Cateys 2023: Sustainable Business Award: Red Carnation Hotels

Red Carnation Hotels wins the Sustainable Business Award, sponsored by Violife Professional

This Catey goes to a business that has evidence of its sustainable achievements thanks to its five-year sustainability strategy, How We Tread Right (HWTR). The initiative was launched in 2020 and set out its mandate on sustainability, based on 11 measurable goals.

Sustainability is ingrained across Red Carnation Hotels and its ambition is to become net zero by 2050 or sooner. Using the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, Red Carnation is identifying areas it can have the most impact. Take food waste: the business educated its kitchen teams to understand the monetary and environmental costs associated with waste, resulting in a 39% reduction across the business. The restaurants offer menus that limit waste and the kitchens use Winnow food waste technology to keep tabs on any food being thrown away.

Prioritising homegrown and local food is also key, and in order to be considered a local supplier, businesses must be no further than 50 miles away from the property. Red Carnation Hotels has managed to increase its local and organic food suppliers by 27% and at Summer Lodge there is a 25-mile menu, showcased on a map available to guests.

Taking guests along on this journey has been key, and as they become more interested in food as a wider trend, Red Carnation has designed experiences that highlight food provenance, slow food and plant-based dishes, from foraging at the Milestone hotel or beekeeping at the Montague on the Gardens.

Meanwhile, in-house sustainability committees at each property encourage green thinking throughout the team. Two paid volunteer days are also offered to staff to attract employees aligned with green objectives, while also advancing its goal of 30,000 volunteer hours by 2025.

As one judge said: "The emphasis on education and successfully inspiring change is considered to be vital in challenging the behaviours of guests, staff and local communities. The fact that Red Carnation have done this successfully across its hotels around the world should not be underestimated."

Data is integral to any change and Red Carnation uses Diligent to record energy and water consumption, fuel and paper usage, any refrigerant top-ups, and all paid hours contributed to volunteering. The data collected is audited internally and externally to produce the business's carbon footprint.

Its endeavours are also publicly available via its online Impact Report and this transparency provides a competitive edge when it comes to recruitment, sales and leisure guests. When sustainable action combines with business advantage, hard work pays off, which places Red Carnation Hotels as a trailblazer in the industry.

What the judges said

"Their desire for all staff to do two paid volunteer days per year is admirable and typical of the values of the company." Andrew Coggings

"The business is bringing their teams fully on the journey with training and engagement. All in all this was a most inspiring submission to be admired and highly commended." Sue Williams

The shortlist

• Lamington Group
• Wahaca
• Pigs Head Pub Co
• Peach Pubs
• Red Carnation Hotels

The judges

• Dominic Burbridge, the Carbon Trust
• Andrew Coggings, the Goodwood Group
• Juliane Caillouette Noble, Sustainable Restaurant Association
• Rebecca Hawkins Responsible, Hospitality Partnership
• Sue Williams, Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa