No More Single-Use toiletry bottles for Marriott International by December 2020

In July 2018, Marriott International first began replacing single-use toiletry bottles with larger bottles in guest bathrooms of about 450 select-service hotels. The five brands included Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, Fairfield by Marriott and TownePlace Suites. Aloft Hotels, Elements by Westin, Four Points and Moxy Hotels have previously implemented this while a fifth – AC by Marriott is on its well to making the change.

To date, about 1,000 hotels in North America have made the switch. More than 20 percent of Marriott International’s over 7,000 properties now offer larger pump-topped bottles in guestroom showers.

Most of its other hotels are expected to make the switch by December 2020. When it is fully implemented across the globe, about 500 million tiny bottles that go to the landfills every year can be prevented, reducing waste of 1.7 million pounds of plastic, a 30 percent annual reduction from the current amenity plastic usage.

Single-use bottles are usually not recycled. They end up being thrown away, generating refuse that will not truly decompose in landfills. A typical large, pump-topped bottle contains the product of around 10 to 12 single-use bottles. The larger bottles are also recyclable along with other basic containers such as plastic soda bottles.

Many are concerned about the safety of pump-topped bottles fearing other guests may maliciously open up these bottles and contaminate them. It is imperative that hotels take this concern seriously and ensure that these bottles are secured and only accessible by housekeeping when topping up the bottles with product.

In July 2018, its hotels across the portfolio also began phasing out disposable plastic straws and stirrers, switching to an on-demand approach with alternative products when possible.

These initiatives are part of Marriott International’s commitment to reducing environmental impact as part of its Serve 360: Doing Good In Every Direction platform that addresses social and environmental issues. One of the goals of this initiative is to reduce landfill waste by 45 percent and responsibly sourcing its top 10 product purchase categories which includes guest room amenities by 2025.

This announcement comes after IHG’s recent announcement to replace single-use bathroom miniatures with bulk size amenities in all of its hotel properties by 2021.