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Budget hotel chain Travelodge has donated more than 1.5 million bars of soap to charity.
The stock, which weighed more than 17 tonnes, was surplus stock following Travelodge’s introduction of new liquid soap dispensers into all of its hotel rooms across the UK – a part of its £57m nationwide hotel modernisation programme.
Travelodge has partnered with the charity In Kind Direct, which was founded in 1996 by HRH Prince Charles. The charity provides a contact point for companies with useable, quality surplus good to donate to a vast range of UK charities working both domestically and abroad.
Over 2,000 charities are expected to benefit from Travelodge’s soap donation, including International Health Partners, British Red Cross Refugee Support, Fresh Start in Edinburgh and Goal for the Gambia.
Shakila Ahmed, a Travelodge Spokeswoman, said: “As part of our investment to build a new improved Travelodge brand offering, this year we installed new liquid soap dispensers into all of our 36,986 hotel rooms across Britain.
“As a result of this new initiative, we had 17 tonnes of surplus soap, which we donated to the charity In Kind Direct. They will distribute this stock on our behalf to charities that need it most in the UK and abroad.”
James Williams, deputy chief executive, In Kind Direct said: “Travelodge’s soap donation will be hugely welcomed by charities, some which support our most disadvantaged communities.
“Our distribution model means that we can get stock to thousands of grassroots charities working at the front line to help those in real need. Currently many families are struggling to make ends meet and affording the basics can be a real challenge.”
