The hospitality industry is a vibrant and dynamic sector, but it also faces significant environmental challenges, from food and glass waste to single-use plastics. However, adopting sustainable practices and innovations not only benefits the planet but also enhances a business’s reputation and attracts eco-conscious customers.
In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of sustainable hospitality, exploring practical strategies and innovative solutions that can empower businesses to reduce their environmental impact while simultaneously boosting their brand image and attracting a discerning clientele. Embarking on this journey towards sustainability is not merely an environmental imperative; it is a strategic decision that can propel businesses towards a prosperous and sustainable future.
Table of Contents
Reduce your food waste
The hospitality industry faces a significant challenge in the form of food waste, with one-third of all food globally going uneaten, contributing to around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To effectively tackle this issue, businesses must prioritise waste reduction, the first step in the waste hierarchy – you can’t waste what you don’t have!
Embrace Technology for Food Waste Insights
Embrace innovative technology like Orbisk to uncover your food waste patterns and unlock substantial savings of up to £47,000 annually. Powered by AI and image recognition, Orbisk seamlessly identifies and quantifies discarded food items, delivering actionable insights into the types, quantities, and timing of your food waste, conveniently presented on an intuitive dashboard. This comprehensive understanding empowers you to optimise food preparation and purchasing, minimising food waste and maximising operational efficiency.
Donate!
If you have surplus food, consider employing the second stage of the waste hierarchy, reuse. If the uneaten food exceeds your establishment’s capacity for repurposing, donating it to charities like City Harvest, which redistribute food that would otherwise go to waste, is a viable option. This simple yet impactful act can alleviate hunger for those in need, reduce food waste, and foster stronger communities.
Minimising transport
The hospitality industry transports a lot of food in and transports a lot of waste out. Vehicle emissions is a hidden factor that plays a substantial role in the industry’s carbon foot footprint. In 2020, transport accounted for 99 MtCO2e of greenhouse gas emissions, representing 27% of the UK’s total emissions.
Source locally
Local sourcing not only significantly reduces the transportation distance of food, minimising fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with long-distance transportation, but it also strengthens local economies by purchasing food from local producers, businesses contribute directly to the economic vitality of their communities, supporting local jobs and businesses.
Digest your food down the drain
Say goodbye to waste collections not with a majestic whale but with the Orca digester. This ingenious innovation harnesses the power of microorganisms, much like your stomach, to transform your food waste into drain-friendly liquid through aerobic digestion. Within a sealed container, this innovative method breaks down food waste, leaving behind a harmless liquid that can be safely discharged into your waste pipe.
Optimise glass waste
Managing glass bottles poses a unique set of challenges for restaurants and pubs due to their bulky shape. Their inefficient storage often requires additional containers or piles, leading to wasted space and unnecessary handling. Disposing of glass bottles in general waste sends them to landfills, where valuable space is occupied and resources are wasted. Unlike some other materials, glass can be recycled endlessly without compromising its quality, making it a sustainable choice. Ensure that you recycle your glass bottles to contribute to a more sustainable future.
The Compact Solution for Streamlined Glass Waste Management
Glassloop revolutionises glass waste management with its sleek, modern design, eliminating the burden of inefficient storage and pest infestations. Its powerful crushing mechanism swiftly transforms up to 60 glass bottles into cullet in a mere 10 seconds, reducing their volume by an astonishing 80%. This significant reduction requires five times fewer bins and slashes waste collection costs by 80%, offering substantial savings to businesses. Its compact size seamlessly integrates into any facility, making it an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes.
A Collective Commitment to Sustainability
Sustainability is not just an environmental imperative; it is a strategic decision that can enhance a business’s reputation, attract eco-conscious customers, and drive long-term success. By embracing innovation and adopting sustainable practices, businesses can secure their place in a future where environmental responsibility and economic growth go hand in hand.
