#PlasticFreeJuly – Thon Hotels introduces refills
#PlasticFreeJuly – Thon Hotels introduces refills
24 July 2026 ยท Reading time: 2 minutes
As Plastic Free July gains momentum, more organizations are looking for practical ways to reduce their reliance on single-use packaging.
Especially in the hospitality industry, offices, and at events, the demand for sustainable alternatives to bottled water is growing.
Reusable water bottles and refill stations are much more than a practical solution. They’re a visible commitment to reducing waste, cutting unnecessary transport, and creating a more sustainable guest experience.
Plastic Free July
Thon Hotels in Brussels and Rotterdam show how that works in practice.
During Plastic Free July, the hotel group introduced Made Blue refill stations and custom-branded reusable aluminium bottles, making it easy for guests to refill throughout their stay.
Every bottle also helps provide clean drinking water to families in water-scarce regions through Made Blue water projects.
“
Our Thon Hotels in Brussels and Rotterdam are taking another step toward a more sustainable guest experience. We are replacing plastic water bottles with water fountains, developed in partnership with the Made Blue Foundation.
“
Less plastic
By encouraging guests, visitors and employees to refill their bottles, the need for pre-packaged drinking water and the use of single-use plastic packaging are reduced.
Every refill replaces a plastic bottle that would otherwise need to be produced, transported and discarded.
This not only reduces the amount of new plastic entering circulation, but also lowers the emissions and costs associated with the production, procurement, transport and disposal of single-use bottled water, also applicable to the recycling process.
“
Guests now have free, unlimited access to fresh drinking water throughout their stay, with refill stations conveniently placed across our hotels.
“
A sustainable guest experience
Guests today expect more than comfort alone. They increasingly expect sustainability to be part of their experience as well.
By making fresh drinking water available throughout the hotel and offering refillable bottles, sustainability becomes the easiest and most logical choice.
Guests enjoy the same level of comfort, while the hotel becomes less reliant on bottled water.
“
The impact goes beyond our hotels. Each bottle developed with the Made Blue Foundation also includes a 100-litre water donation, providing a family elsewhere with clean drinking water for an entire day.
“
Extra social impact
Every aluminium bottle contributes to clean drinking water through Made Blue water projects.
This gives families in water-scarce regions long-term access to safe drinking water close to home, making daily journeys to collect water a thing of the past.
That way, a simple choice for a reusable bottle is turned into lasting social impact: fewer waterborne diseases, more time in school for children, and more time for adults to earn an income where it is needed most.
Looking for a solution to reduce plastic waste?
Create a more sustainable guest experience with a reusable bottle that reduces waste and creates lasting impact through clean drinking water.
Fully customisable
Looking for more inspiration?
Clean drinking water update: 696 million people still lack access
De WHO en Unicef brengen regelmatig rapporten uit over de toegang tot water en sanitatie. Gelukkig gaan we de goede kant op: van 785 miljoen naar 696 miljoen mensen zonder toegang tot veilig…
Read moreWater bottle collaboration with Albert Heijn and i-did
Albert Heijn wanted to congratulate their recently graduated employees with a special gift: our Bottle Made Blue with a unique sleeve made from their old uniforms.
Read moreOriginal artwork inspired by Made Blue
Artist Sarah Boris made a beautiful and unique artwork which celebrates our collaboration with Lore Group.
Read more17 billion litres on World Water Day 2024
As every year, we are announcing our meter reading on World Water Day: since our start, we have already produced more than 17 billion litres of clean drinking water on behalf of more than 500…
Read more