Authored by Gareth Brown, market development manager at Duni
It’s no secret that plastic waste is a huge environmental concern at the moment; arguably one of the biggest issues facing the world in our lifetime. There has been extensive media coverage on the need to cut down plastic use and as a result, consumers are feeling a real responsibility to become more sustainable.
Increasingly, consumers are expecting the services and products they use to consider the environment. This presents a pivotal point, and opportunity, for businesses in the hospitality industry. By implementing a strong corporate social responsibility policy that incorporates a commitment to adhering to environmental policies, cutting down plastic use, reducing unnecessary waste and making more sustainable purchasing decisions, hospitality businesses can not only help to change the world, but make themselves more attractive to consumers at the same time.
With the advancement of social media, customers now have more platforms than ever on which to express their views and any negative or destructive practices quickly fuel conversations online. As a result, organisations can no longer get away with unethical business practices or acting irresponsibly. At a time when hospitality businesses are more accountable than ever before, implementing a thorough CSR policy not only helps the environment and the communities around them, but also helps to improve customer loyalty and promote a positive brand image.
With all of the above considered, here are five tips for getting your CSR policy in line:
- Embed your CSR policy into your company values and culture
Implementing an innovative CSR policy which reflects your company values can help to reinforce your business purpose. Take a look at your company values to get an understanding of who and what your business impacts and try to connect any CSR activity to your core strategy. Encourage your employees to come forward with corporate responsibility ideas; gaining involvement from your employees helps to embed responsibility into your company culture and can also improve staff loyalty. Question which causes matter to your employees and to your target market, and how they align with the values of your business. It’s also important to re-look at sustainability strategies on a regular basis to ensure they remain effective, whilst still serving customer needs.
- Make sustainable purchasing decisions and choose your suppliers wisely
Committing to purchasing sustainable products can help set you apart from competitors. Increasingly, environmentally conscious consumers are actively looking for ways to be more sustainable and are more likely to choose a business that sources products that consider the environment. Partnering with credible suppliers who have their own CSR policies in place enables hospitality businesses to demonstrate proof of the sustainability of the products that they are using. Ethical suppliers will have their own CSR and sustainability mission statement, so don’t be afraid to ask them to provide certification and policy documents in order to prove their sustainability credentials.
- Consider the finer details of sustainability
When it comes to sustainability, hotels can go the extra mile by paying more attention to the smaller details. For example, many hotels and caterers concentrate on the bigger sustainability issues such as food waste and energy efficiencies and overlook the smaller things – which in fact can offer hotels and caterers a simpler way and quick wins on their journey to become more sustainable. Take the table top setting for example, while paper straws are becoming more and more adopted on table tops at the moment, this can be extended to include fully compostable and FSC certified napkins, FSC Certified table covers, LED lighting, recycled candle holders and RAL certified candles.
- Commit to cutting down your plastic use where possible
Cutting down plastic waste can no longer be an afterthought for hospitality businesses and must be incorporated into your CSR policy. In order to cut down unnecessary plastic use, take a look at the plastic items you source and where appropriate, try to discover more sustainable alternatives. Seek opportunities to work closely with your suppliers who develop brand new, innovative, products that are both fit for purpose and sustainable. The campaign against plastic has already seen a huge reduction in the use of plastic straws and the hospitality industry now has an opportunity to help reverse the tide of plastic waste by committing to plastic free products when appropriate.
- Play an active role in the community
Whilst a big focus of your CSR policy needs to be on decisions that have a global impact, corporate responsibility also involves supporting the local community. Running and participating in events that bring the community together presents you with a great opportunity to engage with local people. Instead of leaving it as an occasional thought, assign a member of your team to actively plan out your community activities. Committing to regular local engagements will help position your business as an active and caring member of the community, which in turn should lead to increased customer loyalty. Another way to give back to the community is to get involved with local charities and coming up with fun and inventive ways to raise money for worthy causes gives you a great opportunity for team building. Your charity work can also be expanded to a national scale. For example, this year Duni has committed to donating at least seven per cent from the sale of every box of our new, plastic-free Spirit of Christmas crackers to the homelessness charity, Shelter.
Ultimately, the issue with plastic waste isn’t going to go away without a collective effort to change how and when we use plastic materials. While plastic will always have a part to play in the hospitality sector, sustainable product options are becoming increasingly available and popular. Hotels should consider the steps they can take to create a more sustainable businesses model – it will not only help the world, but it makes common business sense too.
For further information, please visit www.duni.com/uk or call +44 1928 712377.
