Soho House to cut plastic from global members’ clubs

SOHO House has today announced it intends to dramatically reduce plastic throughout its members’ clubs. 

The members’ club and creative community will be one of the world’s first adopters of A Plastic Planet’s Commitment Mark ‘Working Towards Plastic Free’. 

The Commitment Mark comprises five headline commitments including undertaking a plastic audit across each of the company’s 23 Houses around the world. 

The group will also introduce a board-level Plastic Free Ambassador who will be in regular communication with staff and members on progress. 

Opened last year, Little Beach House Barcelona will be at the heart of global efforts to reduce plastic from its business, acting as a testbed for plastic-free solutions, working as a template for the Houses around the world and for other hospitality businesses.

The Commitment Mark is awarded to forward-thinking global businesses that demonstrate a serious and measurable approach to reducing their dependence on plastic. 

Campaigners believe the move will herald a seismic shift away from unnecessary plastic in the luxury and hospitality sectors. 

Founded in London in 2017, A Plastic Planet is a not-for-profit aiming to ignite and inspire the world to turn off the plastic tap. In 2018 they launched the Plastic Free Aisle and the Plastic Free Consumer Trust Mark that has been adopted by many food and drink brands.

Soho House was founded in London, in 1995, as a members’ club for those in the creative industries. The group has gradually expanded to include Houses across Europe, North America and Asia, as well as restaurants, cinemas, spas, workspaces and bedrooms. 

A Plastic Planet co-founder Sian Sutherland said: “For more than two decades Soho House has consistently raised the bar across the world. They give a truly elevated experience and are never afraid to push the boundaries in pursuit of progress, always evolving and reinventing to give their members the best possible experience.   

“They were perfect candidates to adopt our Commitment Mark, yet again setting a new standard that we all hope will one day be the new normal. Collaborating with A Plastic Planet in such an open and honest way is going to have tremendous impact at so many levels.

“We have been so impressed at the personal drive to reduce plastic from CEO level to every member of the team. Having already visited Mumbai and both Houses in Barcelona, we know a whole new plastic-free experience is soon going to await their members. None of us are plastic saints and those words ‘plastic’ and ‘free’ must never be devalued, hence this is a Commitment Mark showing real intention to pursue change. Of course, it isn’t easy, we have all become blind to the omnipresence of plastic everywhere; but every head chef, every House manager and every bar manager at Soho House is committed to make this happen.”

Soho House Chief Communications and Strategy Officer Peter Chipchase said: “We’re delighted to adopt A Plastic Planet’s Plastic Free Commitment Mark. In creating a home from home for our members, we want to ensure our business does right by our planet. 

“Over the coming months we will be working hard with A Plastic Planet to radically reduce our plastic consumption in our 23 locations worldwide.” 

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