxury

A first for the hospitality industry in eco-friendly practices, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), India's largest hospitality chain, collaborated with luxury Ayurvedic skin care company Forest Essentials to introduce a sustainability-focused bath amenities program in all Taj hotels. The industry-first move does away with single-use plastic bottles and replaces them with refillable, biodegradable ceramic dispensers that cut down the brand's carbon footprint considerably.

The partnership brings a hero product- the Aloe Vera & Neem blend, as well as five tailored formulations created specifically for Taj's heritage Palaces. Every individual blend is inspired by the unique heritage and sensory character of its palace environment, providing visitors with an immersive, sustainable experience. 

Key Highlights:

• IHCL partners with Forest Essentials to launch refillable, biodegradable ceramic dispensers, reducing single-use plastic at all Taj Hotels
• The initiative has already cut plastic waste by 61 percent, saving 3,787 kg monthly, along with reductions in water and energy usage
• Custom Ayurvedic blends and a women-led supply chain in Uttarakhand enhance both the guest experience and community impact

“We are delighted to add our association with Forest Essentials to roll out an exclusive range for the Taj portfolio. IHCL has always been pioneering the cause of initiating first-of-its-kind practices which have gone on to become industry best practices. As part of our ESG plus framework, Paathya, this effort is an extension of our single-use plastic elimination across our hotels.” Said Mr. Taljinder Singh, Senior Vice President, IHCL.

Also Read: IHCL Unveils Taj Damdama Lake Resort Gurugram to Accelerate Expansion

The program already led to an elimination of 61 percent of plastic, saving 3,787 kg per month. Other efficiencies in resources consist of a 13 percent reduction in water use and 31 percent in electric power use, as well as minimized packaging and labeling waste.

Forest Essentials' socially responsible Ayurvedic ingredients and diversity-first supply chain, hiring local women in Uttarakhand, adds more social and environmental benefits to the program.

Ms. Neha Gadi, Head Institutional Sales, Forest Essentials said, “This scalable alliance presents a blueprint for sustainable luxury. It perfectly aligns with IHCL's vision of conscious hospitality.”