Iberostar Hotels and Resorts has reduced food waste by 28 per cent in 48 of its hotels thanks to the use of artificial intelligence.
The hotel group partnered with Winnow Solutions in September 2022 as part of its Wave of Change sustainability programme, with the aim of saving 1,600 tons of food waste per year, equivalent to 5.3 million meals.
The Winnow Vision AI technology uses intelligent cameras, smart scales and meters to analyse ingredients used during food preparation, to assess which food items are most wasted and in what quantities.
The technology is currently installed in 48 of Iberostar hotels, with plans to implement the system in all of its hotels globally.
The hotels equipped with Winnow technology saved 735,000 meals from going to waste during the first half of the year, which corresponds to a reduction of 1,264 tons of CO2 emissions.
It is estimated that the hotel group will save a total of 1.5 million meals this year, corresponding to a reduction of 2,500 tons of CO2 emissions.
Megan Morikawa, Iberostar’s global sustainability director, said:
“Our partnership with Winnow is a testament to our commitment towards a waste-free future. It is truly inspiring to see our chefs embrace the program and create tangible change. This achievement reinforces Iberostar’s position as a leader in creating a sustainable travel industry.”
Iberostar has set itself a target of being waste-free by 2025 and carbon neutral by 2030.
A number of other hotels are tackling food waste through similar initiatives, with Accor and IHG Hotels and Resorts adopting Winnow’s technology at selected properties while Radisson Hotel Group has redistributed food surplus via anti-waste app Too Good To Go.
