Sunday, August 25, 2024 Hilton hotels in Asia Pacific are leading the way in sustainability by repurposing food waste, supporting communities, and reducing carbon footprints. In the hospitality sector, addressing food waste is more than a passing trend—it’s an essential move towards fostering mindful consumption and creating a sustainable future. Hilton is taking proactive measures, aiming to reduce its landfill waste by 50% by the year 2030, aligning closely with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which include a target to cut global food waste per capita by half by 2030.
This ambitious initiative is part of Hilton’s broader Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals, encompassing emissions-reduction targets endorsed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and consistent with the Paris Climate Agreement. Hilton is focusing on reducing food waste across its properties through strategic partnerships and the use of cutting-edge technology, reaffirming its dedication to a sustainable future for the hospitality industry. With support from its global team, including 62,000 employees in the Asia Pacific region, Hilton’s strategy encourages responsible travel and operational practices, addressing food waste while contributing positively to the communities it serves.
Explore how Hilton properties are improving their stewardship of food resources across the region: Hilton Tokyo Bay: Reducing Food Waste with AI Technology Hilton has teamed up with Winnow, an AI-driven food waste management solution, to incorporate AI technology in its Asia Pacific properties. Winnow’s system tracks daily food waste, providing kitchen teams with insights to manage surplus food better. It also identifies potential savings in food trimmings and motivates staff to creatively repurpose ingredients, like turning leftover croissants into bread pudding.
This enables chefs to pinpoint the sources of food waste, reduce costs, and enhance their culinary practices and purchasing choices. Hilton Tokyo Bay was the first hotel in Japan to implement the Winnow Vision system, using data analytics to minimize food waste starting in January 2020. Within just four weeks, the hotel reduced food waste by 30%, saving over 17,016 meals and approximately ¥3.
3 million (around US$31,000) annually. Following Hilton Tokyo Bay’s success with Winnow, the technology has been rolled out to 15 additional hotels in Japan. Across the globe, 170 Hilton hotels in 29 countries have adopted the Winnow food waste measurement system.
This includes properties such as Conrad Bali, Hilton Clark Sun Valley, Millennium Hilton Bangkok, DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City, and Hilton Kuala Lumpur, with plans to introduce the system to 20 more Hilton hotels in Southeast Asia within the year. Hilton has been collaborating with Winnow since 2017, starting with Hilton Dubai Jumeirah. The synergy of cutting-edge AI technology and Hilton’s proactive culinary teams has already diverted over 1 million meals from landfill, saved more than US$2 million annually, and reduced their carbon footprint by 2,050 tons of CO2e by the end of 2023.
Conrad Centennial Singapore and Hilton Singapore Orchard: Turning Imperfections into Opportunities While advanced technology often revolutionizes how we tackle existing challenges, simple, thoughtful actions can also make a significant impact. At Conrad Centennial Singapore and Hilton Singapore Orchard, small but meaningful steps are being taken to combat food waste. Conrad Centennial Singapore, for example, is reducing food waste by incorporating “ugly vegetables”—produce that might typically be discarded due to cosmetic imperfections—into their culinary offerings.
They are also tackling broader sustainability issues by introducing plant-based eggs and meats on their menu, promoting a more eco-friendly dining experience. And there’s more good news for diners! They can savor fresh vegetables sourced from local suppliers and urban farms, contributing to the support of local businesses while also cutting down on carbon emissions. Conrad Centennial Singapore, for instance, partners with a local vertical farm to source a substantial portion of its vegetables, reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint through local procurement.
At Hilton Singapore Orchard, the Osteria Mozza restaurant features an on-site herb garden. This Californian-Italian eatery embraces a garden-to-table approach, cultivating herbs like rosemary, basil, and mint for use in dishes and cocktails as fresh garnishes. Additionally, Hilton Singapore Orchard utilizes an Eco-Wiz ecoDigester to accelerate the decomposition of food waste, allowing it to be responsibly processed and disposed of into the sewage system.
Conrad Singapore Orchard: Advocating for a Circular Economy Conrad Singapore Orchard exemplifies its commitment to a circular economy through innovative waste management practices. The hotel uses food digesters to convert organic waste into valuable resources, significantly reducing its reliance on landfills and incinerators and thereby minimizing its environmental impact. Moreover, the hotel actively tackles food waste by donating surplus pastries to the charity Food from the Heart every day.
These efforts highlight Conrad Singapore Orchard’s dedication to supporting both the community and the environment. Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai: Repurposing Food Surplus for Sustainability Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai is making substantial strides in sustainable practices by enhancing circular food production and managing food waste effectively. The hotel employs advanced kitchen waste treatment equipment to convert kitchen waste into carbon dioxide, water, and organic fertilizers.
This initiative not only keeps food waste in check but also repurposes it into useful resources, contributing to a more sustainable hospitality model. What’s even more innovative is how Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai repurposes these byproducts—the organic fertilizers produced are utilized not only in the hotel’s own ecological garden but also in nearby communities. Since this smart equipment was installed in 2021, the hotel has recycled 290 tons of kitchen waste and generated approximately 25 tons of organic fertilizer.
DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok: Saving Meals and Providing Hope with Scholars of Sustenance Reducing food waste requires collaboration, and Hilton is partnering with food banks, charities, and waste management companies across Asia to ensure excess food reaches those in need. A key partner is Scholars of Sustenance (SOS), a recent grantee of the Hilton Global Foundation (HGF), which collaborates with Hilton properties in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia to donate cooked meals to food banks and soup kitchens. In Thailand, Hilton’s partnership with SOS Thailand has been active since April 2020.
Chefs from DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok prepared 210 meals from surplus ingredients, which were then delivered to the Baan Mankong Kalayanamit community in Bang Sue, a low-income neighborhood where residents have been severely affected by job losses and food insecurity. Hilton properties in the Philippines and Indonesia also contribute by donating excess food to local food banks and soup kitchens, helping underprivileged community members. In 2023, over 31,000 kilograms of food were donated, resulting in more than 131,000 meals and diverting nearly 60,000 kilograms of CO2.
Globally, Hilton has diverted more than 308,000 pounds of waste from landfills, significantly reducing its environmental impact. Embracing Technology, Building Partnerships, and Advancing a Circular Economy for a Sustainable Future Hilton’s LightStay management platform exemplifies its commitment to sustainability. This platform is employed across all Hilton properties to collect precise data on food waste, identify inefficiencies, and implement targeted measures to reduce waste.
As awareness of sustainability grows and regulations become stricter, the hospitality industry in Asia is well-positioned to lead in sustainable practices, particularly in minimizing food waste. By leveraging technology, fostering strategic partnerships, and openly reporting sustainability efforts, hotels can reduce their environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiency..
