99% of hospitality professionals want to work for a sustainable business, according to a new report.

Highlighting the existing throw-away culture present in the sector, 84% of those surveyed agreed that businesses could be doing more to increase the longevity of equipment.

This year, sustainability is an essential part of being a market leader in any industry and there are three pillars of sustainability- social, environmental, and economic.

With this in mind, the experts at Bottomless Brunch have shared five ways businesses in the hospitality sector can improve their sustainability efforts.
Run fixed events
In restaurants, bars and hotels, running an event which requires customers to pay a fixed price and pre-order their food in advance can help reduce any excess waste.

For example, businesses offering a bottomless brunch or lunch style event will often ask their customers to pre-order their food, so when preparing for service they know exactly what quantities of produce they will need to cater for that sitting.

Same goes for drinks, as for example often prosecco will go to waste when it is opened and part of the bottle is left overnight, meaning it is flat the next day and not fit for serving.

Whereas if you offer it in a fixed drinks package or at an event, you can order a fixed amount and be confident it will be drank, as it has already been paid for.
Saving energy

Saving energy in the hospitality industry entails a two-pronged approach: reduction and efficiency.

To start, organisations can train their employees in behaviours that reduce energy use. These behaviours can range from turning off lights to changing the settings on washing machines and adjusting thermostats appropriately.

Organisations can also look for opportunities to use green technology or products. For example, they can install solar panels for heating and cooling or switch to energy-efficient LED lights.

Same goes for its customers, having friendly reminders about limiting use of hand towels or turning off bathroom lights can go a long way.
Environmentally friendly materials

Organic products leave a lighter carbon footprint than others, therefore by switching to organic choices will demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.

This can include products made of all-natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals, for example, cleaning supplies and toiletries, as well as food products that come in recyclable packaging or biodegradable cartons.

Sustainable strategies will not only make a good impression on customers but can also save your business money.
Reduce waste

This is something many businesses still haven’t quite got right. There are several opportunities to limit waste.

To cut down on food waste, businesses can source their food locally or grow it on site. Using fresher food alternatives will reduce how often food spoils and has to be thrown away.

Businesses can also opt for food-donation policies that allow patrons to know that unused food will be sent to a local food kitchen.

Another way to reduce waste could be installing water-efficient products, such as water-saving filters.

Essentially, less water that goes down the drain means more water available in the lakes, rivers and streams that we use for recreation and wildlife uses to survive.
Sustainable efforts in your community

Whilst obtaining the trust and respect of your customers is extremely important for a business, demonstrating sustainable efforts to a local community will help build this.

This can include being part of local recycling programmes, donating to food banks and homeless will make all the difference.

For example, for a particular meal served in a restaurant, a percentage of it could be donated to a charity.

This will not only demonstrate your businesses efforts, but also attract more customers as they will feel they are fulfilling their desire to be more environmentally sustainable and charitable.