In today’s world, responsible resource management is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Accor, a global leader in the hospitality industry, recognizes this and is at the forefront of implementing comprehensive water stewardship initiatives. Their commitment extends beyond simply reducing their environmental footprint; they actively work to foster a culture of water conservation throughout the industry.
A Multi-Pronged Approach: Addressing Water Quantity and Quality
Accor’s water stewardship strategy focuses on three key areas:
Water Quantity Reduction: Accor prioritizes minimizing water consumption through a combination of efficiency and sufficiency measures. Their “Water Plan” helps optimize water usage across all operations and encourages the exploration of sustainable solutions.
Case Study: Mövenpick Petra’s Water Reduction Success: A prime example of Accor’s Water Plan in action is the Mövenpick Petra Hotel in Jordan. By converting 90% of their rooms from bathtubs to walk-in showers, they achieved a 15% reduction in room water consumption by 2025. This translates to a significant water savings of 18,000 cubic meters (m3) annually.
Water Quality Improvement: Accor recognizes the importance of water quality and actively seeks to minimize pollution. They achieve this by:
Eliminating Chemical-Based Products: Accor prioritizes eco-friendly cleaning solutions and practices that minimize environmental impact.
Combating Microplastic Pollution: Accor actively seeks solutions to combat the growing issue of microplastic pollution in waterways.
Responsible Food & Beverage Practices: Minimizing Water Footprint
The food and beverage industry has a significant water footprint. Accor acknowledges this and implements several strategies within its food and beverage operations to reduce water consumption:
Food Waste Reduction: Understanding that food waste is a major contributor to water usage, Accor prioritizes minimizing food waste across its properties. They achieve this through various initiatives, including:
Implementing strategies to optimize food purchasing and preparation.
Composting food scraps whenever possible.
Raising awareness and encouraging guests to adopt mindful practices regarding food consumption.
Sustainable Sourcing: Accor works with suppliers who prioritize sustainable water practices in their operations.
Alternative Dining Options: Accor offers guests alternative dining experiences that require less water usage compared to traditional methods. This may include promoting in-room dining options or encouraging guests to explore local restaurants that utilize sustainable practices.
Eliminating Single-Use Plastics: Accor has partnered with BE WTR, a sustainable water brand, to eliminate single-use plastic water bottles from their properties by 2025. This initiative will offer guests refillable glass bottles, reducing plastic waste and water consumption associated with plastic bottle production.
Empowering Guests: Building a Collaborative Approach
Accor recognizes that a successful water stewardship strategy requires more than just internal efforts. They actively engage guests in their water conservation efforts through initiatives like:
Skip the Clean Project: This program encourages guests to forgo daily room cleaning, opting instead for service every few days. Incentive points are offered to guests who participate, promoting water and energy conservation. Studies indicate that by simply skipping one day of cleaning per stay, significant water savings can be achieved.
Beyond Operations: Industry Collaboration for Collective Impact
Accor’s commitment to water stewardship extends beyond its hotels. They actively participate in international coalitions that foster collaboration and the development of shared solutions for environmental challenges. Some noteworthy highlights include:
Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA) Membership: As a member of the SHA, Accor works alongside other industry leaders to promote sustainable practices across the hospitality sector.
Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP): Accor is a founding member of HARP, an initiative that promotes responsible sourcing practices within the hospitality industry, including water-conscious solutions.
CEO Water Mandate: Recently, Accor announced their commitment to the CEO Water Mandate, a United Nations initiative that unites over 250 companies dedicated to responsible water stewardship practices. This signifies Accor’s commitment to ongoing progress in six core areas:
- Direct Operations: Minimizing water usage within their hotels.
- Supply Chain & Watershed: Collaborating with suppliers and local communities to address water challenges.
- Collective Action: Working with other organizations to drive industry-wide change.
- Public Policy: Advocating for water-conscious policies.
- Community Engagement: Educating and collaborating with communities on water conservation.
