Hotel group to remove 200 million mini plastic toiletries in next two years

‘It’s more important than ever that companies challenge themselves to operate responsibly’

IHG is set to install bulk-size amenities in its 843,000 bathrooms (InterContinental Hotels Group)

One of the world’s biggest hotel groups is set to ban mini plastic toiletries in an effort to reduce plastic waste.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced that it will install bulk-size amenities in the bathrooms of its 843,000 rooms around the world by 2021.

The American company, which owns brands including Holiday Inn, InterContinental and Crowne Plaza, currently uses an average of 200 million bathroom miniatures each year.

“It’s more important than ever that companies challenge themselves to operate responsibly – we know it’s what our guests, owners, colleagues, investors and suppliers rightly expect,” said Keith Barr, chief executive of IHG.

“Switching to larger-size amenities across more than 5,600 hotels around the world is a big step in the right direction and will allow us to significantly reduce our waste footprint and environmental impact as we make the change.”

Several of IHG’s brands already offer bulk-size bathroom amenities, such as environmentally focused luxury hotel group Six Senses and boutique-in-feel Kimpton.

More than 1,000 Holiday Inn Express hotels in the Americas have already made the switch to bulk dispensers, alongside some Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites properties.

The brand, alongside several other hotel groups including Marriott International and Peninsula, had previously pledged to remove plastic straws from all its hotels by 2019.

That represents an average of 50 million plastic straws removed each year, enough to stretch from New York to Tokyo, said IHG.

In April, California passed a bill that could bring an end to complimentary mini bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and moisturiser across the state.

Members of the California State Assembly voted in favour of the Assembly Bill 1162 by six to three, as part of a move to reduce the use of plastics.

The bill would ban “lodging establishments”, including hotels, motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts and holiday apartments, from offering small plastic bottles holding 340ml or under of product in rooms or public spaces.

Establishments could offer “bulk dispensers” instead of individual toiletries.