At Accor, we are deeply committed to reducing food waste as part of our global sustainability efforts. The hotels across our global network have embraced this commitment, implementing innovative strategies such as creative menu coordination, habit changing and technology-driven measurement.

Tackling Food Waste Head On

Accor has been a pioneer in bringing sustainability to hospitality for more than 30 years, and as a leading player in the industry, the Group recognizes the pressing issue of food waste - which accounted for 53% of the total operational waste of the hotels across our network in 2023. Since 2015, we've been actively engaged in reducing food waste and have integrated this priority into our sustainability strategy. We understand that reducing food waste not only enhances our environmental performance but also strengthens our financial performance as well. In 2023, we deployed a robust methodology, in line with our objective to reduce food waste by 60% by 2030. To achieve this, we've developed guidelines, operational guides and e-learning modules to foster awareness and understanding of measurement methods throughout the teams around the world. We're now working on a third module focused specifically on reduction, ensuring our efforts continue to make a meaningful impact.

Discover how hotel teams drive significant change within both their properties and local communities, through 'Stories of Change' that shine a spotlight on the Heartists on the field.

Explore three hotels where impactful change is taking root

Pullman Jiaxing Pinghu Excellence: Measuring Food Waste in China

With three restaurants, a 1,500 m-2 Grand Ballroom and various meeting spaces, the Pullman Jiaxing Pinghu Excellence offers guests diverse food experiences. Managing food waste for more than 238,000 covers annually, however, presents significant challenges. The local team has identified key steps to take, including verifying headcounts before every event, providing to-go boxes so clients can enjoy their leftovers at home and implementing rigorous measurement plans. Initial data review has guided improvement efforts toward their 20% reduction goal by mid-2024. With full leadership engagement, including owner support and team training, they are well on their way towards Accor's 60% reduction commitment by 2030.

Novotel Abu Dhabi Gate: Changing Habits in the UAE

Over the past five years, the kitchen teams at Novotel Abu Dhabi Gate have been diligently monitoring food waste manually. In 2023, they transitioned to a tech-based measurement tool, Orbisk, for enhanced accuracy and monitoring. The hotel has intensified efforts to reduce waste and successful actions include monthly food waste update emails sent to all teams, portion control and removing unpopular items from menus and buffets, displaying daily food waste counts to raise guest awareness, training new Heartists on best practices and behaviors, and initiating 'No Bin Day' in the team cafeteria. So far, the hotel has reduced food waste by 44%, getting them a step closer to the Group's collective goal by 2030.

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel: Getting Creative in the Kitchen in Canada

The kitchens at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, which serve more than 880,000 covers a year, have infused creativity into their food waste reduction initiatives. For starters, chefs across the property's seven food and beverage outlets collaborate to synchronize menu items, utilizing the same produce across restaurants but preparing them differently, effectively minimizing waste. Besides adding a creative spin on menu rotation and specials to minimize waste, other initiatives include the use of a food processor, Solucycle, that transforms food waste into Biogas. Through collaborations with local organizations, the hotel sends leftover food to local populations in need, showcasing their commitment to sustainability and community engagement. With these initiatives in place, the hotel has lowered its food waste baseline to 122.5 g per cover ? compared to a 300g average across our hotels.

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry's most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor's unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality - one of the fastest growing categories in the industry - is led by Ennismore, a joint venture, which Accor holds a majority shareholding. Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and more than 260,000 team members worldwide. Members benefit from the company's comprehensive loyalty program - ALL - Accor Live Limitless - a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its Planet 21 - Acting Here, Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information visit group.accor.com, or follow Accor on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

(C) 2024 Electronic News Publishing, source ENP Newswire