Sustainability steps/Activities to promote SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) at Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel
At Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel, we are committed to environmental conservation and promote various initiatives for sustainable growth in line with one of the Seibu Group’s visions, to always remember to care for the natural and global environment.
Environmental Conservation Initiatives
Local Environmental Conservation Activities
■Promoting Cleanup Activities
Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel participates in the Lake Biwa Citizens’ Cleanup, with employees participating in a mass cleanup of the lake in cooperation with the local community.
■Promoting the Biwa Ichi Bicycle Rental Service
Biwa Ichi is short for “around Lake Biwa” in Japanese. Shiga Prefecture is promoting eco-friendly sightseeing tours by bicycle throughout the region to cut carbon emissions.
Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel offers rental bicycles for visitors to enjoy an easily-accessible trip around Lake Biwa.
Reducing Plastic Waste
■Hosting a Create-Your-Own-Bottle workshop
Create your own reusable bottle to reduce waste.
The Create-Your-Own-Bottle Workshop, where children decorate their own bottles by adding their drawings, is a favorite summer activity.
■Eliminating the use of single-use plastic straws
We have discontinued the use of plastic straws in our Hotel Restaurants and Banquet Halls.
Instead, paper straws are provided upon guests’ request.
■Donation of proceeds from sales of plastic bags
We have started charging for plastic bags, which are available at 3 yen per bag.
Proceeds are donated to local municipalities for use in local environmental protection and social contribution activities.
Food Loss Reduction Awareness
■Developing menus using local produce and reducing food waste with Kirari, a young farmers’ organization in the Otsu area
Partnering with Kirari, a young farmers’ organization in the Otsu area, we have begun developing menus using local agricultural produce and building a cycle of food waste reduction.
As of 2022, Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel, in cooperation with Kirakuri, is purchasing out-of-spec tomatoes, which are disposed of at approximately 2 tons per year, and converting them into sauces and other products.
In addition, the Japan Noubushi Network collects eggshells from the Hotel and converts them into compost.
Going forward, Kiraki plans to grow vegetables and other products using the fertilizer produced by the Japan Noubushi Network as SDG-aligned produce. At Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel, we plan to offer a menu using these vegetables.
■POP displays and posters to raise awareness for food waste reduction
At Buffet-style Restaurants operated by Prince Hotel all over Japan (including Banquet Halls used for breakfast), we provide POP displays on buffet boards and posters in Restaurant storefronts to raise awareness of the need to reduce food waste. We are also developing a supply-demand forecasting model to further reduce food waste.
Community Revitalization Initiatives
■Offering cosmetics made by farming methods that do not pollute water sources.
Murasakino Organic is produced in the Okueigenji area of Higashiomi City, which is located at the source of Lake Biwa. Murasaki (purple gromwell), the ingredient for Murasakino Organic, has been used since ancient times as an ingredient in dyes and Eastern herbal medicines. The plant is now an endangered species, and to prevent its extinction, it is cultivated naturally without polluting the water source.
In line with such activities to protect Lake Biwa’s water system, Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel offers cosmetics that are friendly to both nature and people.
