A joint commitment was made by the UK’s hospitality businesses to tackle the issue of packaging waste. Delegates at UKHospitality’s ‘Unpack the Future of Hospitality’, spearheaded by the British Institute for Innkeeping (BII) and UKHospitality, were urged to commit to pledges unveiled by UKHospitality’s Chief Executive Officer, Kate Nicholls.
“The hospitality sector is acutely aware of the problems caused by packaging waste and have been taking innovative and effective steps to proactively and voluntarily tackle the issue,” said Kate Nicholls, UKH Chief Executive.
The sector-wide pledge to reduce waste included points such as: Collaborating to eliminate unnecessary plastic in the hospitality sector by 2030; Producing industry-wide guidance to reduce packaging throughout the sector and its supply chains; Promoting WRAP’s UK Plastics Pact and implement its principles; Establishing a hospitality sector sustainability forum; and Working with expert groups to enhance the UK’s recycling system.
Industry leaders and experts from environmental bodies and the Government shared throughout the event good practice and new ideas to proactively tackle the problem of packaging waste and to highlight the efforts already being undertaken by venues.
“Today’s event saw leaders from across the sector pool resources and share insight, highlighting our commitment to reducing plastic waste. The sector is already hard at work, but there is more that can be done to ensure that businesses act positively before the possibility of needless and costly Government legislation. We do not need Government intervention, but we do need to collectively show our commitment to drastically reducing harmful waste,” said BII Chairman, Mike Clist.
The BII and UKHospitality also encouraged other businesses in the sector to commit to the pledge. “We are encouraging all hospitality businesses to lend their support to the pledge and act cooperatively to make a positive contribution to a very worthy cause,” concluded Kate Nicholls.
