BETHESDA, USA, 3 September: Marriott International is expanding a 2018 initiative to replace tiny, single-use toiletry bottles of shampoo, conditioner and bath gel in bathrooms with larger pump-topped bottles.
To date, the company has already rolled out larger bottles at about 1,000 properties in North America and now expects most of its other hotels to make the switch by December 2020.
Beyond the US, the switchover becomes more complicated. Some hotel owners in Asia are reluctant to invest, or they claim the supply of the larger dispensers and bottles are not widely available.
When fully implemented worldwide, Marriott International’s expanded toiletry program is expected to prevent about 500 million tiny bottles annually from going to landfills; that’s about 1.7 million pounds of plastic, a 30% annual reduction from current amenity plastic use.
“This is our second global initiative aimed at reducing single-use plastics in just over a year, which underscores how important it is to find ways to reduce our hotels’ environmental impact. It’s a huge priority for us,” said Marriott International president and chief executive officer Arne Sorenson.
“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.”
There’s a considerable way to go to reach its targets. So far, just 20% of Marriott International’s more than 7,000 properties offer larger-pump-topped bottles in bathrooms.
The latest announcement follows on from a Marriott International 2018 initiative to switch single-use shower toiletry bottles to larger bottles with pump dispensers in five brands: Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, Fairfield by Marriott and TownePlace Suites.
In addition, four of Marriott International’s brands – Aloft Hotels, Element by Westin, Four Points and Moxy Hotels – previously implemented the pump-dispenser toiletry concept, while a fifth – AC by Marriott – is well on its way to making the change.
A typical large, pump-topped bottle
contains the same amount of product as about 10 to 12 tiny, single-use bottles.
Because tiny bottles are not usually recycled, they end up in the hotels’ trash
bins – generating refuse that will never decompose in landfills. 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.
