Hilton will remove plastic straws from its 650 managed properties by the end of 2018, and in Europe, Middle East & Africa alone, the commitment will remove more than five million plastic straws and 20 million plastic water bottles annually.

An estimated eight million tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, and research projects that plastic in our oceans could triple in a decade.

Hilton will remove plastic straws and offer a paper or biodegradable alternative upon request –  an effort the company plans to implement globally across its hotels by the end of 2018. Hilton will also remove plastic water bottles from meetings and events in hotels across the EMEA region, as part of its global 'Meet with Purpose' programme to offer socially and environmentally responsible meetings.
 
The ban on straws is part of a new set of global targets designed to cut Hilton’s environmental footprint in half by 2030 and double its social impact investment around the world. With this commitment, Hilton claims it will become the first major hotel company to institute science-based targets to reduce its carbon emissions and commit to sending zero hotel soap to landfill.

 

The company will also double the amount it spends with local and minority-owned suppliers, and double its investment in programmes to help women and youth around the world. These goals are part of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy to further the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
 

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Hilton’s new 2030 goals include the following social and environmental targets:
 
Cut Environmental Impact in Half to Help Protect the Planet 
•    Reduce carbon emissions intensity by 61%, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
•    Reduce water consumption and produced waste by 50%
•    Sustainably source meat, poultry, produce, seafood and cotton
•    Expand existing soap recycling programme to all hotels and send zero soap to landfill
 
Double Social Investment and Drive Positive Change in Communities
•    Double the amount spent with local, small and minority-owned suppliers
•    Double investment in opportunity programs for women and youth, including partnering with local organisations and schools
•    Contribute 10 million volunteer hours through team member initiatives
•    Double monetary support for natural disaster relief efforts
•    Advance human rights capabilities in Hilton’s value chain to eradicate forced labour and trafficking