Hyatt Pledges to Reduce the Use of Single-use Plastics

Alison Fox

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, Hyatt Hotels will start to reduce its use of single-use plastic by 2021.

The hotel giant committed to a series of initiatives, including using “large-format bathroom amenities” to refill as opposed to tiny bottles of things like shampoo, increasing the number of available water stations for guests to refill bottles, and serving water in bigger containers at meetings and events, according to the hotel. Bottled water will still be available by request.

According to Hyatt, these changes will be made “as soon as possible” and no later than June 2021.

“At Hyatt, our purpose – we care for people so they can be their best – guides all business decisions, including our global sustainability framework, which focuses on using resources responsibly and helping address today’s most pressing environmental issues,” Mark Hoplamazian, the president and CEO of Hyatt, said in a statement. “Plastic pollution is a global issue, and we hope our efforts will motivate guests, customers and, indeed, ourselves to think more critically about our use of plastic.”

These initiatives will eventually be rolled out to Hyatt’s more than 875 properties in more than 60 countries.

“Reducing single-use plastics at properties is a true expression of our purpose – to care for people so they can be their best – which extends to our communities and planet," Marié Fukudome, the director of environmental affairs for Hyatt, told USA Today, who added that while some hotels can make the changes quickly, others will need a bit more time. "There are more than 875 Hyatt-branded hotels operating worldwide in different cities and market types.”

Several properties have already implemented environmentally-friendly changes, according to the hotel group, including the Park Hyatt Istanbul - Macka Palas, which has installed filtered water spouts in all guest rooms, and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, one hotel in which guests are given reusable bottles at check-in.

Hyatt isn’t the first to take similar steps to reduce plastic waste: InterContinental Hotels and Marriott International said last year they would replace those tiny bottles of shampoo and conditioner with wall-mounted, larger bottles. And Hilton Hotels said earlier this year they will recycle half-used soap bars from their hotel rooms.