Marriott joined a growing list of companies pledging to eliminate the use of disposable plastic straws this past week. Other companies that have promised the same: MGM Resorts International, Hyatt Hotels Corp., Delaware North, Meliá Hotels International, Iberostar Group, The Travel Corp., Scandic Hotels, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Sudima Hotels & Resorts, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, The Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels, and The Red Carnation Hotel Collection. In Marriott’s case they will also be eliminating plastic stirrers.
The plastic straw initiative will take full effect at both managed and franchised properties by July 2019. Why will it take so long to transition away from plastic straws? In its press release, Marriott said the year will give “hotel owners and franchisees time to deplete their existing supply of plastic straws, identify sources of alternate straws and educate staff to modify customer service. As part of the initiative, hotels will offer alternative straws upon request.” I guess getting a giant elephant to move uphill for what could be considered a minor change can be daunting. According to Marriott, it has 6,500 properties across 127 countries and territories.
Once fully implemented, Marriott could eliminate the use of more than 1 billion plastic straws per year and about a quarter billion stirrers. A single plastic straw—which might be used for about 15 minutes—will never fully decompose.
Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International, said, “Removing plastic straws is one of the simplest ways our guests can contribute to plastic reduction when staying with us—something they are increasingly concerned about and are already doing in their own homes. We are committed to operating responsibly and—with over one million guests staying with us every night—we think this is a powerful step forward to reducing our reliance on plastics.”
Move Toward Dispenser Use
For Marriott, straws and stirrers are the latest target for plastic waste elimination. Earlier this year, the company 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.
It was more than five years ago that I wrote about Milo Cress, founder of the Be Straw Free Campaign. Milo inspired Xanterra Parks & Resorts to launch a “Choose to be Straw Free” program. Recent growing awareness of plastics pollution in our oceans has accelerated efforts to eliminate plastic straws and stirrers. Too bad it has taken so long for others in our industry to take action.
Kudos to Marriott for taking this step. I hope it inspires the other large companies (and smaller companies) in our industry to do the same. Now what we going to do about all of those plastic water and other beverage bottles?
How to Search on Our Website
Like other search engines you find online, a search using one word will produce articles with that word included. If you would like to search for something that is more than one word long—ozone laundry, for example—you will need to put quotation marks around the words or phrase. Ozone laundry would then be “ozone laundry” in the search.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Planning Advertising for 2018?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2018. Many excellent spots are available on our new website, in the weekly e-mail newsletter, and Green Lodging Survey. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2018 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 8,452. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail editor@greenlodgingnews.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,804 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 902 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
