We are beyond thrilled to have won the Community Achievement Awards Australia 2024 in the Community Group Award category.
Thank you so much, Awards Australia, for this incredible honour.
A huge thank you to our amazing supporters, accommodation partners, community impact partners, and the incredible Soap Aid team! Together, we’re turning discarded soap into hope—improving hygiene for vulnerable communities and protecting our planet. 🌏🧼
Australia’s leading private hotel group has incorporated Soap Aid into its sustainability program for over a decade.
The hotel industry is very vocal about the need for sustainability, but few hotel groups actually follow through on their words.
However, Dr Jerry Schwartz’s hotel group has proven an exception through its commitment to adopting renewable energy, supporting community charities, and managing waste, including being a major contributor to Soap Aid.
Today, the Schwartz Family Company is Australia’s largest privately owned hotel group, with 15 hotels and over 4000 rooms operating in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT.
The portfolio includes many renowned hotels including Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains, Rydges Resort Hunter Valley, Hilton Surfers Paradise, Paradise Resort Gold Coast and Mercure Canberra.
In addition, Dr Schwartz operates an award-winning craft brewery operation, a conference centre, luxe spas and Sydney Seaplanes.
In 2001, Dr Schwartz established the Schwartz Foundation, a registered charity that supports projects in Australia and overseas, including medical research, children’s charities and homelessness services.
He is equally committed to environmental sustainability, establishing two 5MW solar plants on his property adjacent to the Rydges Resort Hunter Valley. The two plants are now producing enough energy to cover the output of all his hotels across NSW and still return additional energy to the grid.
The Schwartz hotels are prominent in being recognised for sustainability best practices, with certification from NABERS and Ecotourism Australia.
Dr Schwartz first became involved with Soap Aid over a decade ago. Back then, most hotels offered guests soap bars, which were barely used by guests, leaving his hotels with the issue of how to dispose of the waste.
His solution was to sign up with Soap Aid to collect the partially used soap. The drivers delivering craft beer from his Sydney Brewery would pick up the soap and return the bars to a central depot at Rydges Sydney World Square. This not only made it easier for Soap Aid to collect the consolidated soap, but it also ensured that no unnecessary fuel was consumed in the exercise.
Covid-19 did alter the amount of soap and other toiletries offered in hotel rooms, with dispensers replacing soap bars in many locations.
However, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour still offers guests a generous selection of beautiful soaps, and as a result, 2,815kg of used soap has been collected since the hotel joined up with Soap Aid in 2018.
The scheme’s success is due in large part to Sofitel’s Executive Housekeeper, Karolina Sadalska, who leads this sustainability initiative within the hotel.
“We have been proud partners with Soap Aid for the past six years, with only a brief interruption during the pandemic,” said Karolina. “Over the years, our team has remained deeply committed to promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility. Recycling, sustainability, and other environmental initiatives are integral to our culture and are included in our onboarding process to ensure every team member understands their importance from day one.
“In addition, we host a monthly ‘Wellness Wednesday’ event where we focus on team well-being and highlight one of our key sustainability initiatives. Soap Aid is a key feature of this, and we make sure we recognise their impactful work as part of our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.”
Dr Schwartz said it was a “natural” to support an organisation like Soap Aid, and he believed that more hotel groups could introduce sustainability measures to reduce their environmental footprint.
“Hotels need to be holistic in terms of how they operate, and sustainability should be a priority of every hotel operation,” said Dr Schwartz.
“Most hotels use a huge amount of energy and generate a significant amount of waste, but that can be mitigated against.
“Soap Aid is an obvious way of addressing waste while also benefiting the community. I’ve been involved with many overseas medical initiatives, so to know that Soap Aid is potentially saving lives by providing a cleaning aid for children in developing countries is rewarding for myself and the hotel teams.
“The Soap Aid commitment is part of a multifaceted sustainability program that is really making a difference to the way we operate. Installing solar plants in the Hunter Valley and rooftop panels across many of our city properties has made us nearly self-sufficient in energy use, and every time we renovate a hotel, we look at ways of making the property more environmentally sustainable.”
