The use of plastic straws in its restaurants, cafes and bars run by AccorHotels UK & Ireland is to be banned by next month.
The company has set a deadline of June 1 for its outlets to be plastic-straw free.
The commitment will initially take effect across the 125 hotels managed in the UK.
AccorHotels will also work with partners to implement the initiatives “as widely as possible” across its franchised estate of 113 hotels.
Bars, restaurants and cafes will be asked to go completely straw-free where possible, ordering alternative paper biodegradable straws sourced by AccorHotels’ procurement services team where absolutely necessary or specifically requested by guests.
The move comes ahead of a government consultation later this year which will consider a potential ban on cotton buds, plastic drinking straws and other single-use plastics.
AccorHotels’ has a five year sustainable development programme targeting a 30% reduction in food waste and the introduction of 1,000 urban vegetable gardens in the group’s hotels.
Food and beverage vice president Shane Munro said: “The recent public attention on the impact of single-use plastic on the environment has clearly demonstrated the importance of this issue and our shared responsibility to minimise its usage.
“We are constantly looking at ways to reduce the environmental impact of our hotels and stopping the use of plastic straws in our cafes, bars and restaurants represents another significant step in this direction.
“This is just one of a number of initiatives we are working on to minimise the impact of our food and drinks outlets, including steps to reduce food waste. We are working with our franchise partners as well as hotel owners to roll these initiatives out as far as possible.
“Hotel guests, customers walking in off the street and corporate clients are all increasingly environmentally-aware so improving sustainability can be good for business at the same time as helping the planet.”