Sustainability Insight
How the hospitality sector is confronting plastic
September 2025
The hospitality industry is no stranger to environmental scrutiny, but in 2025, the spotlight has turned sharply onto plastics. With consumer expectations and government regulations mounting, hotels are accelerating action, not just for sustainability, but for competitiveness.
From Small Bottles to Big Impact
Single‑use plastics, once seen as standard for guest amenities, are now a liability. Major global brands have eliminated plastic toiletries in favor of refillable dispensers. Plastic straws, cutlery, and minibar items are increasingly replaced by compostable or reusable alternatives. Many hotels have also transitioned to digital keys, eliminating millions of plastic cards annually.
Regulation as Catalyst
New bans and producer responsibility laws are pushing the sector beyond voluntary action. In New York, starting January 1, 2025, hotels with more than 50 rooms are barred from offering toiletry bottles under 12 ounces, with fines escalating from $250 to $500 for repeat violations.
Illinois’s new law bans small plastic toiletry bottles in larger hotels by July 1, 2025, expanding to all properties by 2026. Many hotel chains like Marriott have already switched to larger pump-driven bottles, reducing plastic waste by up to 30% per property.
A New Standard
Plastic reduction is now a key metric in ESG reporting and certification schemes. It is clear that hospitality businesses treating plastic elimination as part of their core strategy, not a marketing line, are better positioned for long-term success.
Hotels participating in recycling programs have already diverted over 13 million kilograms of plastic and soap waste from landfills globally.
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