For more information: https://www.schwartz.com.au/
| Cumulative Impact of Schwartz Family Hotel Soap Collections | |
| Metrics | Soap Collections: Cumulative |
| KGs diverted from landfill | 4,603 |
| Soap bars | 46,030 |
| Environmental Impact | |
| tC02e saved from entering atmosphere | 6.70 |
| equivalent to… | |
| Litres of fuel saved | 2,810.79 |
| Kilometres off the road | 38,503.83 |
| Humanitarian Impact | |
| Children Supplies For 12 Months | 3,836 |
| 44% lifesaving rate | |
| Children’s lives saved | 1,688 |
We are thrilled to share that Soap Aid has emerged as a winner at the Social Traders 2024 Victoria and Tasmania Game Changer Awards! 🏆✨
This remarkable achievement celebrates our commitment to creating positive change in the world. As a certified social enterprise, Soap Aid has consistently pushed boundaries, seeking innovative solutions to address pressing health and environmental challenges.
From recycling discarded hotel soap bars to empowering communities with hygiene education, our impact has been extraordinary. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every supporter who helps us to achieve our vision. Together, we will continue to challenge the status quo and ensure that vulnerable communities have access to critically needed soap —one soap bar at a time.
See the full list of winners and nominees here: The National Game Changer Awards (socialtraders.com.au)
Making a Difference, One Donation at a Time
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Dutch tour operator Sawadee Reizen, for their support of Soap Aid and for selecting us as a charitable partner. The generous contribution made by Sawadee Reizen empowers us to achieve two critical goals:
A Shared Vision for a Better World
Sawadee Reizen has a rich history rooted in responsible travel. Founded in 1983, they specialize in small-group tours that immerse travellers in local cultures, promote sustainable practices, and foster meaningful connections. Their name, Sawadee, holds deep significance. Derived from the Thai language, it means “hello” or “greetings,” reflecting their warm and inclusive approach to travel.
As travelers explore destinations with Sawadee Reizen, they also contribute to positive change. When booking a Sawadee trip, travelers are given the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution of €2, €5 or €8, depending on their destination. The company prioritizes ethical tourism, hospitality industry sustainability, supports local communities, and champions environmental conservation. Their commitment aligns perfectly with Soap Aid’s mission, creating a positive impact—one soap bar, one journey at a time.
Thank you, Sawadee Reizen, for being a true partner in our journey toward a brighter future!
To find out more about Sawadee Reizen, please visit their website: Sawadee Reizen – Rondreizen naar de mooiste bestemmingen
We are pleased to announce that Soap Aid was recently showcased on ‘The House of Wellness,’ a prominent lifestyle program broadcasted on Channel 7.
‘The House of Wellness’ is a nationally televised series covering various aspects of health and wellbeing, including medicine, mental health, fitness, and social and environmental causes. Soap Aid was prominently featured in episode 8, which focused on recycling initiatives.
The episode provided an in-depth look into Soap Aid’s soap-recycling process, featuring footage filmed at one of our esteemed Hotel Champion partner, Hyatt Place Melbourne Caribbean Park.
You can view the full episode on YouTube by following the provided link. We encourage you to share it within your network to help us amplify awareness of our recycling mission.
We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our journey! Waste Management Review Magazine has featured Soap Aid in a compelling article.
The article on Waste Management Review delves into the intricacies of our soap recycling mission, shedding light on our positive influence worldwide. Exclusive interviews with our dedicated team and Soap Aid’s visionary founder and Chair, Mike Matulick, provide valuable insights into our mission and the steps we’re taking to make a difference. We express our immense gratitude for the recognition and support that has elevated our cause to new heights.
For a closer look at our inspiring journey and the impact we’re making, delve into the insightful article. Your continued support fuels our commitment to creating a cleaner, healthier world.
