As Hotels Go More Sustainable, Abandoning Mini Toiletries Could Hurt Charities

Sustainable practices may have unintended consequences

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When InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced last week it was getting rid of those ubiquitous mini bottles of toiletries from its roughly 843,000 rooms, Jack Read started getting emails.

As the in-kind coordinator at Thrive DC, a nonprofit that supports Washington D.C.’s homeless community, Read is responsible for liaising between companies and individuals who want to donate goods. After IHG’s news, donors asked Read if Thrive had enough supplies and offered additional toiletries.

When a business makes an operational decision—like ending individual-size products—there are always unintended consequences.

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Individual toiletries are easier to transport, which is vital for homeless people.
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