TORONTO—The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has welcomed Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a worldwide hotel brand known for its industry-leading environmental efforts, as the newest member of its innovative Climate Savers Program. In recognition of this new partnership, Fairmont has agreed to a brand-wide carbon emissions reduction plan and has pledged to reduce operational CO2 emissions from its existing portfolio of hotels by 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2013, while also ensuring that new Fairmont properties strive to reduce their CO2 emissions through the implementation of the brand’s new Energy and Carbon Management program.
In addition, Fairmont will:
• Finalize a Green Procurement Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct by the end of 2009;
• Educate and encourage its top suppliers (representing approximately 25 percent of the supply chain) to provide products in accordance with the Green Procurement Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct by the end of 2010;
• Update existing Design and Construction standards to incorporate and reflect LEED standards by the end of 2011;
• Endeavor to include sustainable and LEED-certified hotels across the brand; and
• Seek to relocate Fairmont Hotels & Resorts corporate offices in Toronto, Canada to a building with a LEED NC Gold target by 2011.
The Climate Savers Program is a collaboration among some of the world’s leading corporations and WWF to show leadership in voluntarily reducing emissions and heading off the environmental impacts associated with climate change. Fortune 500 companies and other top businesses like The Coca-Cola Company, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, and Nike partner with WWF to develop practical, cost-effective strategies that reduce emissions of CO2 and achieve energy efficiency goals. By 2010, the 21 Climate Saver companies will collectively cut carbon emissions by some 14 million tons annually—the equivalent of taking more than 3 million cars off the road every year, while at the same time, saving these companies hundreds of millions of dollars.
Makes Economic Sense
“This is a great way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of WWF’s Climate Savers Program,” said Gerald Butts, WWF-Canada’s president and CEO. “Leading companies like Fairmont are proving that strong environmental action is good for the economy.”
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a global hotel leader known for its pioneering commitment to environmentally sustainable business practices and was the first major hotel chain in North America to embrace environmental stewardship within its daily operations through its award-winning Green Partnership program. In support of its climate change strategy, Fairmont has measured its emissions for scope 1 (direct emissions) and scope 2 (electricity consumption) across its 53 managed properties from 2006 levels for the calculation of its current greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The brand’s carbon footprint is 375,766 metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions annually or 0.055 metric tons of CO2e emissions per guest night. Fairmont has committed to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2013, which is the equivalent of removing 19,777 cars from the road annually, avoiding the burning of 174,775 barrels of oil, and avoiding the consumption of 1,004 tanker trucks of gasoline.
“We see our Climate Savers partnership with WWF as a sound strategic decision, one that will help ensure destination health and contribute to the financial stability of the industry,” said Thomas W. Storey, president, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “Fairmont is proud to be the first global hotel brand to partner with WWF to tackle climate change and we look forward to achieving significant CO2 reductions from our operations worldwide.”
Emission reductions at Fairmont will be achieved through a number of activities including improved energy efficiency, increased conversion to renewable energy supply, optimized purchasing efficiencies and promoting conservation practices among its colleagues. Fairmont will continue to implement energy efficiency initiatives across its portfolio and increase its use of renewable energy supply where possible. In addition to reducing its own emissions, Fairmont will share best practices with other organizations committed to the protection of the environment and work to increase guest engagement and awareness on issues related to reducing its overall CO2 output.
Go to Fairmont and WWF-Canada.
