Edition #2: The Growth of Sustainable Tourism, Tackling Food Waste with AI, & Biodiversity Frameworks

Welcome to our April edition covering the latest in sustainability. This month, we explore how AI is being leveraged to tackle food waste through data analysis. We also highlight Sudima Hotels’ pioneering ESG strategies inspired by Māori values, and examine a report on how hospitality can further sustainability. With biodiversity declines continuing unabated, transformative change is needed to extend our hospitality to nature. At GREEN Hospitality, we believe our collective sustainability endeavours must reach beyond reputational benefits to foster the flourishing of all. Through spotlighting insights and innovations, we aim to galvanise momentum towards the systemic changes our world needs. Let's dive in!

Tune In: Sudima Hotels' Pioneering Approach to ESG

Join us for our latest insightful session on the GREEN Pursuits podcast as we explore pioneering ESG strategies with Kanika Jhunjhnuwala, Executive Director of Sustainability & Environment at Sudima Hotels .

At the forefront of sustainable hospitality, Sudima Hotels has implemented innovative technologies and waste reduction practices to minimise their ecological footprint. In this episode, we dive into their passion for incorporating Māori-inspired values into their ESG framework.

Discover Sudima's transformative approaches to regenerative hospitality that skillfully balance financial goals with community and environmental objectives. Gain valuable insights into how they integrate sustainability across operations through renewable energy, local sourcing, and beyond.

Let this forward-thinking discussion inspire your own ESG journey. Tune in now to unlock new perspectives on fostering sustainable solutions for a brighter collective future. Subscribe to GREEN Pursuits for this insightful session.

Apple Podcast | Spotify Podcast ?

Assessing Sustainability in Hospitality

A new Deloitte report offers insights into sustainability risks and opportunities in the hospitality industry. It notes that while many see sustainability as reputation-building, few view climate change itself as an imminent threat. At the same time, consumers are increasingly concerned about the environment.?

Deloitte outlines three key areas for implementation: operational updates like energy audits, guest engagement via interactive sustainability experiences, and training staff to serve as eco-ambassadors. The report also highlights innovative approaches at hotels, from on-site renewable energy to eliminating single-use plastics. As emphasised by experts in the report, a good practice is to tailor strategies based on factors like hotel size and location.??

While sustainability brings business benefits, we mustn’t forget that reducing the hospitality industry’s harmful impact is an essential first step to building operational sustainability and resilient communities, and the report shows we all have a role to play in this shared responsibility.

Click here to read the report.

Biodiversity: Hospitality's Elephant in the Room?

A recent Hospitality Net article highlighted an urgent yet overlooked issue – biodiversity loss. With wildlife populations declining rapidly worldwide on average dropping by 69% since 1970 , hospitality's heavy reliance on nature makes it critical to address this "elephant in the room".

Frameworks like the Global Biodiversity Framework are spurring action, as the Paris Agreement did for climate. Hotels can start by measuring their biodiversity footprint, taking small steps like altering landscaping, and collaborating with conservation groups. But supply chains likely have the biggest impact, so working with suppliers on biodiversity-friendly practices is key.??

As regulators increasingly focus on biodiversity, forward-thinking hotels can gain a competitive edge by integrating biodiversity in their sustainability strategies. But more importantly, by extending our hospitality to nature itself, we can create a more biodiverse, thriving world. The time for incremental change has passed – our planet needs the hospitality industry to lead a transformation.

Click here to read the article.

Sustainable Tourism Poised for Explosive Growth

A new report predicts massive expansion ahead for sustainable tourism globally. The market is forecast to skyrocket from USD 383 billion in 2021 to a whopping USD 11.4 trillion by 2032.

Driving this exponential growth is escalating consumer demand for eco-friendly travel options like nature tours, volunteer programmes, and green accommodations. This is especially evident amongst the younger generations, who seek unique experiences and favour sustainable tourism aligned with ethical values.

The analysis spotlights Asia-Pacific as the fastest growing regional market, while North America and Europe currently lead in total market share. To tap into this boom, tourism operators and hospitality businesses should highlight sustainability credentials to attract the eco-conscious clientele. As travel rebounds post-pandemic, sustainable tourism’s meteoric rise presents a golden opportunity for the industry’s green transition.?

Request a free sample of the report here .?

AI Tackles Food Waste

Artificial intelligence is being deployed in creative ways to address the pressing issue of food waste. As reported in The New York Times , Hilton Hotels installed cameras in trash bins to analyse the types and amount of food waste and identified oversized pastries as a top wasted item. Likewise, a supermarket in the US leveraged AI to scrutinise sales data and discovered that yellow onions spoil faster than red.

Armed with these insights, businesses can modify practices to curb waste. The AI approach also holds promise for restaurants, grocery stores, and beyond. With food waste responsible for 8-10% of greenhouse gas emissions globally , AI's pattern-finding capabilities could help implement targeted solutions, although privacy concerns exist around AI surveillance and AI has its own carbon footprint from high electricity usage. Overall, AI represents a promising advance, but its applications must be well thought through in order for it to augment broader efforts across sectors to halve food waste by 2030.?

Fighting Food Waste, One Bite at a Time

Food waste is a massive problem – nearly one-third of all food produced globally goes uneaten according to the UN's Food Waste Index Report 2024 . Here in Hong Kong, the average restaurant discards 778 tonnes of food per day , but a new initiative called “Food Waste to Good Taste” is working to change that.

Funded by The University of Hong Kong’s Knowledge Exchange and supported by GREEN Hospitality, CHOMP, and The Sustainable Restaurant Association, the Food Waste to Good Taste project trains F&B practioners to audit their restaurants' food waste to quantify the issue, and provides tailored solutions to help them prepare for the upcoming Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme as well as design more effective sustainability initiatives in the long term. GREEN Hospitality is also hosting a series of free workshops from April to May to educate restaurant owners and staff on how to reduce and repurpose food scraps.

Interested F&B practitioners can register for the complimentary workshops here . Tackling food waste can effectively enhance sustainability initiatives and reduce operational costs. Now is the time to be part of the solution, let's work together to turn Hong Kong's food waste into good taste! Visit our blog post for more.

Climate Justice Upheld

In a landmark decision, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Switzerland violated citizens' rights through inadequate climate action. The case, brought by over 2000 elderly Swiss women, argued weak emissions cuts increased their heatwave health risks, infringing their right to life.

The court's ruling sets a precedent - governments now have a legal duty to rapidly reduce emissions and safeguard people from climate impacts. Climate inaction can be tried as a human rights violation. While the court rejected two similar cases, this verdict can pave the way for new suits citing unmet obligations to protect health and family. It also pressures Switzerland to boost its climate policies and emissions goals.

This victory for climate justice reinforces that states must treat climate change as a threat to fundamental rights. As public activism surges, courts offer recourse when governments fail to address this crisis. The tide is turning - the law now upholds climate action as a human rights imperative.

Click here for the full news.