Model of environmental sustainability

Model of environmental sustainability

Introduction

Currently, environmental sustainability is a business opportunity, unlike in the past, when it was seen to be a burden (Suganthi, 2019). Also, in the hotel industry, it makes sense for the business to invest in environmental sustainability to ensure continuity of the company, better positioning, increasing efficiency, and improving profitability. The focus on the hotel and tourism industry is observed in how they take care of the environment for customers to use their services. That would mean that those who have the least concern on the ecological resources are likely to have a bad reputation among customers, thereby decrease their level of making profits. Through Corporate social responsibility, businesses become self-regulating and improve their social responsibility to stakeholders and the wider public (Schrempf-Stirling et al., 2016). Corporate Social Responsibility is a win-win strategy employed, and recently, it has been seen as a sustainability model and as a competitive advantage. Firms with a high position of environmental sustainability attract strategic alliances, skilled and competent workforce, and improves customer loyalty. That indeed makes financial sense to the hotel since through the model, the business will be able to attract partners who can help in growth and expansion as well as increased sales due to customer expanding their product purchases (Mihalič et al., 2012). Also, cost saving is essential to any business since it leaves funds that can be used for more essential operations. Through environmental sustainability, there is a reduction of hotel expenses due to efficiency in strategies by investing in procedures and emerging green technologies as the firm tries to go green and save nature.

Model of environmental sustainability

The environmental sustainability model focuses on four logical levels that guide the operation to achieve a better environment. The first level includes the broad general ethical principle. Ethical principles determine what is right or wrong when it comes to environmental sustainability. Then the second level focuses on the broader goals that are aimed to be achieved by the principles of ethics. The third level gives measurable objectives and indicators of performance, and lastly, the implementation of sustainable development that ensures define the scope and the actual presentation (Diesendorf, 2001).

Guest Rooms

The first step of the model ensures that ethical principles are observed. In the hotel industry, achieving eco-friendly guest rooms means respect for nature, and humans who stay in those rooms. The main aim is to have ecological integrity. Then measurable objectives are ensuring that regulatory affairs regarding the environment comply with the legal guidelines in the construction of the guest rooms. Further, they should be built in environmentally safe places and ensuring they do not destroy the surrounding. In the emerging trend, customers do not want guest rooms that they feel they are in a hotel. Customers wish to get rooms that provide a homely stay and surroundings. In offering customer expectation, it is essential to ensure that furnishing the rooms are done sustainably. Ensuring natural fiber sheet furniture, reusable coffee mugs to avoid plastics as well as use natural and organic free products.

The leading indicators of a sustainable condition include reducing energy use, ensuring that no hazardous materials are used (Hard, 2019). The installation of smart showers will help to pre-set time to alert users. That reduces the wastage of natural resources. Also, detect light levels will be used to reduce the overconsumption of energy leading to wastage. When trying to increase efficacy and reduce costs, it is essential to install solar powers and reduce water waste in the guestrooms. The installation of solar power reduces the use of other sources of energy that may lead to pollution of the air but covert solar from natural resources into the light. Also, there is a lot of water usage, and when there is no diversion and treatment can lead to waste. As a result, water diversion and treatment make the water reusable in the hotel, thereby lowering the cost of operations and maintenance of the guest rooms. Another way to help the hotel go green is to ensure the construction practices meet the purpose. Green building practices provide health and comfort for employees and customers (Ahn & Pearce, 2013). There are several challenges with the construction practices since they may affect guest satisfaction, thereby detracting from quality experiences. Space and interior design can help give a better relaxing to customers even when green building practices have been used.

Guest Services

There are several services rendered in a hotel but all to give customers a pleasant experience. The basic principle guiding the offering of services is respect for people. Further, it is equally important to take care and respect nature even in the delivery of services. In the delivery of the services, it is essential to focus on improving efficiency (Withiam, 2013). First, it is vital to increase automation of some functions through the use of technology to reduce the staffing that would lead to additional carbon emissions. For instance, the method of keyless entry to cut off the use of plastic key cards can be applied. Further, automation of services reduces paperwork, thereby minimizing the wastes and emission of polluting gases.

