Hilton cuts use of plastic in Asia-Pacific
Hospitality service provider Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc has announced it will eliminate plastic straws across its managed hotels in the Asia-Pacific region including the Chinese market by the end of 2018, and transition away from plastic bottles in its conference and event spaces.
Qian Jin, president of Hilton China and Mongolia, said: “China has prioritized ecology maintenance in recent years and proposed the concept that green hills and clear waters are gold and silver.
“As one of the global leading hospitality companies in the industry, Hilton will take an active role in its development endeavor and spare no effort to contribute toward the long-term sustainable development of China.”
The move follows the company’s global commitment to cut its environmental footprint in half and double its social impact investment by 2030.
The company will also double the amount it spends with local and minority-owned suppliers, and double its investment in programs to help women and young people around the world.
These goals are part of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy to further the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
“As a global hospitality company operating more than 5,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories, we are committed to have a positive impact on the communities we operate our hotels in,” said Alan Watts, executive president, Asia-Pacific, Hilton.
“We believe waste is a solvable problem,” Watts said.
“By focusing first on plastic straws and plastic water bottles, we take another step forward in our journey to ensure that the destinations where travelers work, relax, learn and explore are vibrant and resilient for future generations to come.”
For example, the company’s hotels have begun to intensify efforts to reduce single-use plastics in its operations. Across China, its managed hotels removed plastic water bottles from meetings and events, health clubs and spas in September 2017.
Its managed hotels in China collaborate with soap recycling partners including Soap Cycling, Soap Aid, Diversey, Sundara and Clean the World to recover, recycle and distribute soap to communities in need.
Hilton has been an envi- ronmental leader in the industry. Since 2008, the company has reduced carbon emissions and waste by 30 percent, and energy and water consumption by 20 percent, saving more than $1 billion in operating efficiencies.
“The World Tourism Organization commends Hilton’s focus on sustainability, which is in line with our overall commitment as the UN’s agency that is dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism for development worldwide,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization.
The company’s corporate responsibility practices in China also include its efforts in supporting women. Hilton encouraged one of its suppliers to become certified by WEConnect, and further supported this women-owned business with a contract to provide uniforms for its Hilton Garden Inn properties in China.