Marriott is banning plastic straws from its UK hotels

Marriott is removing all plastic straws from over 60 hotels in the UK, the hotel chain announced this week, as scores of bars and restaurants begin cutting down on waste.

London’s Grosvenor House, W, Park Tower, Sheraton Grand, St Pancras Renaissance and Le Meridian hotels will all take part in the initiative, which the chain announced on Monday 5 February.

Hotel teams have been requested to begin removing plastic straws from circulation with immediate effect.

Customers who request straws will be offered biodegradable or paper straws.

Michel Miserez, Marriott International’s UK vice president, said: “Our UK hotels used 300,000 straws last year.  By removing plastic straws from our hotels in the UK we are making a small but significant step in playing our part in reducing the volume of plastic that damages our environment and wildlife.

“Marriott International has a global responsibility and unique opportunity to be a force for good in all aspects of our business. Incorporating environmental and social initiatives like this one into our business is the right thing to do.”

Some 500 million straws are discarded in the US every day, according to the country’s National Park Service, and take hundreds of years to deteriorate.

The hotel chain’s decision comes after hospitality firms such as Ei Group, Be At One, All Bar One, Wagamama and JD Wetherspoon have all pledged to remove plastic straws from their sites in recent months.