Bye plastic, bye! There’ll be less single-use wastage checking out of IHG properties from 2021 when the company scraps mini bathroom amenities for bulk-sized product.
The global company announced the environmentally-friendly cut back this morning, saying it’ll take place across all 843,000 guest rooms. Even the upscale ones opening in the coming years.
Before you raise your pom poms, read on for more details:
WHEN WILL THE CHANGE TAKE PLACE?
IHG currently uses some 200 million bathroom miniatures across its entire hotel estate (5,600 hotels) every year.
In an ideal world, the hotel group would stop using the smaller product immediately and move over to larger bottles. But that’s not quite how reality works.
IHG has already begun the process of removing miniatures and is around a third of the way through. The company expects the rest of be done by 2021.
“We’ve already made great strides in this area, with almost a third of our estate already adopting the change.”
Keith Barr, IHG Chief Executive
WILL THIS AFFECT MY STAY?
Unless you have a deep passion for mini shampoos and conditioners, it shouldn’t.
HOW WILL IT IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT?
There’ll be at least 200 million less mini plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles in landfills every year.
Additionally, the move is part of IHG’s bigger pledge to cleaner operations, which includes the removal of plastic straws by the end of 2019 and using recyable materials for duvets and pillows in its voco properties.
“[This] is a big step in the right direction and will allow us to significantly reduce our waste footprint and environmental impact.”
Keith Barr, IHG Chief Executive
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
Aside from the positive impact it’ll have on the environment? Okay!
As the first global hotel company to remove bathroom miniatures, IHG will likely inspire others to do the same.