The Challenge
Mass Tourism in Greek Islands frequently generates high levels of waste, much of which remains invisible to the public despite its high environmental cost. Such hidden pollution comes from the hospitality sector producing a massive stream of textile waste, specifically cotton hotel linens that are discarded after short use cycles due to minor damage.
These high-quality materials rarely enter local recycling systems and instead end up in landfills, representing a significant lost opportunity for circularity. This “use and discard” pattern highlights the urgent need for local, small-scale solutions that can transform unavoidable waste into valuable cultural and functional products.
The Solution
“Hotel Paper” addresses this challenge by applying artistic research and low-impact technology to transform discarded linens into high-quality handmade paper. The project makes the material footprint of tourism visible by engaging both the community and visitors in participatory workshops where textiles are processed using only water and mechanical breakdown, avoiding toxic chemicals. This initiative reframes hospitality as an ecological practice of shared responsibility and provides a replicable model for small-scale upcycling.
OTONOM has already established strong connections with local hotels to ensure a steady supply of materials for this circular economy prototype.
Activities
With the support of the Cyclades Preservation Fund, OTONOM AMKE will:
- Partner with local accommodation providers to collect and prepare discarded cotton linens for upcycling.
- Host 3 public participatory papermaking workshops to teach residents and visitors upcycling skills.
- Implement low-impact, manual processing methods that prioritize water reuse and minimal energy.
- Document and share the methodology to create a replicable model for other islands facing similar waste issues.
About the Grantees
OTONOM based on the island of Tinos, is conceived of as a platform that aims to serve/increase the resilience and wellbeing of rural communities as interlinked with the protection of ecosystems’ balance and biodiversity, including ecosocial, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems.
What You Can Do
- Learn about the EU’s Waste Framework Directive and the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle
- If you are an accommodation provider, contact us to see how you can be part of the solution.
- Help us scale up this work by donating to the Cyclades Preservation Fund.
SDGs
CPF’s grants support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This grant specifically supports:
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The project upcycles high-quality textile waste into functional products using eco-friendly, low-impact methods.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – By engaging residents and visitors, and local accommodation providers in circular practices, the project fosters a more conscious and sustainable tourism model.
