Hilton, the hospitality giant has recently announced to cut its environmental footprint in half and double its social impact investment by 2030.

HILTON ANNOUNCED that it will eliminate plastic straws across its managed hotels in Asia Pacific by end of 2018, and transition away from plastic bottles used at its conference and event spaces. This follows the company’s global commitment to cut its environmental footprint in half and double its social impact investment by 2030.

The company will also double the amount it spends with local and minority-owned suppliers, and double its investment in programs to help women and youth around the world. These goals are part of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy to further the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Speaking on the initiative by the company, Alan Watts, Executive President and President, Asia Pacific, Hilton said, “As a global hospitality company operating more than 5,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories, we are committed to having a positive impact on the communities we operate our hotels in. We believe waste is a solvable problem. By focusing first on plastic straws and plastic bottled water, we take another step forward in our journey to ensure that the destinations where travellers work, relax, learn and explore our vibrant and resilient for future generations to come.”

According to the release, Hilton is already an environmental leader in the industry where, since 2008, the company has reduced carbon emissions and waste by 30 percent, energy and water consumption by 20% saving more than USD 1 bn in operating efficiencies. Hilton will use LightStay (award-winning performance measurement system) to track its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 61 percent across its portfolio by 2030 at all the Hilton branded hotels.

“The World Tourism Organisation commends Hilton’s focus on sustainability, which is in line with our overall commitment as the UN’s agency that is dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism for development worldwide.Hilton has been our partner in this endeavor, raising awareness among customers with examples of best practices for the hospitality industry,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).