The 5 travel companies who are making steps to sustainability
Here's how the CDP approved travel companies are making a difference.
CDP Global is a non-profit charity that helps companies analyse and manage their environmental footprint. Each year it produces a list of companies that received an A grade for their efforts on minimising their impact on the planet. Here are the five travel brands that made the cut.
Hilton Worldwide, Inc.
With hotels and stays across the world, Hilton Worldwide has decided to take a step in the right direction.
Hilton has pledged it will "cut its environmental footprint in half and double its social impact investment by 2030".
By 2030 it aims to reduce water consumption and produced waste by 50%, remove plastic straws from managed properties, incorporate sustainable meat and produce, expand on the existing recycling program and reduce carbon emissions by 61%.
It is also moving to more socially sustainable practices by doubling the amount spent with local and minority-owned suppliers and in programs for women and youth, contribute 10 million volunteer hours through team member initiatives and advance Human Rights capabilities.
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
Host Hotels is one of America's biggest real estate investment trusts and is making sure it's doing its part for the future of the planet.
In the last few years it's already managed to reduce GHG emissions by 35%, reduced energy use by 15% (this is about the same amount as combined use of energy from 30,000 homes), achieved a 22% reduction in water consumption (for perspective, that's 1,000 Olympic swimming pools) and reduced the amount of waste going to landfill from renovation projects by a massive 75%.
Alongside this it has volunteered more than 600 hours of community service, supported over 160 employee-selected community investments and made monthly contributions to the employee's charity of choice.
TUI Group
TUI Group's CDP climate change ranking goes hand in hand with the FTSE4Good Index, Ethibel Sustainability Index and the RobescoSam Sustainability Yearbook. These are all analysis awards given to companies that are transparent in their operations and meet environmental, corporate and social standards.
By 2020 it has pledged to operate Europe's most carbon efficient airlines and reduce its carbon footprint by 10%, deliver 10 million more sustainable holidays for tourism, invest €10 million every year to support great causes and heighten the positive impacts of tourism.
TUI Group will also aim to improve its social responsibility by achieving a colleague engagement score of over 80. This will put it in line with the top 25 global companies.
Las Vegas Sands Corporation
The Las Vegas Sands Corp. has four aims when it comes to creating a more sustainable future including greener buildings, environmentally responsible operations, green meetings and events and stakeholder engagement.
So what does this all mean? Well, it will design and create buildings that save and reduce the consumption of energy and find more renewable resources, tackle construction, food and meeting/event waste. It also aims to implement better fuel economy for its ferries, introduce more efficient kitchens and sustainable produce into the restaurants.
It also has its eyes on upgrading water efficiency and recycling by replacing existing systems, encouraging more effective water use, sourcing non-potable and rain water for non-drinking water facilities such as bathrooms and landscaping. Finally, The Las Vegas Sands Corp is planning to eliminate the use of plastic within its company operations and incorporate eco-friendly options.
Caesars Entertainment
So far Caesars Entertainment has managed to invest US$69.2 million into the community, given 1.5 million volunteer hours, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 23.7% since 2011 and 10% of water consumption since 2008 as well as diverted 49% off landfill waste in 2018.
It doesn't stop there with the replacement of 62,500 regular globes to LED lighting and saving 1 million gallons (that's over 3,500,000 million litres) by landscaping.
Caesars Entertainment continues its commitment to society and the environment.
To learn more or see what other brands are taking steps to a more sustainable future, see the full CDP company score report here.
