A trial initiative launched by Marriott International in 2018 to replace single-use in-shower bathroom amenities with larger, refillable dispensers will now be adopted on a global scale, with all hotels worldwide expected to make the change by December 2020.
Already, more than 1,000 of the company’s hotels in North America have moved across to align with the initiative and when fully implemented, more than 500 million miniature shampoo, conditioner and bath gel bottles will no longer be in circulation and no longer heading to landfill once used.
The trial covered properties across the Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, Fairfield by Marriott and TownePlace Suites brands. In addition, refillable dispensers are already in use at Aloft, Element by Westin, Four Points by Sheraton and Moxy Hotels brands, while AC Hotels is currently underway with the transition.
Once implemented, Marriott’s plastic consumption rate will reduce by around 30 per cent and will save over 770,000 kilograms of plastic from being dumped. Each refillable dispenser carries a similar level of product as up to 12 smaller, single-use bottles.
The expanded initiative comes a little over a year since the company imposed a global ban on the use of single-use plastic straws. Marriott International CEO, Arne Sorenson, said the push to reduce plastic consumption across the company’s entire hotel estate was a huge priority.
“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.
“Our guests are looking 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.”