Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: Where Do You Start?

Sustainability is an issue that concerns us all – including the hospitality industry. The current energy crisis and the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events in particular have made sustainability and climate protection topics everyone is talking about. 

This applies both to guests’ expectations and to hospitality professionals, who can contribute to sustainability in many ways.

But what does sustainability look like in the hospitality industry? And how can you make your own business sustainable while still covering costs? In today’s article from Shoes For Crews, we want to find answers to these questions and more.

What is sustainability?

Before we take a closer look at sustainable hospitality, we should briefly recap what sustainability actually means.

According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), sustainability means:

[...] meeting the needs of the present in such a way that the opportunities of future generations are not limited.

According to the BMZ definition, there are three dimensions of sustainability: economic efficiency, social equity and ecological viability. These should be considered and fulfilled in equal measure.

Sustainable hospitality: What does it look like?

To implement sustainability in a hospitality business – across all three dimensions – the following points are crucial:

• Energy efficiency 
• Short transport routes
• Sustainable employee management
• Regional, seasonal (organic) cuisine
• Waste prevention
• Process automation through digital tools

Each of these points contributes to sustainability, because making your business more energy-efficient makes it economically viable and conserves resources. By following sustainable employee management practices, you fulfil the social dimension of sustainability.

The great thing about a sensibly implemented sustainable hospitality strategy is that it saves costs in the long term and makes the business more efficient and productive. After all, that is sustainability too.

Sustainable hospitality: What are the benefits?

The importance of sustainability and climate protection can no longer be denied. However, switching to a sustainable business is not simply a good deed for the environment – quite the opposite. Sustainability in the hospitality industry offers many benefits:

• Lower operating costs: Shorter transport routes, energy-efficient processes and more can significantly reduce operating costs.

• Marketing potential: More and more guests want sustainability in the hospitality industry. Making the switch can attract new guests. 

• Greater employee retention: Sustainable employee management reduces staff turnover and the associated costs. We recommend our article “How to reduce employee turnover in retail”.

• Increased productivity: Sustainability also has a positive effect on productivity, as all work steps and incurred costs are optimised.
• Waste prevention: Food waste and waste prevention are two issues that significantly increase operating costs. Sustainable concepts solve these problems.

Sustainable hospitality: Where is the best place to start?

Of course, you cannot and do not have to implement everything at once. After all, the transition to sustainability must be well planned in order to ensure cost coverage in the end.

However, we would like to suggest three areas that can be adapted relatively easily for sustainable hospitality.

Energy-efficient equipment

Whether you already run a hospitality business or are just in the opening phase, energy-efficient equipment for dining areas, kitchens and more is an absolute must. This reduces energy costs while optimising production.  

Energy-efficient equipment includes, for example, special dishwashers for professional kitchens that save energy and water, as well as LED lamps and a well-insulated dining area.

Resource-conserving materials

Resource-conserving materials can be incorporated into many areas of your business. Have you ever considered printing your menus using resource-conserving materials, such as recycled paper, and using ink free from animal ingredients? 

If you are planning to make changes to your menu soon, take the opportunity to bring your business closer to sustainable hospitality. 

As you probably already know, from 2023 it is also mandatory in Germany to use environmentally friendly reusable systems for to-go offerings in order to minimise waste.

Environmentally friendly workwear

There is also much that can be done with regard to workwear to contribute to more sustainable hospitality. In fact, it addresses two dimensions at once: the ecological dimension, by using sustainable materials, and the social dimension, by increasing employee satisfaction through safe and ergonomic workwear. You can read about the importance of workwear in “Clothes make the person: Workwear in the hospitality industry”.

When choosing workwear, you should therefore opt for items made by sustainable businesses and from sustainable materials. When purchasing work shirts for your team next time, for example, you can make sure they are made from environmentally friendly cotton.

Work shoes can also make a major contribution to greater sustainability in the hospitality industry. That is why we have introduced a new range: the Eco models. This new range shows that environmental friendliness, comfort and outstanding quality can easily go hand in hand.

Our Saloon II Eco stands out in terms of sustainability with its upper, which consists of 67% recycled leather, and its slip-resistant outsole made from recycled rubber. The inner lining is also made from recycled polyester, while the removable, cushioned insole is made from recycled EVA.

If you would like to learn more about our new Eco models and how they can be integrated into the sustainable concept for your hospitality business, please contact us. Our Shoes For Crews experts will be happy to help you at any time!