Marriott hotels to ban single-use toiletries

Move by worldwide chain of 7,000 properties will prevent 500 million small bottles ending up as waste

THE world’s largest hotel chain has announced that it is to stop providing toiletries in single-use plastic bottles in a bid to reduce waste caused by the packaging.

Marriott, which has 7,000 properties worldwide and includes the brands Sheraton, Westin and Ritz-carlton, will bring in the changes by December next year.

The company estimates the move will keep 1.7million pounds of plastic – or about 500 million tiny bottles – from ending up in rubbish dumps each year.

“This is our second global initiative aimed at reducing single-use plastics in just over a year, which underscores how important we believe it is to continuously find ways to reduce our hotels’ environmental impact. It’s a huge priority for us,” said Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s chief executive. “Our guests look to us to make changes that will create a meaningful difference for the environment while not sacrificing the quality service and experience they expect from our hotels.”

Shower gel, shampoo and hair conditioner will be provided in rooms by refillable dispensers. “In addition to allowing guests to use as much of a product as they need, the larger bottles are also recyclable, along with other basic containers such as plastic soda bottles,” said Marriott in a statement.

Mr Sorenson said: “Today’s announcement won’t eliminate our use of plastic, of course. Large toiletry bottles eventually have to be recycled too.

“Our guests have made it clear they want us to maintain toiletries in their rooms. That is the quality and service level they are accustomed to. Shifting to pump dispensers is a smart change.”

Bulk dispensers have long been associated with budget hotels, but in recent years upmarket establishments have also been trying them out.

The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, which opened on July 1 and where rooms cost £1,400 a night, offers Salvatore Ferragamo bathroom amenities in refillable marble containers.

In Namibia, Andbeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, opening in October, plans to put bath products in bulk glass bottles in its £500-per-person-pernight rooms.

Marriott’s decision follows a similar move last month by their biggest rival, Intercontinental Hotels, which operates 5,600 hotels including the Holiday Inn brand.

Hyatt is also testing bulk toiletries in certain properties, and last year, Walt Disney Co dispensed with little plastic bottles on its cruise ships and at its theme park resorts.

Last year, Marriott began a smallscale trial of the bulk toiletry dispensers, and stopped using plastic straws and stirrers. The company aims to reduce its landfill waste by 45 per cent and responsibly source its top 10 product purchase categories, including guest amenities, by 2025.

Plastic takes more than 400 years to decompose, and an estimated 8.8million tons of it is dumped into the world’s oceans each year. Only a small fraction of it is recycled.