Marston’s vows to remove half a million plastic bottles

Over the past 18 months, the pub chain has successfully implemented its ‘zero waste to landfill’ campaign, increased its recycling rate, and installed 200 electric car charging points across its pubs.

Now, to continue its growth into a sustainable future, Marston’s is taking the plunge to remove its annual use of nearly 500,000 plastic bottles from its 60 inns by the end of the year.

Strive for reduction​

Marston’s Inns hotel operations manager Jo Rogers said: “The strive for plastic reduction across any business and household is at an all-time high and this small change just shows the power of how making one adjustment can have a big impact.”

The removal of single-use plastic from rooms will also include saving, on average, 1,865 plastic cups per week with glasses being made available in rooms from the end of October 2019.

Customers who still wish to have bottled water, will be able to purchase glass bottled water through all of Marston’s pubs.

Rogers continues: “We are continually looking at ways to make the business more environmentally friendly and are pleased to say that we have, so far, had the full support of our customers, which has been really great in bringing these initiatives to life.”

Sustainability steps​

According to the 2019 haysmacintyre UK Hospitality Index, 81% of operators are embracing the drive for sustainability by taking steps to improve it.

Such steps include: efforts to cut down on single-use plastic, reduce energy use, source more locally produced food and use food waste apps.

The sustainability shift triggered by Marston’s comes as part of continual work towards making itself one of the most sustainable hospitality businesses in the industry.

The multi award-winning team is continuing to work on initiatives to be trialled and rolled out across the business.