Hyatt Invests Over $37M in More Than 200 Energy Efficiency Projects

Hyatt recently released its 2012 CSR report, and while it is on the short side compared to other companies' reports, it is not short on substance. Having reviewed Hyatt’s 2011 CSR report, I see improvement, particularly when it comes to the environmental section: the company does a better job highlighting its achievements (or perhaps has more to talk about). One of those achievements includes investing over $37 million in more than 200 energy efficiency projects.

Another achievement highlighted in the report is making progress last year toward its 2015 energy, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water reduction goals. Hyatt reduced its energy consumption 11 percent per square meter from a 2006 baseline. The hotel chain achieved a nine percent reduction in water consumption, a three percent reduction in waste, and a 13 percent reduction in GHG emissions per square meter.

Other environmental achievements include:

• Doubling the number of properties which source power from renewable energy from 2011 to 2012, bringing the total to 12 hotels.
• The number of hotels that reported implementing composting increased from 17 percent in 2011 to 23 percent in 2012.
• Achieved the goal of consistently tracking its environmental footprint across its entire portfolio of managed hotels.
• Began integrating the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) framework into Hyatt Eco Track, its in-house system to track environmental data.
• Began to organize its energy and GHG emissions data for its first Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) submission in 2013.
• Partnered with The Paulson Institute to sponsor a program with the China Association of Mayors to enhance urban sustainability practices and policies in China. The two organizations have developed the Chinese Mayors Urban Sustainability Training Program, which features weeks of intensive training on sustainability in the U.S. and China for Chinese municipal leaders.
• Achieved LEED certification for its headquarters in Chicago, plus seven other properties and a banquet space.
• 97 percent of its hotels have installed energy-efficient lighting.
• Over 90 percent of its hotels have installed water-efficient fixtures.
• Over 35 percent of its hotels installed an energy management system enabling central control of guestroom thermostats after checkouts.
• The Grand Hyatt Beijing earned the Thrive Leadership Award for Excellence in Environmental Sustainability this year for reducing energy use by 40 percent over the last seven years.

Hyatt's achievements in human rights and supply chain management

In addition to environmental achievements, the report details Hyatt's achievements in the sectors of human rights and supply chains. When it comes to human rights, Hyatt’s main achievement is teaming up with the Polaris Project to develop a training program for its employees on human trafficking. The training program began across Hyatt’s portfolio of managed hotels in the fourth quarter of 2012. A total of 87 percent of Hyatt’s workforce required to participate has either completed the training program or is in the process of completing it.

When it comes to its supply chain, Hyatt’s achievements include implementing a Supplier Code of Conduct, which establishes the hotel chain’s standards for suppliers regarding social, governance and environmental principles. Other achievements include partnering with the World Wildlife Fund to evaluate its seafood purchases outside of the U.S.

[image credit: gritts1]