Hospitality’s Role in Supporting the UK’s Climate Policy: How ESG Can Drive Sustainability and Growth

Climate change—it’s not a buzzword, a passing trend, unfortunately it’s here for the long-term along with the UK’s commitment to hitting net-zero emissions by 2050, which isn’t just some lofty ideal; it’s a rallying cry for every sector, from energy to agriculture—and yes, hospitality too.?

Climate change—it’s not a buzzword, a passing trend, unfortunately it’s here for the long-term along with the UK’s commitment to hitting net-zero emissions by 2050, which isn’t just some lofty ideal; it’s a rallying cry for every sector, from energy to agriculture—and yes, hospitality too.?

Now, we know what you’re thinking: "I can’t reduce my carbon footprint when I’m running a restaurant, hotel, or event space and struggling to keep the doors open?"

But the reality is your guests are prepared to pay more for sustainable venues, your guests expect you to be more sustainable and your staff want to work in sustainable business. It’s the win-win-win mindset we need to adopt, growing the bottom line.

Small to medium-sized hospitality brands are in a prime position to make a quick, impactful shift. Sustainability is no longer just a "nice-to-have"—it's a massive business opportunity. Solutions like those offered by SkootEco can help streamline these efforts to Identify, Avoid and Counter your emissions. So let’s get into how your hospitality business can drive growth while making the planet a little greener.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: "I can’t reduce my carbon footprint when I’m running a restaurant, hotel, or event space and struggling to keep the doors open?"

But the reality is your guests are prepared to pay more for sustainable venues, your guests expect you to be more sustainable and your staff want to work in sustainable business. It’s the win-win-win mindset we need to adopt, growing the bottom line.

Small to medium-sized hospitality brands are in a prime position to make a quick, impactful shift. Sustainability is no longer just a "nice-to-have"—it's a massive business opportunity. Solutions like those offered by SkootEco can help streamline these efforts to Identify, Avoid and Counter your emissions. So let’s get into how your hospitality business can drive growth while making the planet a little greener.

Aligning with National Climate Goals (Yes, You Can Be a Hero)

The UK government’s been pretty clear about its priorities when it comes to climate. They’ve got five big ones, thanks to our friends at DEFRA:

1. clean air
2. plentiful water
3. thriving wildlife
4. reducing waste
5. (and—you guessed it) cutting emissions to slow down climate change.

"But what does that mean for my café or boutique hotel?" Hospitality businesses can be leaders in this space. Not only do you have the power to slash your own energy use and cut down on waste, but you also get to be that eco-friendly spot people want to visit, especially when you realise a lot of what you’re already doing as part of your CSR or ESG initiatives can be aligned with your carbon reduction plans.

The power of small changes:

You don’t need to go full Greta Thunberg overnight (unless you want to, of course), it’s about not looking at it as OR, it’s an ‘and’ mindset.?

Start small. Got an old gas-guzzling oven? Swap it out for an energy-efficient model. Is your restaurant’s food bins overflowing with food waste every week? Partner with a local food bank or set up a composting system. It’s the little things that add up—and trust us, your customers will notice.

Did you know that food waste accounts for between 6-10% of all emissions and aviation is only 3%

Sustainability as a Growth Strategy (Yes, It’s Also Good for Business)

Let’s get real for a second: Sustainability sells. Today’s consumers are savvier than ever. They’re reading labels, asking questions, and Googling whether your seafood is sustainably sourced before they make a booking at your seaside bistro.

In fact, 73% of global consumers say they would definitely change their habits to reduce their environmental impact.

What does this mean for you?

It means that sustainability is your secret weapon to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. If you’re not thinking green, someone else is, and they’re stealing your eco-conscious customers.

How to be the eco-friendly spot everyone loves:

Your sustainability story is a marketing goldmine, and needs to woven into your business. From proudly displaying your zero-waste kitchen to shouting about your solar-powered lights on social media, make it part of your brand’s DNA. Emerging hospitality brands have a unique advantage here. You can build sustainability right into the foundation of your business without all the red tape that bigger brands struggle with and your staff want to help you tell you a story.

