More than 200 million miniature – often plastic – bathroom amenity containers will be removed from all InterContinental Hotels Group properties globally over the next two years as the company shifts to bulk-size containers.
The move sees IHG become the first major global group to commit to a full-scale phase-out of single-use plastic bottles and containers across its entire brand portfolio. In all, more than 843,000 hotel rooms globally will replace miniature single-use products with larger, refillable containers. The transition is expected to be completed in full by 2021.
It follows on from the company’s pledge to remove single-use plastic straws from all of its hotels by the end of this year.
The phase-out has already begun, with the voco brand currently offering bulk-size Aveda amenities designed to retain their brand quality long after first use. Six Senses offers ceramic dispensers across its network, while Kimpton Hotels is currently adapting its hotels to bulk-size products.
InterContinental Hotels Group CEO, Keith Barr, said it was now more important than ever for companies to challenge themselves to operate responsibly.
“We know it’s what our guests, owners, colleagues, investors and suppliers rightly expect. 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.”