迈向零废弃：酒店业一次性用品减量调查报告

指导单位：中国环境新闻工作者协会编写：公众环境研究中心（IPE）芜湖生态协会2026 年 4 月Guided by:China Forum of Environmental JournalistsPrepared by:Institute of Public and Environmental AffairsandWuhu Ecology CenterApril 2026 Although the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollutionby Solid Waste, hereinafter referred to as the “Solid Waste Law,”and localhousehold waste management regulations in many parts of China stipulate thataccommodation operators should not proactively provide single-use amenitiesunless requested by guests, implementation remains uneven. Policy documentssuch as the Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control,commonly known as the “new plastic restriction order,” also explicitly require allaccommodation establishments to stop proactively providing single-use plasticproducts. However, industry observations and field research conducted by theInstitute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE), Wuhu Ecology Center, and otherenvironmental organizations found that the proactive provision of such itemsremains fairly widespread and is showing signs of a rebound. This report aimsto present the current situation, analyze the underlying causes, and proposesolutions, in order to ensure the effective implementation of relevant laws andpolicies, advance the industry's green transition, and guide consumers towardmore sustainable travel practices. Executive Summary As China’s accommodation industry continues to expand, large quantities of single-use in-room amenities—mainly toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, and shower gel—are being consumed, creating an environmental burdenthat cannot be ignored. National and local governments have introduced restrictive policies and regulations, butresearch by environmental NGOs has found that violations remain widespread among high-end hotels and areshowing signs of a rebound. The Widespread Use of Single-Use Amenitiesand Their Environmental Impacts Background& CurrentSituation Policy &RegulatoryBasis The Institutional Framework from theNational to the Local Level According to the China Hospitality Association’s2025 China Hotel IndustryDevelopment Report, by the end of 2024, the total number of accommodationestablishments in China had reached 570,000, with more than 19 million guestrooms. For a long time, hotels have automatically provided single-use in-roomamenities free of charge, commonly known as the “Six Small Amenities.” This hasbeen regarded as a standard component of hotel service, especially in high-endhotels, where it is often seen as necessary for maintaining service standards andcustomer satisfaction. To address solid waste pollution, particularly plastic pollution, China hasestablished a policy framework centered on “use restrictions and bans—sourcereduction—and the promotion of alternatives.” The Solid Waste Law and thenew plastic restriction order, both implemented in 2020, clarified the overallobjectives and phased requirements for banning and restricting the use of single-use amenities in hotels and homestays. Subsequently, supporting documents suchas the Administrative Measures for the Use and Reporting of Single-Use PlasticProducts by Business Operators further refined the relevant regulatory standards. These amenities are made primarily of plastic. According to estimates, plasticconsumption from single-use in-room amenities in China’s accommodation sectorreached 73,000 tons in 2020.1In recent years, toothbrushes and combs madefrom recycled plastic, biodegradable plastic, bamboo, or wood have begun to gaina certain market share. However, regardless of the material used, single-use in-room amenities are, in the vast majority of cases, difficult to recycle effectively orhave little recycling value. Most can only be incinerated or landfilled as residualwaste, continuing to cause substantial resource waste and environmental risks. At the local level, jurisdictions have adopted a range of policy tools to advanceimplementation. Many have used local legislation on household wastemanagement and action plans for plastic pollution control to clarify rules ofconduct and legal responsibilities regarding the provision of single-use plasticproducts only upon request , with some cities also introducing penalties. Inaddition, targeted enforcement campaigns, industry rating programs, and pilotdemonstration initiatives such as Zero-Waste Hotels have also been launched invarious regions. However, the implementation of the above policies and regulations remainsinsufficient. Although the institutional framework has largely taken shape, thetexts of different policies and regulations still contain a degree of ambiguityregarding the definition of relevant conduct, methods of enforcement, andboundaries of responsibility, which has also undermined effective implementation. Major Gaps in the Implementation ofthe Hotel Industry’s “Provide Only UponRequest” Policy ResearchFindings ProblemAnalysis Why Is the Policy to Reduce Single-Use In-Room Amenities Difficult to Im