Billing itself as “the hallmark of Environmentally Sensitive Hotels”, The Orchid is a 245-room “ecotel” or Eco-Hotel located in Mumbai, India. It is Asia's first certified eco-friendly, five-star hotel certified as ISO 14001. Guests are encouraged to participate in the hotel’s environmental crusades and they reportedly do so with much enthusiasm and zeal.
Innovation
Everything about The Orchid Ecotel Hotel is engineered to foster energy conservation.
In its basic construction the cement and the walls are made of recyclable, natural and energy efficient materials that save oil and produce fewer greenhouse gases during their production. The paint is eco-friendly and the window frames are made from treated rubber tree wood. After producing rubber sap, the tree is cut down and cannot be used for any constructive purpose, as the wood acquired from the rubber tree is soft. The rubber wood is then processed and the upgraded wood, which has been vacuum, impregnated using unleachable type of timber preservative chemicals is kiln seasoned to ensure dimensional stability. Rather than waste the wood, The Orchid used it to create window frames.
Water conservation is a high priority. Drinking water is treated with Aquazone rather than chlorine. The Orchid treats and recycles wastewater for use in air conditioning and gardening.
Climate controls have reduced emissions to almost zero. Triple glazed windows block the heat of the sun from entering the room and reduces the need for climate control. A special tank stores cold energy during off-peak hours that can be used to air condition during the day. The heat from air conditioners provides hot water to the guestrooms, laundry, toilets and kitchen. Air Scrubbers in the chimney also reduce air pollution. Overall ozone depletion levels are almost nonexistent.
The Orchid strives for "zero garbage" as well. A vermiculture or worm composting system includes nine bins that treat all the kitchen garbage. Worms eat organic waste, turning it into some of the best fertilizer on earth - worm compost, otherwise known as worm castings or vermicompost. Separate recycling bins are placed in all rooms at the Mumbai. The garbage bags are made from recycled plastic and milk pouches. No carbon paper is used, which eliminates the toxins that would otherwise kill the friendly, waste-reducing micro-organisms.
Even pest control is handled in an eco-friendly way. An innovative herbal paste that eradicates cockroaches is a first for India. The process poses no risk for and eliminates the need for cleaning up with harmful detergents or wasted water.
The Orchid also recognizes and reinforces the guests who support its environmental endeavors. The Orchid Evergreen Card allows guests to accumulate points that they can donate to The Orchid's Green Account to further its environment activities.
Impact
The business benefit is impressive. In addition to its 42 internationally recognized awards, The Orchid has seen a 55.9% return of its 3,500 corporate clients, many instances of documented savings, and it regularly pays dividends to its shareholders.
The impact is also strong on employees, as shown in a recent, eye-popping survey. Thirty-seven percent felt that recycling is the most important and visible program in the hotel, 98% have environmental practices in their homes, 65% are willing to volunteer one hour per week, unpaid, to help the hotel become more environmentally friendly, 94% would like to be involved in an environment, nature or conservation organization in their free time, and 99% would like to see the environmental sensitivity of the hotel improve further. Ninety-nine percent of the employees at the Orchid are willing to make changes in the way they work if the changes make the hotel more environmentally sound.
Inspiration
The hotel was finished in 1997 by the India-based, Kamat-Group. After a substantial market-research effort, Kamat decided to renovate and upgrade the “Kamat-Plaza” as a unique, five-star experience for the green-minded traveler. Given its location in India, The Orchid is an especially unique example of business as an agent of benefit.
The World Inquiry editorial team edited this profile from the original submission of the interviewer or other source. The views expressed do not necessarily represent Case Western Reserve University, the Weatherhead School of Management or the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit. More >>
