Minor Hotels has made significant strides towards net zero, achieving year-on-year reductions in energy, carbon emission and water intensities, while cutting its organic waste to landfill by more than a quarter, according to its newly released global 2023 Sustainability Report.

The report detailing sustainability results for the full 2023 calendar year was compiled by Minor International (SET:MINT), the parent company of Minor Hotels, which owns and operates more than 540 hotels in 56 countries.

By implementing strategies to conserve resources and reduce emissions, as well as investing THB 359 million (approx. USD 9.7 million) in energy efficiency initiatives worldwide in 2023, Minor Hotels reduced its energy usage and carbon emissions by nearly 8% and 11%, respectively, on an annual per-rooms-sold basis. Notably, all Minor Hotels properties located in Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Italy consumed 100% clean electricity as of the end of 2023.

Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of MINT and CEO of Minor Hotels, commented, “I am proud of the progress the Minor Hotels team has made through our sustainability initiatives. We must be responsible members of the communities where we operate by supporting sustainable tourism, as our long-term success is linked directly to the well-being of society and the environment. As we continue to grow, we will increase our efforts to reduce our environmental footprint and achieve our pledge of Net Zero emissions by 2050.”

Green energy usage across the Minor Hotels portfolio rose to 198 million kWh in 2023, a 14% increase over 2022. This helped drive down carbon emissions per rooms sold in 2023 by 11% versus the year prior.

Net energy usage and emissions increased in 2023, largely due to multiple resort openings, which are typically more energy intensive, and higher group-wide occupancy. However, Minor Hotels is intensifying efforts in 2024 to attain its targets of 15% reductions in energy and emissions intensities by 2025 against a 2019 baseline.

Minor Hotels was also able to reduce its water withdrawal intensity across its properties, with the 2023 average intensity per rooms sold dropping 4% versus 2022. This puts it on track to realise the group-wide reduction target of 10% by 2025 against a 2022 baseline.

The group is ahead of schedule towards its target of halving its organic waste to landfill by 2030 compared to its 2021 baseline. As of 2023, that waste has already been reduced by 27%, partly by implementing new sorting and composting initiatives and partnerships with organisations such as TooGoodToGo to reduce food wastage.

In hotels reporting waste data, the amount of general and hazardous waste produced fell 10% and 67% year-on-year, respectively. The amount of waste recycled rose 41% versus 2022, and the amount of waste composted rose 56%.

Chompan Kulnides, Chief Sustainability Officer of Minor International, said, “Thanks to the collective effort of our team and the support of our stakeholders, we have made good progress towards our vision of being the leader in delivering sustainable performance that positively impact stakeholders and the environment. Reducing our environmental footprint is a business imperative and is the right thing to do. Our team’s passion for our planet’s well-being will continue to drive how we address climate change and biodiversity loss in our communities.”

Minor Hotels has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. MINT is included in S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook 2024 in the Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines industry with Top 10% ESG Scores, as well as the FTSE4Good Index Series and has an MSCI ESG Rating of AA.

Minor International’s 2023 Sustainability Report also covers the hospitality group’s progress in enhancing people’s potential and promoting responsible business conduct. The report is available on Minor International’s website here. https://www.minor.com/storage/download/sustainability-reports/mint-sd2023-en/