After the initial shock of the pandemic, the hotel sector was looking to be both clean and sustainable in its F&B, according to a debate hosted by Marriott International.
The panel heard that lockdowns around the world meant a sudden shift to takeaway, which threw sustainability into relief.
According to Ranim Ben Rondhame, senior director restaurants & bars, Asia Pacific at Marriott International, in Thailand plastic waste increased by 50% during the lockdown as the number of takeaways grew.
Rishi Naleendra, chef owner, Cloudstreet Singapore and Cheek Bistro: “We were very proactive in finding biodegradeable containers, we hardly used any plastics and used containers made out of sugar cane pulp. But it was a challenge to do in a few days, we had minimal notice. All of a sudden all the fancy restaurants started doing takeaways.
“When it comes to takeaways the main concern is day-to-day takeaway foods - the biodegradable containers are expensive for everyone to use. But we have to do what we have to do to move towards sustainability. It’s more about discipline than anything.”
Michael Hogan, executive chef, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park: “It has put us back. Nearly two years ago Marriott implemented ‘skip the straw’ programmes and this was done in a way which was sustainable and this has held through this period. Where we did fall down is the pandemic caught everybody off guard and everyone moved their business to takeaway and that put a big strain on the biodegradable container market. We ran out in the first couple of weeks and we were forced to go back to plastics.
“We are really starting to focus on this, it’s just going to take a bit of resettling. I don’t think anyone can answer how long this will take but we’re definitely back on track to being environmentally focused.”
In addition to the issues bought about by the sudden change in business models, the pandemic has meant that single-use products were seen as cleaner and healthier.
Tom Egerton, spirits evangelist at Proof & Company, said: “There is a health factor which has been bought into hospitality - people don’t want to share items. The immediate threat to health takes priority - humans are not great planners for the future, it’s how we have developed and that’s why we are facing mountains of plastics.
“We’re already seeing a switch away from FMCG items such as napkins and straws and chopsticks and moving more towards technology which means we can have zero contact within the business - so menus you can scan using QR codes. There are also alternative technologies to look at different ways we can cut carbon footprint- using blockchain tracking technology to track seafood, which gives you something auditable. We will be able to combine sustainability and health and we will be able to track our carbon footprints.”
Lindsay Jang, co-founder, Yardbird Hong Kong and Ronin, drew attention to how the consumer could also take responsibility, commenting: “We’re giving people an opportunity to participate and asking customers whether they need extra cutlery and napkins. It’s about shifting your mindset as a consumer; just because it’s free doesn’t mean that you should take it.”
Jang pointed to the moves by companies such as Starbuck ahead of the pandemic, encouraging customers to bring their own mugs, something which has ended as a result of the pandemic because of health concerns. She said: “I think we have to get through Covid before we can resume that and be safe.”
Egerton added: “It’s very easy for customers to be overwhelmed by sustainability and we have always tried to educate people about greenwashing, which can create new waste schemes - for example some bioplastics need specific treatments to break down and need to be separated out from the main waste stream.
“Vote with your dollar towards more sustainable operations and then people who are making single-use will turn their operations towards something more responsible.”
Insight: It feels like several lockdowns ago, but if one casts one’s mind back then images of dolphins frolicking around Venice and rare birds coming back to city woodlands flood back to mind. And there was talk of car-free urban areas and how we were all going to be better people and live in harmony with the planet.
Then we all got hungry and bored of cooking the same old banana bread over and over again and takeaway was go. And now, to support the sector we love, the urge is to travel again, to find ways to fly safely, to generally get out and about.
But, much as there is the debate between people’s health and the health of economies, so there is the debate between the health of economies and the health of the planet. The two are not mutually exclusive, as this panel concluded. But responsibility cannot be outsourced, either by companies or consumers and the sooner it is integrated into everyday life the sooner we can go back to those dolphin days.