Marriott International to Remove Plastic Straws by July 2019
Marriott International has announced plans to phase out disposable plastic straws and plastic stirrers from all its properties by July 2019. To ensure this new brand standard is implemented properly, hotels should switch to an on-demand approach, use existing plastic straws until the current supply of plastic straws is depleted, and eventually use alternative straws (no plastic, no PLA). This gives owners and franchisees time to not only deplete existing supply, but to identify sources of alternate straws and to educate staff to modify customer service.
Additionally, due to requests from people with disabilities, it is recommended that some plastic straws be saved by each outlet should any guest request a plastic straw.
The plastic straw phase-out is the latest change the company is making to enhance the sustainability of its operations and reduce plastic consumption. Earlier this year, Marriott began replacing small toiletry bottles in the guest bathrooms of about 450 select-service hotels with larger, in-shower dispensers that distribute more product for guests to use, reducing waste. The new toiletry dispensers are expected to be in place at more than 1,500 hotels in North America by the end of this year, which would enable Marriott to eliminate more than 35 million small plastic toiletry bottles annually that typically go to landfills.
These initiatives build on Marriott International’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact. Last year, the company set its most ambitious sustainability and social impact goals ever that call for reducing landfill waste by 45 percent and responsibly sourcing its top 10 product purchase categories by 2025. These goals and other sustainability programs help reduce our environmental footprint and are part of the company’s Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction platform that addresses social, environmental, and economic issues.
Should you have any questions about the plastic straw/stirrer phase-out, please contact sustainability@marriott.com.
