Sourcing Smarter: A Guide to Sustainable and Ethical Hospitality

As conscious consumerism surges, it's vital that the hospitality sector takes a more sustainable and ethical approach to sourcing. From farm-to-table to fair trade and beyond, responsible sourcing is no longer a trend, but an imperative. In this blog post, we'll explore why sourcing sustainably matters and provide a brief guide on the steps to take to start you on your journey.

In today's world, sustainable sourcing is no longer a choice for businesses but rather a necessity. For hospitality businesses, sustainable sourcing reduces their environmental footprint, supports ethical suppliers, and enhances their brand reputation. However, achieving sustainability in sourcing can be daunting, with various complexities and challenges to overcome. It requires decision-makers to navigate a complex supply chain and comply with regulations and standards while ensuring quality and cost savings. Fortunately, our simple yet effective process provides a roadmap for creating a sustainable sourcing strategy that can help overcome these hurdles. So let's dive in and learn more!

1. Conducting a baseline assessment: Taking a step back and reviewing your supply chain, energy usage, waste management, and other key sustainability metrics will give you a comprehensive understanding of your environmental impact. This assessment will also highlight any areas that need improvement and help you determine where to focus your efforts to create a more sustainable approach to sourcing. By conducting a thorough assessment, you can make informed decisions and create a solid foundation for a successful sustainability strategy.

2. Set goals and targets: With a baseline assessment completed, aligning your objectives with your business goals is crucial. For instance, if you're in the food industry, increasing the percentage of sustainable seafood in your menu offerings could be a primary objective. Or it could be reducing your carbon footprint by 25% within the next three years. When setting your targets, remember to make them specific, measurable, and realistic. By doing so, you'll be able to track your progress, identify areas for improvement, and align your team's efforts towards achieving your goals.

3. Developing a procurement plan: You need to clearly understand your goals and targets before you can begin researching and selecting suppliers that meet your sustainability criteria. Negotiating contracts with sustainability clauses will also be an important part of the process. But it doesn't stop there. Once you've identified your suppliers, you must track their performance against sustainability metrics to ensure they meet your expectations. By being proactive and intentional in your approach to procurement, you can make a meaningful impact on the environment and your bottom line.

4. Monitor and measure progress: No matter how well-crafted your strategy may be, it's only valuable if you can effectively measure your impact and make continuous improvements. This process involves regularly reviewing your sustainability metrics, analysing supplier performance, and listening to customer feedback. By staying on track, you can be confident that you're making meaningful progress towards a more sustainable future for your company and the planet.

At Beacon, we understand that creating an effective sustainable sourcing strategy for your hospitality business can be time-consuming and fraught with difficulties, particularly if you lack the in-house expertise. That's why we're here to take that burden off your shoulders. Our procurement services are designed to help you navigate the complexities of the supply chain, identify sustainable suppliers, and negotiate agreements. With our experienced team of procurement experts by your side, you can rest assured that your sustainability goals will become far more achievable, all while ensuring that you're receiving market-leading prices without compromising on service. Contact us today to find out how we can help your business become more eco-friendly. Let's work together to create a better future for everyone.

To access our in-depth white paper on sustainable sourcing, simply click the button below and we'll email you a download link.

DOWNLOAD NOW

#sustainability #sourcingstrategy #businesssolutions