Our new reusable slippers: From idea to reality

An idea initiated by our employees and brought to life by a valued partner

Like most hotels of our kind, until recently we offered single-use slippers in the suites and rooms of our Le Germain hotels. These were also available upon request at our Alt and Escad hotels. Driven by our commitment to sustainability, we set ourselves the objective of diverting thousands of slippers from landfills each year.

Our initiative began with a first test proposed by our team at Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix. It was no small feat, given that the chosen product needed to remain in excellent condition through numerous wash cycles. It also needed to be both elegant and comfortable, in addition to being recyclable at the end of its life. As you might imagine, this product didn’t exist yet on the market. With the help of the team at Kotmo, a Canadian leader in the development and marketing of eco-friendly items, we were ultimately able to achieve our goal.

We found slippers right under our feet

This Certified B Corp company already had a slipper model that met several of our criteria. However, it didn’t perfectly satisfy the context of repeated use linked to our hotels. So, Kotmo Partner Cindy Couture worked with her team to source the perfect design and materials that would meet all of our aesthetic, environmental and operational aspirations:

“Kotmo’s values are perfectly aligned with those of Germain Hotels, so it felt natural to put our hearts and souls into achieving this common goal. Together, we have managed to create a slipper that is at once attractive, cozy, easy to maintain, and, from an eco-design standpoint, thought through from A to Z. It took several rounds of research and testing to get there, so we are extremely proud to unveil the results of our efforts today.”

Five reasons to love our new slippers

• It’s a truly Canadian product: It’s designed by a local company and made from recycled fibre that also hails from a local source, located in Beauce!
• The individuals who meticulously craft these slippers are part of a job integration program, meaning many of them have to manage physical or mental challenges.
• Our new slippers do not come in individual plastic packaging.
• In addition to comfort and a chic design, this new item also features a non-slip pattern— so you can rest easy at all times, even when stepping out of the shower
• The single-source material we have chosen to make our slippers from is easily recyclable after multiple uses, so we can recover it and process it into new pairs.

This more environmentally friendly product allows us to manage our slippers in a manner similar to that of our bath robes. It’s a small change that creates a positive impact and continues to provide you with an enjoyable experience rooted in sustainable hospitality.

Psst! If you find yourself falling for these exceptional slippers like we have, you’ll be able to purchase them at check-out time. Ask our reception team for details.

We look forward to seeing you soon!