Not very long ago, luxury was all about the little things—tiny bottles of bath products lining the showers like soldiers, individually wrapped soaps replaced every day, and intricate packaging that made everything feel indulgent. But now, things are changing. The new gold standard of hospitality is sustainability, and at the forefront of that shift are refillable dispensers, which are proving luxury can be both high-end and zero-waste.
At properties where the design is as thoughtful as the sentiment behind it, refillable products aren’t just a nice touch, they’re becoming part of the overall experience. Take sister boutique hotels The Beach Tulum Hotel and Cabañas Tulum Beach Hotel & Spa, which banned single-use plastics years ago, opting instead for locally sourced, all-natural bath products stored in refillable containers.
“As part of our commitment to reducing plastic waste and minimizing our environmental footprint, we recognized the significant impact that switching to bulk dispensers or eco-friendly alternatives could have,” says Benjamin Fernandez, CEO of The Beach Tulum Hotel and Cabañas Tulum Beach Hotel & Spa. “That said, growing guest awareness and demand for more sustainable practices also played a role, as more travelers are actively seeking out environmentally responsible accommodations.”
And it doesn’t stop there—biodegradable toothbrushes, shower caps, and cleansing pads are also part of the package. Even the spa offerings stick to the theme with organic coconut oil, bundles of rosemary and sage, and white copal sourced from nearby. The vibe? Earthy, natural, and still absolutely upscale.
Up north a bit in Todos Santos, design-forward favorite Hotel San Cristóbal takes things a step further with a zero-plastic policy that’s already kept more than 67,000 pounds of waste out of landfills. Nearly half of the restaurant’s ingredients are grown right on property, and the kitchen compost goes straight to the very gardens that supply it. The result: a stay that’s both cool and conscious.
In the Tennessee countryside, Southall leans all the way into sustainable luxury. Beyond refillables, the hotel features geothermal energy systems, smart lighting, and an on-site farm that provides most of the food served. What’s more, they even have their own honeybees.
So how are travelers responding to the shift away from individually packaged goodies? Better than expected, that’s for sure. While luxury once meant excess—those overflowing toiletry kits, plastic-wrapped everything, and bottles of extra this and that—today’s guests are into a less-is-more approach. They’re all about experiences that feel curated, and definitely not cluttered. A glass dispenser filled with herb-infused, locally made shampoo is much more thoughtful—and more elevated—than any tiny bottle with a brand name on it.
Sure, there will always be a few guests who miss the grab-and-go ease of the old ways. But when the products are high-quality, the containers are beautifully designed, and everything is part of the experience, there’s not much to miss. The bottom line is that luxury is evolving. From refillable dispensers and zero-waste amenities to thoughtful sourcing and planet-forward design, today’s boutique hotels are proving that being sustainable doesn’t mean missing out on anything. In fact, it just might be the ultimate indulgence. Turns out, being eco-conscious can be pretty five-star.
