How Radisson Hotel Group Cuts Carbon Emissions & Food Waste

Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) has redesigned its food and beverage operations as part of a broader plan to reduce carbon emissions across its 1,500 hotels. The approach includes seasonal menus, local sourcing and responsible packaging.

According to the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, the hotel industry must reduce its carbon emissions by 66% per room by 2030. RHG has published its 2025 Responsible Business Report, which details how the company addresses this target through various operational changes.

Culinary sustainability measures

RHG's food and beverage strategy centres on reducing processed ingredients and prioritising local suppliers. The company screens suppliers for human rights and environmental commitments.

Seasonal menus form part of the operational redesign. This approach could mean lower transport emissions and fresher ingredients for hotel restaurants.

The company focuses on responsible packaging across its dining services. Bulk amenity dispensers have been installed across all hotels, eliminating the need for 57 million miniature bottles and nearly 454 tonnes of plastic annually.

RHG aims to achieve net zero by 2050, based on its approved science-based targets. All hotels across its portfolio are working towards verification under the Hotel Sustainability Basics framework.

Food waste reduction programmes

RHG has implemented preventative measures to reduce food waste. Standardised recipes and pre-portioning are used across its kitchens.

The company has formed partnerships with Too Good To Go to reduce surplus food. This programme engages local communities by making excess meals available.

Inge Hujibrechts, Chief Sustainability and Security Officer at Radisson Hotel Group, writes on LinkedIn: "What a year of impact for People, Communities and Planet. Congratulations to the global team in our 1000+ hotels and in our offices for creating memorable moments in responsible business every single day. The Report highlights how we at Radisson Hotel Group are turning our net zero transformation into real, measurable progress across its hotels and operations, while caring for people and communities."

In 2025, RHG opened its first two Verified Net Zero Hotels, located in Oslo, Norway and Manchester, UK. These properties have been independently verified, achieving net zero carbon emissions across all three emission scopes.

Broader operational sustainability targets

The company's responsible business strategy is built around three pillars of action. Think People offers employment conditions, training and talent development pathways.

Think Community involves supplier screening and contributions to local communities. Think Planet sets clear targets to minimise the company's footprint.

RHG's science-based targets include reducing its absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 46.2% by 2030 from a 2019 base year. The company also aims to reduce its absolute Scope 3 emissions from fuel and energy-related activities by 27.5%.

The Group focuses on sustainable building design to reduce energy and water demand. It prioritises durable, recyclable and circular solutions to replace single-use plastics.

Community and workforce support

RHG aims to provide fair and transparent employment conditions to its employees. It invests in safety standards, training and risk prevention measures for its operational and office environments.

The Radisson People Foundation was launched in 2024. This initiative supports team members and their families during acute hardship caused by local, environmental or personal issues.

The company's activities bring shared value to local communities. This includes contributions to socio-economic development through indirect and direct employment, improved livelihoods and the stimulation of local businesses.

Federico González, CEO of Radisson Hotel Group, says: "In 2025, we were navigating a world defined by heightened uncertainty and faster-moving change. Despite economic volatility, Radisson Hotel Group continued to grow its portfolio and performance. Geopolitical tensions and shifting trade dynamics continue to create new complexities for international mobility, supply chains and energy markets.

"At the same time, climate extremes are no longer exceptional events – they are increasingly shaping day-to-day operations. Travelers now expect reliability, transparency, safety and a commitment to purpose and environmental performance.

"For the travel and hospitality sector in general, and for RHG, this context is reshaping demand patterns toward responsible travel and sustainable stays, elevating the importance of resilience and reinforcing the need to operate with a focus on efficiency, risk management and purpose."