By the end of March Envirowise Northern Ireland team helped identify approximately £400k of potential savings as a result of a scoping study of resource efficiency opportunities for the Tourism and Accommodation sector in Northern Ireland.
An environmental review was undertaken of eleven hotels and one Youth Hostel Association in Northern Ireland. It was aimed at identifying specific environmental trends and opportunities for more resource efficient business practices and measures. Face to face Envirowise Resource Diagnostic Visits were conducted with each participating company, followed by an Envirowise Fast Track Visit, to identify waste, water and energy improvements and quantify potential cost savings available.
As well as benefiting the companies involved, the team has also been able to gain a valuable insight into common trends and issues for the sector, including, amongst others the ongoing challenges of diverting food waste from landfill and offering alternatives to the companies. Advice on measuring and monitoring waste and disposal costs on a monthly basis, implementing an environmental policy statement and general awareness and training of staff were other areas where the companies requested further help.
Envirowise is now calling on other companies in the sector to review their use of resources and reap the financial benefits that action can bring. A series of simple, self-help publications available at http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Sectors/Hospitality-and-Catering.html
and provide the ideal starting point.
Sam McCloskey, Envirowise Regional Manager for Northern Ireland, commented on the results of the project: "The results of the research and environmental review have been invaluable to the businesses concerned, but will also help inform our future support for the sector. We now have robust information which will assist in helping Northern Ireland’s hotels and youth hostels realise significant cost saving opportunities through improved resource efficiency and competitiveness."