UNEP & UN Tourism: “Recipe of Change” Initiative

Launched:     March 30, 2026 (International Day of Zero Waste)

The commitment:     Participating businesses commit to tracking food waste levels and implementing operational and behavioural solutions to halve global food waste by 2030 (SDG 12.3) .

The backing:     Companies generating over     USD $56.5 billion in annual revenue     have joined .

Major signatories include:    

Early proof of concept – Hilton's Green Ramadan:    

• 2023 pilots: 60% food waste reduction across 3 hotels
• 2026 expansion: 64 hotels now participating
• Additional reductions: 20-30% achieved in subsequent phases

“2.3 billion people experience food insecurity every single day. With a third of the world’s population failing to receive these basic human rights and food wastage contributing up to 10% of global greenhouse gases, we must take decisive action.”
— Shaikha Al Nuwais , Secretary-General, UN Tourism

“Tourism businesses are in a unique position to redesign menus, encourage lasting behavioural change and deliver measurable reductions in food waste. We are calling on more businesses across the tourism sector to become active partners.”
— Sheila Aggarwal-Khan , Director, Industry and Economy Division, UNEP

   WTTC: Hotel Sustainability Basics – 5,000 Hotels Milestone

Announced:     March 2026

The numbers that matter:    

The 12-step criteria covers:     Carbon emissions reduction, energy efficiency, water management, waste reduction, and local community benefit .

Regional adoption:     Hotels across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific have adopted Basics, with new partnerships in     Japan, the Philippines, and India     .

Endorsements from destinations including:     Caribbean, Mauritius, Colombia, UAE, Azerbaijan, Mexico, Ecuador .

“WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics is a powerful testament to our collective effort in promoting sustainable practices in the hospitality industry. Surpassing 5,000 verified properties demonstrates Travel & Tourism’s readiness to embrace sustainability globally.”
— Julia Simpson , President & CEO, WTTC (TILL 2025)

 CAS Trips: On-Trip Carbon Measurement

Launched:     March 2026

What they measured:     First educational tour operator to track carbon footprint of accommodation, food, and local transportation based on actual trip itineraries .

The data:    

Why this matters for B2B:     CAS Trips now displays     emissions labels on every destination page    , allowing schools to compare carbon footprints at a glance. This level of transparency is rare in the educational travel sector but signals where procurement is heading .

“Publishing on-trip emissions data isn’t a marketing exercise. It’s a commitment to the schools and students who trust us. For young people learning to be global citizens, seeing that kind of transparency modeled by the adults organizing their travel matters.”
— Neil Brinckerhoff , Sustainability Manager, CAS Trips