As part of its commitment to environmental responsibility, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has taken an important next step—the offering of environmentally-friendly water bottles at its North American hotels and select properties in the Caribbean.

Noting the waste that is caused by using an estimated five million, 16oz plastic bottles every year at the properties, Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, challenged his team responsible for sustainable programs to find a better solution. He noted, "Plastic bottles are made from crude oil, take a significant amount of energy to produce, and less than 20% are sent to recycling facilities. Even when recycled, these bottles cannot be used to make the same quality of plastic," Cooper said.

After 18 months of research, and working with a variety of vendors, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company developed a partnership with PrimaTM to create a co-branded bottle that is rich with sustainability opportunities. The 16oz bottles are made 100% from plants, are all natural, can decompose in 30 days in a commercial composting facility, or can be reprocessed and remade 100% into new bottles.

Manufacturing the new bottle requires 49% less fossil fuels, 45% less energy, and 75% less greenhouse gases than a PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) classic bottle. In addition, the bottle does not contain BPA (Bisphenol A), the harmful product found in many plastics. "This revolutionary new water bottle product reflects The Ritz-Carlton commitment to continuously seek opportunities to innovate and improve as we look to be the leaders in the hospitality industry's efforts at sustainability and conservation," Cooper commented.

The addition of PrimaTM water is expected to transition to all North American and select Caribbean properties within the next few weeks. "We believe our guests will be enthusiastic and enthused about this latest initiative from The Ritz-Carlton to do more than just talk about being eco-friendly, but to take concrete action steps that make a real difference," Cooper concluded.