Sustainable and Responsible Hospitality for a Better World

Sustainability and Circular Economy in Food & Beverage Supply Chain Management 

There are increasing concerns over sustainability in the food and beverage industry, especially in relation to the environment and the issue of climate change. While there are several factors that relate to sustainability in this field, some of the most important ones include the aspect of traceability. The food and beverage industry has many different layers, making it a challenge to trace the sources of supplies and ensure they adhere to sustainability. Lack of traceability is known to increase information asymmetry and negatively impact sustainability governance across geographical boundaries. Another major sustainability factor is the packaging. The industry struggles with ensuring sustainability in the packaging of its products, especially in relation to the need to eliminate the use of plastics. It is important to ensure sustainability through the sustainable packaging of its products. Additionally, greenwashing is another sustainability factor that is critical to the food and beverage industry. It is noted that most players and operators claim to resly on sustainability programs that are not accurate. Studies have indicated that most companies turn to greenwashing as a strategy to establish an environmentally friendly image while doing very little to ensure environmental sustainability. As such, greenwashing becomes a central factor in achieving sustainability objectives in the industry. Food waste is another major factor. The long and complex supply chain in the industry has increased the challenges for tackling food wastage, which negatively affects attempts to ensure sustainability. Supply chain practices are also a major factor in sustainability. The complexity and sophistication of the supply chain system complicate the efforts of the industry players to achieve sustainability objectives. This is because of the high number of players that have diminished the capacity of the companies to monitor the sustainability issues across the supply chain.

The restaurant and supermarket chains are some of the businesses that provide services to the highest number of customers. Thus, their activities have substantial relevance to the sustainability of the environment. As such, these businesses engage in sustainable practices that are aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability. Some of the most popular sustainable approaches employed by restaurants and supermarket chains include the utilization of organic amenities, which leave a limited carbon footprint. It is noted that there is an increase in the use of locally grown organic foods, organic soaps, and organic amenities in the hospitality industry. Energy conservation is another common sustainability approach that is used in restaurant and supermarket chains, including the use of solar heaters and solar-powered lights. Another common sustainability practice used by these businesses is the elimination of single-use plastic bags and containers. This has ensured that there are limited amounts of plastic being released into the environment. Further, another major and common sustainable approach used is sourcing for sustainable suppliers. The commercial green image has been one of the most important selection criteria for suppliers by supermarket chains.This has been integral in ensuring that these businesses maintain their sustainability strategies through the suppliers. In addition to that, these restaurant chains, as well as the supermarket chains, have been involved in the development of recycling programs to prevent the increase of waste amounts in the environment. Another common sustainable approach is the use of local sourcing. Local sourcing reduces the need for transportation, which contributes to reduced carbon emissions. In addition to that, local sourcing is also a contributor to the sustainable practice of reducing food wastage that is associated with long distances when transporting foods.