Think how inspired you are when you’re in a venue that tells its story about its bamboo toiletries, or the restaurant that serves locally-sourced, organic dishes and shows you a map, or a hotel group like De-Vere that plants a tree if you opt out from having your room cleaned through sustainability organisations such as SkootEco. These aren’t just trends—they’re game-changers that can turn every venue into the go-to destination for more conscientious consumers.

Think about integrating your message into what you already do. “We choose these lovely plants over cut-flowers because that saves over 20kg of carbon emissions per bunch of flowers”.

Practical Tools to Track and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint (Because Numbers Matter)

Let’s talk about tracking your progress. You can’t manage what you can’t measure, right? Thankfully, you don’t need to be a data scientist to get this right (although if you are, we’re totally impressed). There are loads of easy-to-use tools that can help you track your energy use, water consumption, and carbon footprint. At SkootEco we help build unique carbon footprint calculators for businesses, whether it’s for events, hotels, restaurants, or about food menus. If you want to understand your footprint, it’s now relatively easy to do it.

The average hotel room is 11.5kg per night, a 3 course meal is 8kg, a 25 mile journey 6kg.?

But the reality is you need to make it relatable. What does that mean?

We know a thing or two about carbon tracking, and countering (hint: it’s what we do at SkootEco), but more importantly we know how to showcase the good you're doing, which is the critical piece.?

Actionable Insights: Steps for Aligning with National Policies and Growing Your Business

At times it can feel overwhelming with so many facts and figures but the truth is, aligning your hospitality business with the UK’s climate goals doesn’t have to be daunting. In fact, here are some actionable steps you can take right now to get started:

1. Assess your impact (know where you stand)

You can’t make changes if you don’t know where the problems lie. How much energy do you use? How much waste do you generate? Where are you sourcing your products from? Once you know what your biggest environmental challenges are, you can start making targeted improvements.

2. Set bold goals (and shout about them)

Don’t just say you’re going green—put some numbers behind it. Set clear, measurable goals like reducing your energy usage by 20% over the next year or switching to 100% renewable energy. Share these goals with your customers and let them know how they can be part of the change.

3. Create eco champions, engage your team (because it’s not a solo mission)

Your staff are your biggest allies when it comes to implementing sustainable practices. Talk to them on how they think they can help with energy-saving techniques, recycling best practices, and how to communicate your green initiatives to customers. When your staff are on board, your message will resonate louder and clearer.

4. Take your guests on the journey (be a part of something bigger)

It’s not just you who are responsible for your carbon reduction. Involve your guests (and suppliers) in what you’re trying to achieve. That may mean enlisting the support of local businesses, or adding a visible eco-contribution to your bills, with total transparency for your guests to see where the money goes and the good it does, from supporting local initiatives to helping fund high quality carbon projects, or ocean plastic removal. We passionately care (as your guests do) about the issue, particularly when you can visualise and humanise the issue.?

In Conclusion: Let’s Build a Better Future (And Grow While We’re At It)

The world is waking up to the reality of climate change, and the hospitality industry is no exception. As the saying goes, “if not you, who”. By integrating your sustainability journey into your customer journey and marketing materials, you help solve both operational and marketing challenges, especially when you are authentic with your story.?

Emerging brands have the unique chance to take the lead here. By aligning with the UK’s climate goals, embedding sustainability into your business model, and taking actionable steps to reduce your environmental impact, you’re not just contributing to a greener planet—you’re building a brand that people love and trust.

So, whether you’re running a cosy café in the countryside or a hotel in the heart of the city, there’s never been a better time to go green. Sustainability isn’t just a responsibility; it’s a strategy that will fuel your growth for years to come.

At SkootEco, we’re all about making the world a better place—one eco-friendly meal, event or stay at a time.