On 5 June, the big Jianguo Hotel in Beijing announced that it would take the initiative to a "Green Hotel Action" for China 's hotel industry. 13 other member hotels in the same chain also signed this "green manifesto". Starting from June 13, these hotels no longer provide their rooms with disposable toothbrushes, tooth paste or other throwaway articles. Also, the towels and bedsheets are not automatically changed every day. This will save water and reduce the use of harmful chemicals. The use of electrical appliances in conference rooms, receptions and guest rooms will also be regulated. It is estimated that this move will help save some 5000 disposable items every day.

To minimize any inconvenience caused by this initiative, the hotels in question notified their guests well in advance through explanatory notes distirbuted in all rooms.

Already in September 2004 Friends of Nature, Diqiu tong Magazine, the China People's University Institute of Society and Population, the Young Volunteers' Association and others launched the concerted appeal "Bring your own toothbrush". The appeal explained the harm done by disposable toothbrushes: According to incomplete statistics, more than 1 million disposable toothbrushes are used in Chinese hotels every day. This generates five tons of benzene/ ethylene waste every day. That's 380 million toothbrushes and 1800 tons of benzene/ ethylene waste every year. Furthermore, this use of throwaway toothbrushes costs 76 million RMB pr year while recycling the waste would cost an additional 10 million. So not only are we spending 86 million RMB yearly on these disposable toothbrushes, but it is also a colossal waste of natural resources and a burden to the environment.