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Marriott Will Ditch All Plastic Straws by 2019

July 18, 2018
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2 min read
A Bouquet of Straw
Marriott Will Ditch All Plastic Straws by 2019
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Marriott International announced Wednesday that it plans to completely remove single-use plastic straws and stirrers from its more than 6,500 locations around the world by 2019.

The hotel group, which attracts more than 1 million guests every night, says it will eliminate more than 1 billion plastic straws and about a quarter billion stirrers per year.

Ditching the plastic straws isn't Marriott's first move to increase its sustainability. By the end of this year, Marriott will replace small toiletry bottles in the guest bathrooms with larger, in-shower dispensers in more than 1,500 of its North American hotels. Outside the US, several Marriott properties like the Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort in Costa Rica and the Pancras Renaissance Hotel London have already eliminated plastic straws.

This initiative will take full effect at both managed and franchised properties, as well as Marriott corporate headquarters, by July 2019. That time will give its locations time to implement alternative products and deplete the current supply of single-use plastic straws.

Marriott isn't the first travel company to make strides in helping its customers reduce plastic waste. Earlier this month, both Starbucks and American Airlines announced plans to eliminate single-use plastics from their services. Similarly, Alaska Airlines said its flights and lounges will provide its customers with products made from eco-friendly materials like white birch and bamboo.

Featured image by Getty Images

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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