The Hidden Carbon Cost of Clean Sheets

Laundry and Your Hotel’s Carbon Footprint

In the world of hospitality, cleanliness is non-negotiable. Crisp linens, fresh towels, and spotless uniforms define the guest experience. But behind the polished presentation lies an invisible environmental cost: laundry emissions.

Each hotel room generates an average of 160 kilograms of CO₂ annually from laundry operations alone. Multiply that by hundreds—or thousands-of rooms, and the carbon footprint becomes staggering.

🌀 Where Does the CO₂ Come From?

The carbon emissions tied to hotel laundry come from several sources:

• Water heating and energy use for washing and drying

• Detergent production and chemical runoff

• Frequent linen changes, even when not always necessary

• Transportation of textiles to and from commercial laundries

  
  

And that’s just from laundering. It doesn’t include the footprint of producing, shipping, and eventually discarding the textiles themselves.

🌍 The Bigger Picture

Laundry-related emissions are a hidden but significant slice of a hotel's overall carbon footprint. For a mid-sized hotel with 150 rooms, that’s 24,000 kg of CO₂ annually—roughly the equivalent of burning over 10,000 litres of gasoline.

As sustainability becomes a priority for travellers and brands alike, this often-overlooked source of emissions deserves more attention.

✅ What Can Hotels Do?

• Offer opt-in linen and towel reuse programs

• Use energy-efficient machines and cold-water washes

• Switch to eco-certified detergents

• Invest in on-site laundry systems powered by renewable energy

• Train housekeeping teams on sustainable laundry practices

  
  

Even small shifts in daily operations can reduce emissions dramatically, and guests increasingly expect (and appreciate) eco-conscious choices.

🛏 Clean Rooms, Clear Conscience

Reducing your hotel's carbon footprint doesn't mean compromising on guest comfort. It means being smarter and more intentional about the processes that take place behind the scenes. By rethinking laundry practices, hotels can lower emissions, reduce costs, and align with global sustainability goals.

Because every clean sheet should come with a cleaner conscience.