Hoteliers: phase out miniatures before 2030 without spoiling the experience
By Jeremy Fain, founder of Restelys. Updated 17 October 2026. 2 sources cited.
The ban takes effect on 1 January 2030. Establishments that move early choose their system; the others will have it forced on them.
The EU packaging regulation bans, from 2030, single-use packaging in hospitality for toiletries intended for a single stay. Miniature shower gels and shampoos will disappear from every room in the Union.
Three routes exist: dispensers refilled on site, which take time and rigorous traceability; closed cartridges tied to one supplier; or large sealed bottles replaced once empty. The regulation also requires all packaging to be recyclable by 2030: the choice of bottle matters as much as the system.
Our advice: test now in a few rooms, watch guest feedback and the time your team spends, then roll out. Our trial box is made for exactly that.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, Annex V.
- European Commission, questions and answers on the proposed packaging regulation, November 2022.
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