Sustainability in Hospitality: The Future of Hospitality

Each year, the hotel industry generates an estimated 289,700 tons of waste. The carbon footprint of the global hospitality industry is estimated to be 3% of all carbon emissions. These figures highlight the urgent need for changes across the board.

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. It serves as an international call to action in support of environmental responsibility. Earth Day 2025 will have a theme of Our Power Our Planet The goal is to get people to support renewable energy and triple global clean electricity generation by 2030. For the hospitality industry, which relies heavily on natural resources, sustainability is no longer optional—it’s a business imperative.

Snapfix is a company that believes change begins with action. As a business deeply involved in the operations of hotels, we understand the importance and opportunity to lead by instance. Our goal is to empower hospitality teams to operate more efficiently and sustainably by simplifying maintenance, reducing waste, and supporting their journey toward green certifications—backed by real-time data and actionable insights.

Hotels that are committed to sustainability will have an edge over their competitors as guest expectations change, regulations tighten and cost-savings become more closely linked with green initiatives. In this article, we’ll explore why sustainability matters more than ever and how hospitality leaders can take the  steps toward a greener future.

Environmental Impact of Hospitality

Key areas of concern for the hospitality industry include:

Sustainability is a key factor for hospitality businesses to stay competitive.

Sustainability in hospitality is important now

1. Changes in Guest Expectations

Travelers today actively look for eco-friendly accommodation. The study shows that 75% of travelers want to travel more sustainably, and 43% feel guilty when they make less  eco-friendly travel choices.

Eco-conscious guests are looking for tangible sustainability initiatives, such as:

• Elimination of single-use plastics
• Lighting and thermostats that are energy efficient
• Initiatives to conserve water (e.g. towel reuse programs).

2. Regulatory Compliance & ESG Reporting

Environmental policies are becoming more strict. Both government and industry organizations have adopted them. To comply with ESG frameworks (Environmental, Social, and Governance), many hotels are required to track and report sustainability metrics, including carbon emissions and water consumption.

The following are key regulatory actions:

• EU Green Deal Hotels must reduce emissions and improve waste disposal.
• SEC Climate Disclosure Rules The hospitality industry in the United States must disclose climate risks.
• Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Guideline: Hotel sustainability: a global standard

3. Cost Savings & Operational Efficiency

Sustainability is not just good for the planet—it’s also good for business. Energy-efficient upgrades such as smart HVAC systems and water-saving fittings can lower operating costs. By investing in energy monitoring systems, hotels are able to monitor and optimize their energy consumption in real time, reducing unnecessary expenditures and costs.

Hotel energy costs can be reduced by up to 30 percent through efficient measures. This will result in substantial savings over the long term.

4. Brand Reputation & Competitive Advantage

A solid sustainability strategy will enhance your brand’s reputation and increase guest loyalty. Investors and corporate customers are more interested in hotels with Environmental, Social, and Governance objectives.

How hotels can become more sustainable

 Energy Efficiency

• Install motion-activated lighting and smart thermostats to save energy.
• To reduce carbon emissions, invest in energy-efficient HVAC and solar panels.
• Installing EV charging stations will encourage the use of sustainable transportation.

Water Conservation

• Install low-flow showers and toilets in order to reduce your water consumption.
• Install rainwater harvesting system for irrigation and cleaning.
• Reduce laundry waste by offering guests the option to opt in for towel and linen reuse.
• Use drought-resistant plants to create a water-efficient landscape.

Waste Reduction

• Replace single-use disposable plastics in the guest room and dining area with biodegradable, reusable or recycled alternatives.
• Optimize kitchen efficiency by implementing food waste tracking programs.
• Composting is a responsible way to dispose of organic waste.
• Donate surplus food to local food banks instead of throwing it away.
• Offer guests reusable amenities (e.g. refillable dispensers for toiletries instead of small bottles).
• Reduce paper waste by using QR codes and digital menus.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning & Maintenance

• Choose non-toxic and green-certified cleaning agents to minimize the impact on the environment.
• Snapfix, a cloud-based task manager that reduces paper and increases efficiency.
• Instead of paper towels, use microfiber cloths to clean.
• Install air purifiers that use eco-friendly filters for indoor air quality.
• Staff uniforms should be made of sustainable materials and eco-friendly.

Sustainable Sourcing

• Reduce food miles by using locally-sourced organic ingredients at hotel restaurants.
• To support ethical suppliers, choose fair-trade products such as coffee, teas and sustainable seafood.
• For event decoration, partner with sustainable florists.
• Use biodegradable packages for food and beverages that you take away.

Snapfix – Technology that is Sustainable

• Real-time Issue Tracking: Find and correct leaks quickly, HVAC inefficiencies and lighting faults.
• Paperless Task Management: Snapfix can be used for daily housekeeping, maintenance and other operations to reduce paper waste.
• Energy optimization Use Snapfix to automate and track maintenance tasks, so that energy systems are running at maximum efficiency.
• Water conservation alerts: Instant reporting and response tools can help you detect and stop leaks.
• Sustainability Reporting ESG reporting is easier to track and log with the ability to track and log green initiatives.
• Staff collaboration: Facilitate the coordination of sustainability tasks by teams through an easy-to-use, centralized platform.
• Snapfix is a great tool to use in conjunction other tools. EnergyElephant to make better energy and sustainability decisions with automation, AI & data.

Snapfix is a great tool for helping us adopt more sustainable practices. This will help us achieve green certifications in the future.

— Nathan Quinlan, Hotel Manager, Skyview Bangkok

Earth Day: Quick Wins

• Audit the energy and waste in your hotel.
• Plant trees on Earth Day.
• Launch a challenge to eliminate plastics in April.
• Share your sustainability commitment on social media using #EarthDay2025 and #SustainableHospitality.
• Replacing plastic water bottles with reusable glass or aluminum bottles.
• Set the thermostat to a low-energy default in rooms that are not occupied.
• In the guest room, provide reusable bags for local shopping.
• Signs that encourage guests to turn the lights off and the AC when they leave their room are a great idea.
• Eliminate plastic stirrers, straws, and individually wrapped condiments in the café and restaurant.
• Install a water station in the gym or lobby.
• You can offer discounts or special offers to guests arriving by public transportation, bicycle or even by foot.
• Staff can be briefed on sustainability issues or given a quick training session.
• Earth Day is a great time to partner with local farms or bakeries and feature locally-sourced, sustainable foods.
• All areas should be cleaned with eco-certified cleaning agents.
• Encourage your staff to bring their own reusable water bottles or mugs to work.
• Use Snapfix to log and assign sustainability-related tasks.

The Future Is Green—and It Starts Now

Earth Day 2025 is a great opportunity to make a point: sustainability is not a nice-to-have, it is a necessity. From reducing waste and conserving resources to meeting ESG targets and exceeding guest expectations, hospitality businesses that embrace sustainability are not just protecting the planet—they’re building smarter, more resilient operations for the future.

There’s no better time than now to start taking action, whether it’s by switching to ecofriendly practices, using smart technology such as Snapfix, and learning from industry leaders, like Wren Urban Nest or Dromoland Castle.

Let this Earth Day be the moment your team doubles down on sustainability—not just for your guests or your brand, but for the generations to come.