Caesars Entertainment Corp. recently released its 2012 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability report, “Vibrant Communities.” The report summarizes the impacts of Caesars on “people, society and the environment” during 2012 and the early part of 2013. For those of you not entirely familiar with Caesars, the company’s properties operate primarily under the Harrah’s, Caesars, and Horseshoe brand names.
Unique to the report is its adherence to the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines—guidelines released earlier this year.
I read through the report and was impressed by the company’s accomplishments—especially its 8.5 percent reduction in electricity and gas consumption from 2007 through 2012. The savings equal enough energy to power a community of more than 30,000. The company’s goal is to reduce its energy consumption per thousand air-conditioned feet by 20 percent by 2015 (baseline 2007) and 40 percent by 2025. From 2007 to 2012, Caesars also reduced its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by more than 20 percent and its water consumption per square foot of air-conditioned space by 7 percent. And, last year the company diverted 24 percent of total waste. It was the first year the company fully measured the total waste diverted to recycling.
Out With the Old
Key to Caesars’ energy savings is aggressive investments in retrofits. Caesars has invested nearly $70 million in energy conservation projects alone during the past nine years and has invested in more than 162 major retrofits. Areas addressed include lighting, laundry facilities, air handling systems, and heating and cooling.
In 2012 Caesars expanded its CodeGreen scorecard to include utility data and started quarterly reporting. (CodeGreen is the name of the company’s green program first launched in 2007.) Caesars also launched its EV charging stations program on a pilot basis in 2012 and expanded it significantly this year.
The company stepped up its green meetings training for property teams and there are now more than 200 Green Meeting Professionals within Caesars.
Increase in Green Purchasing
Also last year, Caesars accelerated its sustainable supply chain strategy and is engaging suppliers around three areas of concern: electronics, seafood and paper. The company’s aim is to identify and reward those suppliers that offer eco-friendly products and use recycled or other sustainably sourced materials, such as those complying with green certifications like Green Seal, Eco-Logo, Green Guard, LEED, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance.
The report includes case study examples and touches on areas including health and wellness, diversity, responsible gaming, and commitment to communities. You can access the report by clicking here.
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