European Law Bans Hotel Shampoos: What You Need to Know Now!

Let’s face it: we’ve all done it. Sneaking that small bottle of shampoo or shower gel from the hotel bathroom into our toiletry bag right before checking out.

This nearly instinctive act is well-known among travelers, especially those who fly and prefer to rely on hotel-provided products rather than bother with buying or refilling regulation-sized mini-bottles. However, these beloved amenities might soon vanish from European bathrooms. The European Union is set to ban them.

Under the regulations on packaging and packaging waste (known as PPWR), adopted by the European Parliament and Council in 2024, Brussels aims to drastically reduce the use of disposable containers across various sectors, including hospitality. Specifically targeted are the famous individual bottles. Shampoos, shower gels, conditioners, or lotions offered in rooms, usually in sizes less than 100 ml or 100 grams, will need to be eliminated if they are single-use. According to the timeline provided by the regulation, this ban should come into effect by 2030.

The rationale behind this shift is straightforward: these small plastic packages produce massive amounts of waste. To illustrate, the Marriott group alone estimated that it could eliminate nearly 500 million miniature bottles annually by switching to refillable dispensers. Across the entire European hospitality industry, billions of plastic containers end up in the trash each year. Often, they are discarded during daily cleaning services even when they are half-full. Brussels intends to put an end to this ecological absurdity once and for all.

To comply with the new regulations, hotels will need to rethink their bathroom setups. The most apparent solution, already implemented by several major chains, is to install refillable dispensers mounted in the shower or near the sink. These systems allow for the provision of shampoo and shower gel in large quantities while significantly reducing packaging waste. For travelers, the transition will be gradual but noticeable. Amenities will still be available, but no longer in the small bottles we loved to take home.

On a brighter note: travel-sized products sold in stores are not affected by this measure. Everyone can still pack their favorite shampoo in their carry-on bag. It remains to be seen whether large wall-mounted dispensers will ever hold the same appeal as a little bottle tucked away as a keepsake in one’s luggage.