Combining luxury cosmetics, hygiene and eco-responsibility in the luxury hotel sector, in an industry constantly seeking more sustainable solutions, has become a real challenge for high-end hotels and their suppliers in recent years. ADA Cosmetics is no exception to the rule, and offers an ideal solution for the sector: dosing system technology.
The German brand, founded in 1979 by Andreas Dahlmeyer, started from the initial observation that the details of luxury in a hotel room often stopped at the bathroom door: the hotel’s codes, such as its colors and iconography, were all too rarely found on the packaging of care and bath products. This idea gave rise to the personalization of these everyday objects during a hotel stay, which was quickly adopted by the entire sector. ADA Cosmetics soon specialized in the production of these products and revolutionized hotel bathrooms with the “press + wash” system, launched in 1990. Driven by innovation and sustainability, the company developed a solution that is still an integral part of hotel bathrooms worldwide. But innovation didn’t stop there.
Interviewed by Journal des Palaces, the group set out its clear vision: “We see ourselves as pioneers of greater sustainability in the hotel cosmetics industry, and that’s what drives us to keep innovating. We want to combine quality, innovation and sustainability to create luxurious, eco-responsible experiences, to delight the hotel guests who put their trust in us, and not affect the planet.”
ADA Cosmetics has developed its “SmartCare” system to meet this need for eco-responsible luxury. Now a best-seller, this technology is based on the original “press + wash” concept, but innovates by creating a single-material bottle that is easy to recycle and, above all, more hygienic than other liquid skincare dispenser systems on the market. Each SmartCare bottle is fitted with a patented membrane technology and safe-lock seal to ensure a watertight protection, but above all to prevent bacteria from entering the system.
A study by Germany’s Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, commissioned by ADA Cosmetics, showed that almost 70% of refillable liquid soap pump bottles were conducive to the development of bacteria harmful to users, as well as mold, a phenomenon that increased with the number of uses. Metering systems like ADA Cosmetics’ SmartCare do not allow bacteria to penetrate, and showed no evidence of contamination inside the system.
The Columbus Monte Carlo Hotel, which has been using the SmartCare system since 2018, has been won over by its effectiveness. “We integrated the Elemis collection from ADA Cosmetics into our rooms: hand soap, shower gel, shampoo and body lotion… The response from our guests has been extremely positive,” Victoria Stevenson, general manager of the Columbus hotel, tells Journal des Palaces. “Our guests’ experience has been enhanced. The ‘SmartCare’ dosing system has been well received for its ecological approach, reducing single-use plastic waste,” adds the establishment located on the port of Fontvieille, in the Principality.
“Our environmentally conscious customers have particularly applauded this change. From a managerial point of view, it has also proved highly cost-effective. The dosing systems reduce staff time spent on replenishment and waste management. Our maintenance team also appreciates their ease of use and the hygiene standards they impose. Management and staff appreciate the fact that the system aligns with our hotel’s sustainability objectives and reinforces our brand’s reputation for luxury and environmental responsibility,” she adds.
Always looking to the future, ADA Cosmetics has integrated a new branch for the customization of hotel equipment, ADA Atelier, directly aligned with the vision of its creator. To meet the needs of as many hotels as possible, without compromising its ideal of hygiene and luxury, the German brand recently launched a pump bottle with a drainage system to prevent the proliferation of bacteria.
Finally, ever mindful of the environment, the brand continues to work on the recyclability of its products and materials, to further fulfill its goal of “eco-responsible luxury”. “We call on hotels to use suppliers who are truly sustainable, and thus avoid falling into the trap of greenwashing offers”, says Lutz Hübner, CEO of ADA Cosmetics, who points out that all the company’s activities can be consulted in its voluntary CSR report, and that by 2026, ADA Cosmetics will have further reduced its emissions by 35%.
In addition, the company will continue to assess the recyclability of materials, and will strive to maximize recycled materials. The next major developments will be unveiled in the second half of 2025.
