IHG Wash Their Hands Of Bathroom Miniatures!

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) wash their hands of bathroom miniatures, announcing on 30^thJuly 2019, that its entire hotel estate of almost 843,000 guest rooms will now provide bulk-size bathroom amenities in commitment to their sustainability agenda. Pledging to complete this transition by 2021, IHG inspires the industry, looking to become the first global hotel company with all their brands opting for bulk-size amenities in their bathrooms.

This is not the first time that IHG have said no to single-use plastics having announced in 2018 the removal of single-use plastic straws by the end of 2019. This represents an average of 50 million straws removed from IHG’s hotel estate each year, enough to stretch all the way from New York to Tokyo! On top of this, IHG’s voco Hotels brand provides duvets and pillows that are filled with 100% recycled materials equalling to 150 plastic bottles per guest room diverted from landfill.

Keith Barr, CEO, IHG, commented: “It’s more important than ever that companies challenge themselves to operate responsibly. Switching to larger-size amenities across more than 5,600 hotels around the world is a big step in the right direction and will allow us to significantly reduce our waste footprint and environmental impact as we make the change. We’re passionate about sustainability and we’ll continue to explore ways to make a positive difference to the environment and our local communities.”

The company expect to see a significant reduction in plastic waste, replacing an average of 200 million bathroom miniatures in use across its entire hotel estate every year. Several IHG brands have made the transition already providing a more sustainable offering without impacting the quality of their guest’s experience. Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas offers bathroom products in refillable ceramic dispensers across its entire luxury estate, whilst Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants is already moving to larger-size amenities. IHG’s voco™ Hotels, EVEN® Hotels and avid™ hotels brands have all offered bulk-size amenities since launch, working closely with suppliers to offer dispensers and products that retain a quality feel. More than 1,000 Holiday Inn Express® hotels in the Americas have already been implementing the change, alongside a number of Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® properties in the region.

It’s safe to say that IHG are committed to saving the planet with this new initiative which compliments a number of efforts they have put in place to address how they can take responsibility for their carbon footprint. Let’s hope this acts as a catalyst to other groups across the hotel amenity industry!