If you’re holidaying with Marriott International this winter, you won’t be sipping your cocktails through a plastic straw – because the hotel giant has vowed to ban them entirely by July 2019.

In a move towards sustainability and ditching single-use plastics, the company promises to eliminate over 1billion straws a year and around a quarter billion stirrers.

Plastic straws pose huge issues for the environment due to the fact they will never decompose. And with so many holiday resorts either on beaches or in other areas of natural beauty, it’s far more likely they will end up impacting marine and wildlife.

Last year, Marriott replaced small plastic toiletry bottles with in-shower dispensers, with the brand also making a commitment to reduce its landfill waste by 45 percent by 2025.

Hotels worldwide have taken steps to become more eco-conscious, with St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London and Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa just some of the others to ban plastic straws.

“We are proud to be among the first large US companies to announce that we’re eliminating plastic straws in our properties worldwide,” said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International.

“Removing plastic straws is one of the simplest ways our guests can contribute to plastic reduction when staying with us – something they are increasingly concerned about and are already doing in their own homes. We are committed to operating responsibly and – with over one million guests staying with us every night – we think this is a powerful step forward to reducing our reliance on plastics.”

A welcome move in the right direction – because sustainability can’t afford to take a holiday.