IHG is working with VietHarvest to reduce food
waste, educate communities on food security and sustainability,
and provide meals for the underserved in Vietnam.
By supporting VietHarvest’s Food Rescue programme,
IHG will prevent food from its growing number of hotels in the
country going to waste and use it to
feed a range of communities via a charity network starting in and
around
Hanoi.
The commitment is expected to expand to all IHG’s properties in
Vietnam, where the company has 15 open hotels and 22 in a growing pipeline.
IHG has also pledged funds to enable VietHarvest
to expand logistics and operational support in Hanoi, scale up
food rescue and its charitable operations, and enable it to
deliver more than 10,000 meals to underserved communities.
This working relationship is an extension of the ongoing partnership between IHG and OzHarvest in
Australia which was formed in 2019.
“I want to acknowledge and thank IHG Hotels &
Resorts for coming on board so early in our journey in Vietnam.
IHG’s support is invaluable as we expand and scale up our
operation, and it will enable us to deliver thousands more meals
to underserved communities in Vietnam,” said Jimmy Pham, Co-founder, VietHarvest. “Our mission at VietHarvest is to reduce food
waste and hunger and we need partners such as IHG to embark on
this journey with us. Our approach is unique in Vietnam, providing
businesses with a solution to divert waste from landfill, reduce
carbon emissions and tackle social challenges. We believe that
through strong partnerships we can minimise the social and
environmental impact of food waste and build awareness of this
important topic.”
Launched by IHG in 2021, ‘Journey to Tomorrow’ is
a 10-year responsible business plan committed to bringing change
to people, communities and the planet, aligned to its purpose of
True Hospitality for Good and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
of the United Nations.
“As VietHarvest grows its operation in Vietnam, we
will continue to support it, rescuing quality surplus food and
delivering it to organisations that support communities in need.
It’s wonderful that our Hanoi-based hotels – InterContinental
Hanoi Westlake and InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 – are already
actively involved and supporting VietHarvest,” said Rajit Sukumaran,
Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts, South East Asia and
Korea. “Progress is best achieved when we work together, and we
will collaborate closely with those who stay, work and partner
with us, and empower our people to make a difference in helping us
get there.”
:
Hotel Waste,
Single-Use Plastic and Climate Change – HD Video Interview with
WWF.
