Mandarin Oriental reports positive progress towards sustainability goals

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has published its 14th annual Sustainability Report, highlighting positive gains across its environmental and social goals.

The report revealed that, across the group’s portfolio of 43 hotels, 12 sets of residences and 26 private homes, energy intensity has been cut by 21% compared to its 2012 baseline, and carbon emissions have been reduced by 30%.

To help save energy at Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, the group has installed a GeniLac system that uses deep water from Lake Geneva to heat and cool the property.

The report also highlighted improvements in water usage, with this dropping by 13% since 2012, and waste intensity, which has been cut by 37%.

An AI-based food waste tool has now been rolled out to selected kitchens, with group-wide implementation planned for this year, and more than two-thirds of Mandarin Oriental properties have begun composting food waste. The brand’s Hong Kong property has made particular progress in this field, with the employee restaurant seeing a 73% reduction in food wastage.

The report’s findings also include near-eradication of single-use plastic across the portfolio, with 99% removed from the properties. Mandarin Oriental, Canouan also joined the UN-backed Global Tourism Plastics Initiative.

To ensure ethical procurement, the group now responsibly sources coffee, tea, coca, vanilla, sugar and paper, while its methods of obtaining seafood comply with the World Wildlife Fund’s standards.

To deepen its support for local communities, Mandarin Oriental employees contributed more than 78,000 hours of volunteer time during 2024, supporting more than 500 charitable initiatives.

All staff members also completed training in inclusive workplace practices, while 132 obtained certification as mental health first aiders. The group plans to introduce further support for its employees in 2025, beginning with a Women in Mandarin Oriental resource group to “enhance visibility, advocacy and connection”.

The report also revealed that 92% of more than 100,000 surveyed guests expressed satisfaction with the brand’s sustainability practices, marking an increase from 91% in 2023.

Mandarin Oriental’s chief executive, Laurent Kleitman, said: “Sustainability at Mandarin Oriental is not a separate pursuit, but integral to how we grow, how we lead and how we serve. It reflects the choices we make each day, from the design of our buildings to the way we support our people and engage with communities.

“This report speaks to progress that is both considered and collective – built by many and with purpose.”