A quick guide on implementing sustainable practices in hotels and restaurants and its impact on the environment and society.
Sustainability has become a major concern for businesses across all industries. In the hospitality industry, hotels and restaurants have started to implement climate-conscious practices in order to reduce their carbon footprint and become more environmentally friendly. Sustainable hospitality is not just a buzzword, but an essential strategy for hotels and restaurants to remain competitive and socially responsible.
The impact of hotels and restaurants on the environment
The impact of hospitality on the environment is significant. From energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation to food waste, hotels, and restaurants have a significant carbon footprint. The tourism industry is responsible for approximately 8% of global carbon emissions. Hotels account for 21% of the tourism industry’s carbon footprint. Restaurants, on the other hand, contribute to a significant portion of food waste, which is a major environmental concern.
Sustainable Practices in Hotels and Restaurants
In response to the growing concern over environmental sustainability, many hotels and restaurants have started to implement sustainable practices. These practices include everything from automated consumption of energy and water to the use of locally sourced and organic food.
Energy Consumption
One of the primary areas where hotels and restaurants can implement sustainable practices is energy consumption. Many hotels and restaurants have switched to energy-efficient lighting and appliances. It reduces energy consumption and saves money in the long run. Some hotels have even installed solar panels to generate their own electricity. In addition, hotels can encourage guests to conserve energy by using towels and linens for longer periods, and turning off lights, and air conditioning when leaving the room.
Water Usage
Another area where hotels and restaurants can make significant progress in sustainability is water usage. The tourism industry is a major consumer of water, which is a scarce resource in many parts of the world. Hotels and restaurants can implement water-saving measures such as low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets, as well as rainwater harvesting systems.
Be recognized as an eco-friendly Hotel
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), which oversees the worldwide guidelines for sustainable tourism, developed the GSTC Industry Criteria. They suggested Indicators for Hotels to unify the various eco-hotel certification programs, including Green Key and Green Star Hotel Certificate.
Shop Local
Restaurants can reduce their carbon footprint by sourcing ingredients locally and seasonally. This supports local farmers and reduces transportation emissions. It also ensures that the food is fresh and of high quality. Many restaurants are also adopting a ‘farm-to-table’ approach, where they source food directly from local farms.
Reduce food waste
Restaurants can reduce their contribution to this statistic by implementing waste reduction measures such as composting, recycling, and food donation programs. Some hotels have even started to offer guests a ‘doggy bag’ for leftover food, encouraging them to take their food with them instead of wasting it.
Plastic neutrality
Plastics are omnipresent in hotels. The use of plastic is pervasive and threatens the ability of all species to survive. Customers are increasingly looking for eco-friendly, plastic-neutral hotels and restaurants. To be plastic-neutral, a business must ensure that for every kilogram of plastic used, a measured equivalent amount of plastic waste is recovered and removed from the environment. In India, The Disposal Company is dedicated to assisting businesses in 4 easy steps to mitigate their use of plastic.
Share the news of your Sustainable Hotel
- Environmentally-conscious consumers are drawn to social media, where using hashtags such as #zerowaste and #sustainablebusiness can help circulate your hotel’s sustainability story within various social communities.
- To improve your Google search rankings, integrate your hotel’s sustainable business practices into your search engine optimization (SEO) marketing strategy.
- Collaborate with environmentally-focused business groups such as the Green Hotels Association, which offers certification programs and effective marketing and publicity resources to promote your sustainability efforts.
- Email marketing is a crucial tool for spreading the sustainability updates of your hotel.
Challenges
Sustainable hospitality practices are not just a responsibility of hotels and restaurants but also an expectation of customers. Many customers are now choosing hotels and restaurants based on their sustainability practices.
Cost of Implementing sustainable practices
Many sustainable practices require an initial investment, which may be difficult for some businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. However, sustainable practices can also result in cost savings in the long run, such as energy-efficient lighting and appliances, water-saving measures, and waste reduction programs.
Lack of Awareness and Knowledge
Many businesses may not be aware of the sustainability practices they can implement or the benefits of implementing them. Therefore, education and training are crucial in promoting sustainable practices in the hospitality industry.
The Bottom Line
Hospitality corporations must prioritize the adoption of eco-friendly practices in their operations. As per Sustainable Travel Report 2022, 81% of worldwide travelers consider sustainable travel crucial, with half of them acknowledging climate change as a significant factor influencing their environmentally conscious choices. The impact of the hospitality industry on the environment is significant, and implementing sustainable practices can reduce the carbon footprint and create a positive impact on the local community. Many hotels and restaurants are now focused on creating sustainable jobs and supporting the local economy. For example, hotels can partner with local suppliers to source goods and services, while restaurants can hire local staff and train them in sustainable hospitality practices.
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