Mini toiletries must be removed from Holiday Inn owners' hotels

Miniature toiletries should be removed from all hotels operated by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for environmental reasons – making it the first global hotel brand to undertake such an approach.

The British owner of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza Hotels is committed to removing small plastic bottles from his 843,000 rooms by 2021.

The move has already taken place in about a third of his estate.

In its luxury hotels, bulk items have replaced individual toiletries.

Keith Barr, CEO of IHG, said: "As an industry, we must collectively lead, where governments do not necessarily give the leadership needed to make a difference.

"Five years ago, it was a ticking exercise, and today is a follow-up meeting that details what we are doing about our carbon footprint."

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Last year, IHG had announced that it would stop using plastic straws by the end of 2019. Mr. Barr added that "the next problem to be solved" would be the plates. and the plastic cutlery used for its breakfast service.

In addition, the company is badociated with the Winnow Artificial Intelligence Company as part of a pilot project to monitor waste generated by breakfast buffets in some of its hotels.

IHG is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 6% per occupied room by next year. The upscale resort brand Six Senses has announced that it will not use more plastics throughout its supply chain by 2022.

Greenpeace is pleased with this decision. Fiona Nicholls, of the environmental advocacy group, said: "Just as buyers have shown that they were happy to bring their bags to supermarkets, hotel guests are quite able to adapt and start bringing their own toiletries. "

Richard Clarke, an badyst with research firm Bernstein, said: "Rather than react to the outcry of customer response, IHG is trying to be proactive and say it can be used as a differentiation if he can. "