If your favorite thing to do when you stay is collecting mini bottles of shampoo and lotion in your hotel room, you'll have to find a new travel hobby—perhaps a greener one. If you haven't gotten the memo, single-use plastics are a thing of the past. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the hotel group behind brands such as Holiday Inn, Kimpton Hotels and Crowne Plaza, is the first hotel company to ban mini plastic toiletry bottles. The rule will apply to all 5,600 IHG hotels and brands worldwide: all hotels will officially phase out single-use plastic toiletries and replace them with more sustainable bulk water dispensers.
The change is already underway, with IHG committing to officially replace 843,000 guest rooms with bulk toiletries by 2021, according to a press release. The move would eliminate the 200 million bathroom microbaths supplied by hotel groups each year, they reported. In addition to eliminating single-use plastics in bathrooms, InterContinental Hotels Group has also banned plastic straws in its hotels (officially since 2019), switching to textile suppliers for duvets made from 100% recycled materials, and connect with sustainability initiatives to help them reduce food waste and make eco-friendly modifications. (FYI, they have reduced food waste by 30%, which is a testament to how effective these programs can be when companies commit to real change.)
As the number of sustainably driven hotel guests increases, and global awareness of climate change and the huge dangers of sending waste to landfill increases, I personally hope we see more and more big businesses and large businesses The Group stepped up its efforts and pledged to reduce waste emissions. their carbon footprint and make significant changes.
As a single person, sometimes carrying a metal straw and carrying a canvas tote to the grocery store can seem like a fool's errand—and while you know it's the right thing to do, you might feel like it's not enough to make a difference. This can be frustrating. But when multinational corporations step up and make changes that impact millions of people, individual efforts become even more profound.
The more we support and praise companies making these changes, the more we inspire and encourage other companies to do the same. Can you imagine how much less plastic we would send to landfill if every hotel stopped relying on single-use plastic? What if every restaurant banned plastic straws? Just as important, what if every hotel guest was aware of the dangers of single-use plastic and was inspired to make greener, more sustainable choices in their daily lives because a company they love and trust made it standard?
While there are still so many global tweaks and solutions to be found, this is definitely a step in the right direction – hopefully we can look forward to seeing more hotels coming up with sustainable solutions.
Let's be honest, you won't end up using these mini toiletries as often as you think - if you don't believe me, check your bathroom sink cabinet for proof.
