Foodsteps Launches Partnership with Accor and Ibis Hotels Ahead of COP16 in Colombia

Running from October 21 to November 1 in Cali, Colombia, the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) convenes delegates from around the world to focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainable practices. COP16 is a crucial platform for advancing the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity, with the aim of halting biodiversity loss by 2030. Among its key targets are promoting sustainable food systems, reducing waste, and conserving 30% of the world’s land, waters, and seas.
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Recognising the urgent need for the hospitality industry to address its environmental impact, Accor has partnered with Foodsteps to take meaningful steps toward sustainable dining. This partnership will enable Accor hotels in Colombia to measure the environmental footprint of their menus, focusing on the critical issue of land use. Land expansion for agriculture is a key driver of biodiversity loss worldwide, and Foodsteps helps measure the land use associated with each dish, providing valuable data and recommendations for lowering its impact.

How Foodsteps Is Driving Sustainable Change

Accor and Foodsteps are working together to measure and reduce the environmental impact of 200 menu items from participating hotels, which have been measured and labeled. Using Foodsteps data, Accor is able to gain critical insights into these recipes' greenhouse gas emissions, water footprint, and land use. Using Foodsteps' cutting-edge sustainability platform, chefs and managers at each hotel can monitor the environmental impact of their recipes, giving them the ability to make data-driven decisions to lower their carbon footprint. With full transparency on the ingredients’ lifecycle, the culinary teams are empowered to create more sustainable, low-emission menus.

They've given their menu a planet-focused revamp, starting with a vibrant new spin on Carpaccio—replacing traditional beef with beetroot. The impact? A remarkable 93% reduction in greenhouse gases and 99% less land use compared to the beef version. Their soup also makes a big difference, cutting greenhouse gases by 38% and land use by 29% - moving away from a chicken to a hearty lentil base.

In addition to these behind-the-scenes efforts, Foodsteps and Accor are making sustainability visible to guests. Guests will see land-use impact labels on menus, posters, and tabletop displays which will educate them about the impact of their food choices. This initiative not only raises awareness but also inspires eco-conscious decision-making among diners.

Accor's Commitment to Net Zero

Accor has long been recognised as a sustainability leader in the hospitality sector. With a goal to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 28% by 2030, the group continues to push forward its Nature Food Program, with sustainability at the heart of its operations. By partnering with Foodsteps, Accor can now accurately measure the environmental impact of its food and beverage operations, which currently account for 17% of the group’s total carbon footprint, 40% of its water footprint, and 80% of its land use, according to Accor’s 2023 Sustainability Report.

Accor’s ambitions don't stop there. The hotel group has pledged to cut its emissions in half by 2030, with an ultimate goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050. This collaboration with Foodsteps for COP16 is a key component of that journey, further aligning its food practices with its global climate commitments.

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An Industry-Leading Partnership

“Accor has established itself as a sustainability leader in the hospitality industry, and we are excited to partner with their hotels in Colombia for COP16 to raise awareness about the food sector's impact on biodiversity. Leveraging Foodsteps' specialised food sustainability platform and industry-leading data, these hotels have precisely measured the environmental impact of their menu items. And they are taking it a step further by displaying the impact to educate guests and inspire more informed, eco-conscious choices. It’s encouraging to collaborate with companies like Accor, who continue to deliver on their Net Zero commitments”, says Anya Doherty, Director and Founder of Foodsteps.

“By partnering with Foodsteps, we seek to inform our customers about the impact of food on biodiversity and land-use footprint and how we can be more conscious”, says Antonietta Varlese, SVP of Sustainability & Communication Accor Americas - Premium, Midscale & Economy Division.

Together, Foodsteps and Accor are demonstrating how the hospitality industry can take meaningful action to combat biodiversity loss. Through data-driven decision-making, transparency, and guest education, this partnership will not only reduce Accor’s environmental impact but also set a new standard for responsible tourism and sustainable dining.