MindClick Global, a leader in supply chain sustainability performance and sourcing solutions, announced Thursday that Marriott International is ahead of its sustainable sourcing goals for 2013. In 2012, Marriott committed to spend 75 percent of its 2013 furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) budget with suppliers who are part of the MindClick Hospitality Index for Sustainable Sourcing (HSP Index). As of June 15, 2013, Marriott has reached 60 percent of its goal.
"With over 30 participating suppliers representing 20 product categories ranging from bath fixtures to seating, carpets to casegoods, fabrics to mattresses, lighting to mirrors, and more, we are very pleased with the support we're seeing from of our suppliers," said Dave Lippert, Vice President Architecture & Construction Procurement for Marriott International. "Sustainability is of high importance to Marriott and to our guests and our communities, and we can make a significant impact by furnishing and supplying hotels in ways that are better for the guest, and better for the environment. We applaud the vendors who have supported us in this effort and look forward to more joining the MindClick Index program."
MindClick's HSP Index is used by global brands to source from suppliers whose operating practices, products and services help improve their customers' own sustainability performance. Measuring supply chain performance in corporate social responsibility, environmental operations and product sustainability, MindClick's Index serves to both "green" existing suppliers and provide access to new supplier solutions.
"We are so impressed by the efforts of participating suppliers to be socially and environmentally responsible, and to find ways their products can help meet the increased demands for reducing the environmental impact of hotels," say JoAnna Abrams, CEO of MindClick Global.
As a result of MindClick's Index, more than 25 percent of evaluated suppliers have set reduction and/or conservation targets. In addition to sustainability reporting, Marriott intends to use MindClick's Index to identify sustainable product solutions for use in future hotel design efforts.
"As we look to meet the millennial traveler's focus on meaningful sustainability efforts, having a resource for sustainable FF&E sourcing will help us with our future design needs," said Deborah Huguely, Vice President of Global Product Development.
Other key players in the hospitality industry have recently made strides in increasing the social benefits of their operations by supporting education and career development programs: Last month, Hyatt Hotels announced a long-term commitment to help improve education and workforce readiness through a new global philanthropy program focused on literacy and career development; and earlier this month, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Global Travel & Tourism Partnership (GTTP) launched an industry philanthropic initiative aimed at promoting sustainable tourism development and educating secondary school students on career opportunities in travel and tourism.
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Published Jul 19, 2013 9pm EDT / 6pm PDT / 2am BST / 3am CEST