Zero Waste Day - tourism leaders launch a global "Recipe for Change"

"Recipe for Change is an initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Tourism Program to tackle a major global sustainability challenge: food waste.

The initiative has been adopted by major global players in the tourism sector, who together serve more than 600 million guests annually and generate more than USD 56,5 billion in annual revenue, mobilizing the sector on a large scale to prevent food waste, influenced consumer behavior and accelerated the transition to more sustainable food systems.

On the occasion of International Zero Waste Day, a Global Roundtable was convened to accelerate the reduction of food waste in the tourism sector. In addition to recognizing the environmental challenges, the event also highlighted that reducing food waste can contribute to lower costs for the sector, build resilience to supply shocks and contribute to broader food security.

Through the Recipe for Change, stakeholders will measure food waste in their operations and implement operational and behavioral solutions in line with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 on reducing food waste by 2030.

"2,3 billion people experience food insecurity every day. With a third of the world's population not enjoying this basic human right, and food waste contributing up to 10% of global greenhouse gases, we must take decisive action. Recipe for Change aims to do just that - with the tourism sector directly supporting solutions that encourage sustainable consumption", she said Sheikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism.

The need for direct impact on the ground was reiterated by Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of the Industry and Economics Department at UNEP: "Tourism businesses are uniquely positioned to redesign menus, drive lasting behavioral change, and achieve measurable reductions in food waste. We call on more businesses in the tourism sector to become active partners in Recipe for Change and help accelerate progress towards halving global food waste.."

The initiative involved major players in the tourism sector who joined UNEP and UN Tourism to create impact on the ground, including: Accor, Constance Hotels & Resorts, Club Med, easyJet holidays, Grupo Posadas, Hilton, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Minor Hotels, Meliá Hotels International, Radisson Hotel Group, Six Senses, TUI Group, Lightblue Consulting and Winnow.

The interest of these tourism leaders reflects the private sector's continued commitment to sustainability. It builds on successes such as the "Green Ramadan" led by Hilton in partnership with Winnow, in which participating hotels reduced food waste by more than 60% in early pilots (in 2023), with further reductions of 20-30% in subsequent editions, while the initiative expanded from 3 hotels to 64 hotels in 2026.

To further accelerate the sector's transformation, UN Tourism and UNEP are encouraging businesses in the tourism sector to join the movement and help cut food waste in half.