Swissôtel Clark - Luxury hotel - Sustainability Management Plan

Current Initiatives and Improvements

As of May 2025, Swissotel Clark continues to uphold a strong commitment to sustainability across all departments, ensuring that both environmental and social responsibility are integrated into daily operations. The hotel has implemented a range of practices and initiatives designated to minimize its ecological footprint while enhancing guest experience and supporting the local community. Below are some of the key sustainability that Swissotel Clark adopt in these areas:

CURRENT INITIATIVES

Front Office:

• Eco-Friendly Digital Key System: Implementing secure digital key technology to provide keyless access, reducing plastic waste associated with traditional keycards. Offering biodegradable or sustainably sourced wooden keycards to minimize environmental impact which are recycled if undamaged.
• Paperless Guest Check-In/Check-Out: Utilizing advanced digital check-in and check-out processes through mobile apps and electronic forms to eliminate paper usage, enhance guest convenience, and reduce waste.
• Internal Communications and Reports: Employing digital platforms and electronic documentation, such as tablets or shared cloud-based systems, to minimize the use of scratch paper and promote a paperless, efficient working environment.
• In-Room Digital Service Directory: Featuring QR codes on room TVs that link to comprehensive, eco-friendly digital service directories, allowing guests to access hotel information, menus, and services without printing materials, thereby reducing paper consumption. (HK)
• Sustainable Guest Experience: Ensuring all front office operations align with the hotel’s commitment to environmental responsibility, fostering a culture of sustainability while providing seamless, personalized service expected of a 5-star establishment.

Culinary:

• Upcycling Overripe Fruits: Transforming surplus and overripe fruits into artisanal jams, candies, and baked goods, reducing food waste while creating premium, locally inspired products.
• Supporting Organic and Ethical Sourcing: Collaborating with trusted suppliers for free-range, ethically farmed eggs and organic produce, ensuring high quality and environmental responsibility.
• Locally Sourced Ingredients: Prioritizing the procurement of fresh vegetables, herbs, and other ingredients from local farms and producers to minimize carbon footprint and support the regional economy.
• Food Waste Management: Establishing a dedicated Food Waste Committee to monitor, analyze, and reduce waste. Utilizing advanced tools like Winnow to accurately track and optimize food usage, promoting zero-waste practices.
• Digital Communication for Sustainability: Implementing QR codes in kitchens and dining areas to provide staff and guests with access to menus, ingredient sourcing details, and sustainability information, reducing paper usage.
• Sustainable Procurement Practices: Liaising with vendors and internal departments to align purchasing with sustainability standards, including sourcing local, organic, and eco-certified products.
• Supporting Local and Ethical Suppliers: Actively promoting partnerships with local farmers, artisans, and suppliers committed to sustainable practices, thereby reducing transportation emissions and boosting community development.
• Go-Local Initiatives: Encouraging the use of regional produce and products in culinary operations whenever possible, reinforcing the hotel’s commitment to environmental stewardship and local economic growth.

Food & Beverage:

• Locally Sourced Coffee: Serving coffee beans sourced from regional, sustainable plantations that prioritize fair trade, organic farming, and environmentally friendly practices, supporting local communities and reducing carbon footprint.
• Eco-Friendly Straws: Replacing single-use plastic straws with edible, biodegradable, or plant-based alternatives to minimize plastic waste and promote eco-conscious dining experiences.
• Compostable Takeout Packaging: Utilizing high-quality, biodegradable, and compostable containers and utensils for takeout and delivery services, ensuring minimal environmental impact while maintaining the luxury standard.
• Energy and Lighting Optimization: Maintaining meeting room environments at a controlled temperature of 24°C with adjustable lighting brightness to optimize energy efficiency and guest comfort, showcasing the hotel’s commitment to sustainable operations.
• Digital and Paperless Training: Conducting staff training and operational updates through secure, online platforms such as QC’s digital modules, eliminating paper waste and fostering a culture of continuous, eco-friendly learning.
• QR Code Menus: Implementing digital menus accessible via QR codes, allowing guests to browse offerings seamlessly while reducing paper usage and supporting a sustainable, touchless dining experience.

Purchasing:

• Strategic Vendor Collaboration: Actively partnering with vendors and internal business units to align procurement practices with comprehensive sustainability programs, ensuring that all sourced products meet high environmental and ethical standards.
• Prioritizing Local and Ethical Sourcing: Supporting and promoting relationships with local farmers, artisans, and suppliers who adhere to sustainable, organic, and fair-trade practices, thereby reducing transportation emissions and fostering regional economic development.
• Eco-Certified Procurement: Selecting products with recognized eco-label certifications (such as FSC, Organic, Fair Trade) to ensure responsible sourcing and uphold the hotel’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
• Supporting Circular Economy: Favoring suppliers who provide recyclable, biodegradable, or sustainably produced packaging and materials, contributing to waste reduction and resource conservation.
• Supplier Engagement and Capacity Building: Working collaboratively with vendors to improve sustainability practices across their operations, encouraging continuous improvement and innovation in eco-friendly sourcing.

Housekeeping:

• Bed linens and bath towels: are changed based on guest request to reduce water and energy consumption.
• Condemned bed linen and bath towels: are transferred to the department for responsible disposal: either repurposed as rags for internal use or sold to suppliers for recycling, supporting a circular economy.
• Donated items, such as condemned linens: are offered to charitable organizations like the Hann Foundation Inc., aligning with our commitment to social responsibility.
• Used or half-used toiletries are collected: for Back of House (BOH) reuse, ensuring minimal waste.
• Guest Room Amenities & Toiletries
• Toiletries such as body soap, shampoo, and conditioner are provided in eco-friendly, pump-based dispensers to reduce plastic waste and encourage refillable solutions.
• All toiletries are sourced from sustainable, eco-conscious suppliers, ensuring minimal environmental impact.

Sales & Marketing:

• Digital Promotional Campaigns: Develop visually stunning electronic flyers for food, room, and meeting room promotions, emphasizing eco-friendly practices such as locally sourced ingredients, sustainable amenities, and energy-efficient facilities. reducing paper waste and providing guests with an engaging, eco-conscious browsing experience
• Collaborations with Local Artists: Partner with renowned local artists to create exclusive artworks displayed within the hotel, highlighting regional culture and craftsmanship. Use QR codes next to artwork to offer guests access to detailed online galleries or artist stories, promoting sustainable tourism and supporting local communities.

Facilities Management:

• Sustainable Temperature Control: Implement advanced, energy-efficient temperature management systems across all designated areas—including offices, corridors, and air-conditioned spaces—maintaining a comfortable minimum of 24°C to optimize energy usage. Utilize smart thermostats and occupancy sensors to adjust heating and cooling dynamically, reducing energy waste while ensuring guest and staff comfort.
• Eco-Conscious Lighting Solution: Transition to LED lighting throughout the hotel, ensuring optimal energy efficiency, long lifespan, and reduced carbon footprint. Use warm, natural light tones to enhance the luxurious ambiance, reinforcing the five-star experience while supporting sustainability.
• Green Operations and Maintenance: Regularly audit and optimize all facility systems to ensure energy and water efficiency. Incorporate renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, where feasible, to further reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint.