Tourism leaders convene on Zero Waste Day to launch global 'Recipe of Change'
At a Global Roundtable on the International Day of Zero Waste, United Nation Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), advanced the ‘Recipe of Change’ initiative, with major tourism players who cater to over 600 million pesons committing to measure and cut food waste in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, amid rising concerns over food insecurity and emissions from waste.
In a press statement, UN Tourism says that through ‘Recipe of Change’, participating businesses are committing to measure food waste within their operations and implement both operational and behavioural solutions aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve global food waste by 2030.
Shaikha Al Nuwais
It adds that stakeholders across the tourism ecosystem are working to fast-track food waste reduction, highlighting not only the environmental urgency but also economic benefits such as lower operational costs, greater resilience to supply shocks and improved food security.
“2.3 billion people experience food insecurity every single day. With a third of the world´s population failing to receive this basic human right and food wastage contributing up to 10 pc of global greenhouse gases, we must take decisive action. Recipe of Change seeks to do just that – with the tourism sector directly supporting solutions that drive sustainable consumption,” says Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General, UN Tourism.
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Sheila Aggarwal-Khan
“Tourism businesses are in a unique position to redesign menus, encourage lasting behavioural change and deliver measurable reductions in food waste. We are calling on more businesses across the tourism sector to become active partners of Recipe of Change and help accelerate progress towards halving global food waste,” says Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of the Industry and Economy Division, UNEP.
According to the statement the initiative has already secured commitments from leading global tourism and hospitality companies including Accor, Constance Hotels & Resorts, Club Med, easyJet holidays, Grupo Posadas, Hilton, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Minor Hotels, Meliá Hotels International, Radisson Hotel Group, Six Senses, TUI Group, Lightblue Consulting and Winnow, reflecting strong private sector momentum towards sustainability.
The statement says that the initiative builds on successful industry efforts such as Hilton’s ‘Green Ramadan’ campaign in partnership with Winnow, which achieved over 60 pc reduction in food waste in early pilots in 2023 and sustained reductions of 20-30 pc as the programme expanded from 3 hotels to 64 hotels by 2026.