Transporting services are also required by the customers and are provided in the hotel. The use of transportation services that release harmful gas can lead to the destruction of natural resources. Apart from vehicles, the hotel should adopt other means such as electric or hybrid cars for long distances to reduce the emission of poisonous gases. But for shorter distance use of bicycles and scooters to promote sustainable transportation. Further, the use of a group shuttle can reduce low occupied vehicles to and from the hotel. Berezan et al. (2013), through a study, noticed that incorporating eco-friendly practices in the service delivery of hotels increased customers’ satisfaction.

Food & Beverage

Food and beverages in hotels are wasted, which leads to throwing away much food, which leads to environmental pollution. The hotel will focus on creating a connection between the clients and the place they are visiting by preparing fresh and seasonal produce along with other meals. Further, observing healthier meals will be of benefit to customers and improve their loyalty to the brand. Instead of using bottled water, the hotel will use filtered water dispensers to reduce the disposal of plastic bottles. Also, reusable dishes, silverware, mugs, and glasses will help to lower supply costs and improve waste management arising from orders of disposable items.

If plastic things have been used, the firm can advocate for their reuse and recycle. That reduces the wastage of both food and beverage bottles. Reuse and recycling of food and beverage containers provide an environmentally friendly way of reducing adverse impacts of waste on the ecosystem (Ahn & Pearce, 2013). In case there is excess food, the hotel will compost waste to help support other practices such as farming. Also, surplus food should be donated to national food banks to minimize wastage.

Administration & Supply Chain Purchasing

From achieving eco-friendly guest rooms, services, and food, it helps in the minimization of wastes. Also, there is an improvement in supply chain management. First, to reduce the preparation and distance purchases, the use of farm products near the hotel will be advocated. Through farm shopping, it ensures healthier foods and minimizes the process of the supply chain.

Further, the administration should help in sustainability by providing the waste management program is achieved in an eco-friendly manner (Withiam, 2013). The use of filter water dispensers, as proposed earlier, will ditch the use of water bottles, which are the major causes of pollutants from hotels. Further, compost of leftovers will be done by introducing the compost program as well as ensuring that wastes are put in better useful means. The major waste management approaches include reuse of utensils, towels, and water, separating items that can be recycled and minimizing wastes.

For supplies, the hotel should adopt biodegradable and non-toxic products. Further, the supply chain supplies will be conducted in large quantities for those that can stay longer (Withiam, 2013). Through that, it will reduce the rate at which raw materials flow in the hotel. For the highly perishable items, that firm will develop a system that can help online order and also alliance with local suppliers who can avail them when they are needed. Local purchase reduces environmental pollution since the firm can be able to reduce wastage. Some appliances used in the hotel will be the existing line up of energy-saving appliances to cut on energy consumption.

In a nutshell, a complete sustainability plan model focuses on four-step. That includes ensuring that the basic ethical principles are catered in need of increasing sustainability. Then the goals which the principles achieve, which include creating satisfaction and improve customers’ experiences. Then indication performance and implementation. Several sections need to be focused on delivering the overall eco-friendly hotel services. It starts with the guest room, which emphasis better construction, use of keyless entry, the saving of energy, and water. Guest services help in sustainability when transport services provide alternatives that reduce the exhaust of poisonous gases and automation of services, which help in increasing efficiency and reducing the number of staffing. Food and beverage focus on using a filter water dispenser and reusable mugs and glass to ditch plastics. The supply chain purchases should buy in large quantities and shop locally to reduce the rate of flow for raw materials.

References

Diesendorf, M.(2001). Models of sustainability and sustainable development https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5171554_Models_of_sustainability_and_sustainable_development

Hard R. (2019). The Most Common Eco-Friendly Hotel Initiatives. https://www.thebalancesmb.com/sustainability-and-eco-friendly-hotel-initiatives-1223545

Berezan, O., Raab, C., Yoo, M., & Love, C. (2013). Sustainable hotel practices and nationality: The impact on guest satisfaction and guest intention to return. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 34, 227-233.

Withiam, G. (2013). Toward sustainable hotel and restaurant operations.

Mihalič, T., Žabkar, V., & Cvelbar, L. K. (2012). A hotel sustainability business model: evidence from Slovenia. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20(5), 701-719.

Schrempf-Stirling, J., Palazzo, G., & Phillips, R. A. (2016). Historic corporate social responsibility. Academy of Management Review, 41(4), 700-719.

Suganthi, L. (2019). IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Paripex-Indian Journal Of Research, 8(8).

Ahn, Y. H. & Pearce, A. R. (2013). Green luxury: a case study of two green hotels. Journal of Green Building, 8(1), 90-119.