IHG hotel group abandons mini toiletries for 843,000 rooms

The IHG hotel group has announced plans to replace bathroom miniature toiletries with bulk supplies across all of its 17 brands, including Holiday Inn and InterContinental. The policy shift means IHG is the first global hotel brand to undertake such a move. The group will take small plastic bottles out of 843,000 rooms at that brand, alone, by 2021. Bulk items are to replace the individual toiletries and IHG Chief Executive Keith Barr said: “We collectively as an industry have to lead where governments are not necessarily giving the leadership to make a difference. “Five years ago it was a tick-the-box exercise. Today it’s follow-up meetings going through in detail what we are doing about our carbon footprint.” Last year, IHG said it would stop using plastic straws by the end of 2019 and Barr said “the next big thing to tackle” would be the plastic plates and cutlery. IHG has committed to reducing its carbon footprint per occupied room by 6% by next year. Its high-end resort brand Six Senses has said it will go plastic-free across its whole supply chain by 2022. Although IHG is the first company to issue the brand-wide ban, some hotels already use refillable dispensers of shampoo and gels and budget hotels have long used bulk shampoo and conditioner dispensers in bathrooms. They cost less to install and service. Those worried about loss of high-end shampoos can take comfort by those hotels such as the The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, which offers Salvatore Ferragamo bathroom amenities in refillable marble containers.