Hotels worldwide are rethinking their operations to cut the levels of waste generated, and Grand Heights Dubai Hotel Apartments is no exception. The hotel have gone full steam ahead when it comes to thinking outside the box of sustainability.
A recent in-house project transformed reclaimed wood into handcrafted signage, turning discarded materials into functional, design-forward pieces while reducing landfill waste.
Grand Heights’ creative approach to sustainability proves that practical solutions can make a real impact. By repurposing solid wood from old kitchen doors into functional signage, the hotel reduced waste, cut costs, and encouraged teamwork and fresh thinking.
A Sustainability Challenge
Guest rooms frequently undergo maintenance and refurbishments, which often lead to the disposal of fixtures and furnishings that, while aesthetically worn, are still structurally usable. In a recent refurbishment cycle, one such item were the fridge cabinet doors in the guest rooms. With new fridges being installed, the existing cabinets no longer fit the updated dimensions, however, the doors were made from solid wood and remained in good condition.
With a growing collection of these sturdy cabinet doors, the challenge became how to repurpose them in a way that was both functional and aligned with the hotel’s commitment to sustainability.
The Solution
After a brainstorm session led by Engineer Prakash Amin, the engineering team came up with a smart and resourceful idea: transform the cabinet doors into guest signage for use in the hotel operational areas.
The Repurposing Process
🪚 The process began with collecting and inspecting the discarded doors.
🪚 Hinges and hardware were carefully removed, and any damage was repaired.
🪚 The team then cut the wood panels down to the required sizes, followed by sanding and repainting to ensure a polished finish.
🪚 As a final step, the new signage boards were mounted onto previously discarded standing light fittings, effectively giving two waste items a second life.
The Result?
✅ 23 kilograms of solid wood waste were successfully diverted
✅ 7 durable, high-quality signage boards were created.
This project also cut procurement costs by eliminating new signage purchases and encouraged cross-department collaboration.
As part of The First Group Hospitality’s sustainability strategy, Grand Heights Dubai Hotel Apartments has adapted their operations to include bamboo keycards, glass water bottles and more.
However upon reflection, the hotels’ self-starter approach to sustainability is inspiring and truly highlights their commitment to sustainable, local solutions – proving that responsible hospitality is possible when teams redesign their processes.
Read other hotel case studies on other intriguing sustainability initiatives taking place around the UAE.
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