Cigarette waste remains one of India’s most persistent yet least addressed urban pollutants, often missing from mainstream waste-management discussions. In a sector where sustainability efforts usually centre on energy efficiency, plastic reduction, or water conservation, Holiday Inn Express has intentionally focused on an issue that is both invisible and urgent. Through its collaboration with BuffIndia, the hotel brand has introduced a structured system for the safe collection and recycling of cigarette butts across its 12 properties.
The effort goes beyond environmental stewardship. The collected waste is recycled into simple, eco-friendly décor and gifting products, supporting a practical circular-economy model. Through BuffIndia’s “Buds to Beauty” programme, the initiative also creates livelihood opportunities for stay-at-home mothers, students, and unskilled youth—demonstrating how a focused waste-management intervention can extend into meaningful community impact.
In this conversation with TheCSRUniverse, Vaibhav Jain, Regional General Manager, Holiday Inn Express – IHG (SWA), discusses the origin of the initiative, the response from guests, the scale of impact achieved, and how this partnership aligns with the brand’s larger sustainability commitments in India.
Read the full interview below.
Q&A
Q. What inspired Holiday Inn Express to collaborate with BuffIndia for this unique cigarette waste management initiative?
A. At Holiday Inn Express, we believe that smart travel isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about responsibility. Our collaboration with BuffIndia was inspired by a shared commitment to sustainability and a desire to address one of the most overlooked urban challenges: cigarette waste. Across our 12 properties, we welcome thousands of guests each month. With that comes a responsibility to ensure our spaces remain clean, safe, and environmentally conscious. Cigarette litter, though small in size, has a disproportionately large impact on ecosystems and urban hygiene.
BuffIndia’s innovative approach to recycling cigarette waste offered us a practical, scalable solution—and more importantly, a chance to lead by example. This initiative aligns perfectly with our brand ethos: to be more than ready—not just for our guests, but for the planet. It’s not just about installing bins or collecting waste. It’s about creating awareness, engaging our teams, and showing our guests that sustainability can be woven into everyday hospitality. It’s a small step with a big message: that responsible travel begins with responsible choices. And we’re committed to making those choices visible, impactful, and lasting.
Q. How does the collection and recycling process work across your hotel properties, and what has been the response from guests so far?
A. The collection and recycling process across our hotel properties is designed to be both seamless and visible—because sustainability should be part of the guest experience, not hidden behind the scenes. Each of our 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels is equipped with designated cigarette waste bins placed strategically in outdoor and smoking zones. These bins are clearly branded and accompanied by signage that explains the initiative, reinforcing our commitment to responsible hospitality.
The waste is collected by the BuffIndia representative periodically, our recycling partner, who processes the cigarette butts into usable materials through their proprietary eco-recycling technology. What’s been especially encouraging is the response from our guests. Many have expressed appreciation for the initiative, often commenting that it’s refreshing to see a hotel brand take ownership of such a specific environmental issue. Some guests have even shared the campaign on social media, tagging our properties and amplifying the message organically.
One of our frequent stayers at Holiday Inn Express Nashik did share on his social media recently, and we quote, "What’s usually considered toxic waste, Holiday Inn Express Nashik is transforming into something beautiful & purposeful. As part of their sustainability initiative, they recycle cigarette butts and craft them into plant-holders—and they gifted me one! This is more than just innovation; it’s a mindset shift. Turning something harmful into something that nurtures life. Imagine if more businesses took such creative leaps towards sustainability. The world would look very different—and definitely a lot greener."
This initiative has sparked conversations—not just about cigarette waste, but about the broader role hotels can play in sustainability. It’s a small change with a big ripple effect, and it’s helping us build a culture of conscious travel, one bin at a time.
Q. Could you share some insights into the scale of impact — for instance, the amount of waste collected or products created through this partnership?
A. Across 12 hotel locations PAN India, 23 Buff India disposal units were installed and actively maintained during October 2025, ensuring systematic collection, recycling, and transformation of cigarette waste. Through the deployment of Buffindia’s end-to-end system, awareness was organically created among hotel employees and guests — driving mindful disposal habits and strengthening sustainability engagement across all 12 locations. As per studies one cigarette butt has the potential to contaminate 100 liters of water thus, for instance, for the month of October’25 a total of 17,130 cigarette butts were diverted with water saved from contamination of 1,713,00 liters.
Q. Beyond environmental benefits, how does this initiative support local communities and livelihoods?
A. Beyond environmental achievements, this initiative has created significant social and circular impact. Through the “Buds to Beauty” program initiated by BuffIndia, 22 stay-at-home mothers and 48 unskilled youth are employed to transform recycled cigarette waste into eco-friendly lifestyle products. Holiday Inn Express receives ecofriendly products made from the recycled cigarette butts which is gifted to our frequent guests as souvenirs promoting a thoughtful message — that each gift received represents recycling, environmental stewardship, and sustainability in action. This initiative not only reinforced the circular economy but also helps reduce the purchase of new artisanal gifts, conserving resources while aligning the brand with sustainability and environmental consciousness.
Q. How does this collaboration align with Holiday Inn Express’s broader sustainability goals and future green initiatives in India?
A. Our collaboration with BuffIndia is a natural extension of Holiday Inn Express’s sustainability goals in India. As part of IHG’s Green Engage™ system, we’re committed to reducing environmental impact through smart, visible actions—and cigarette waste is a challenge we chose to address head-on. BuffIndia’s recycling model supports circular economy principles, turning harmful waste into usable materials. Across our 12 hotels, this initiative complements our broader ESG efforts—from energy conservation to community engagement. Guests appreciate the transparency and purpose behind it. It’s not just a bin—it’s a statement. And it’s helping us build a culture of conscious travel, one step at a time.
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