Home Personnel Profile Hilton’s Judy Pines Takes Lead in Carrying Out Company’s Responsible Sourcing Initiatives

Hilton’s Judy Pines Takes Lead in Carrying Out Company’s Responsible Sourcing Initiatives

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Name: Judy Pines
Title: Director Strategic Sourcing Sustainability & Special Projects
Company: Hilton Worldwide
Years in position: Almost one year
Primary responsibilities: “I am the lead sustainability resource within Hilton Supply Management with responsibility for the coordination of all global sustainability and corporate responsibility strategy and planning.”   
Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment in the area of strategic sourcing: “Implementation of our mattress recycling program.”  
Organization’s most significant sustainability-related challenge in the area of strategic sourcing: “Driving awareness and helping owners to see the value of being sustainable. Also, learning how to look at the total cost of ownership.”  

MCLEAN, VA.—Last year Hilton Worldwide began implementing a responsible sourcing strategy that had four main components, the first of which was development of a position within Hilton Supply Management to oversee responsible sourcing, sustainability and special projects. The person selected to fill that role was Judy Pines. Hilton did not have to look far to find her. Pines had been with Hilton for more than 30 years, having originally started as an administrative assistant. Just prior to her current role, Pines was Director Strategic Sourcing FF&E, a position in which she researched, developed, implemented and managed value based supply chain solutions for FF&E products.

One of Pines’ primary responsibilities is dealing with waste within the supply chain. Her efforts support RePurpose, Hilton’s waste management program, which helps hotels find creative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle to avoid waste. Pines was instrumental in the development and implementation of a corporate-wide mattress recycling program, an initiative that Pines says has resulted in more than 1 million pounds of mattress waste being diverted from the landfill. In late 2012, Hilton first announced its mattress recycling initiative in coordination with the installation of new Serta mattresses and box springs. In that program, Hilton works with Global Sustainability Solutions to manage the installation of new mattresses and box springs and the removal of the old ones for recycling.

Pines has also worked on bulb, battery and electronics recycling programs and is currently examining ways to reduce food waste volume at Hilton properties. Food waste decomposition machines are being looked at and Pines says Hilton already has partnered with one supplier of these types of machines.

Leads Global Responsible Sourcing Advisory Group

Another part of Hilton’s responsible sourcing strategy unveiled last year was the creation of a global responsible sourcing advisory group to create alignment across regions and share best practices.

“I am the facilitator of the group,” Pines says. “I facilitate our meetings and communication. Prior to 2014, Hilton Supply Management did not have a dedicated group that would focus on sustainability.”

This year Hilton updated its global Responsible Sourcing Policy to be inclusive of social, economic and environmental criteria. Hilton also integrated social, human rights and environmental clauses into its supplier registration platform and master supplier agreement, both of which are used for all purchases made by Hilton Supply Management globally.

Pines says suppliers wishing to do business with Hilton are required to register on the company’s registration portal. Questions there include sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Many Hotels Participate in Local Sourcing Initiative

In regard to local food sourcing, Pines says Hilton has made significant progress. In the Americas, for example, Hilton and its suppliers identify food products that can be sourced locally and form relationships with area farmers to collect and distribute products to its hotels. To date Hilton has more than 40 hotels in 11 major cities participating in its local sourcing and education program. Hilton has worked with suppliers to develop unique training for farmers related to handling and safety guidelines and insurance requirements—all of which are needed to supply Hilton properties.

Last year Hilton enacted a global ban on shark fin purchasing effective April 1, 2014. Following the ban, Hilton also enacted a brand standard prohibiting the purchasing of all endangered species globally.

In regard to supplier diversity, this year Hilton expects to spend more than $250 million with minority, women, veteran and LGBT owned enterprises. This will be a 9 percent increase over 2014.

Pines, who holds a BA in Art from California State University Northridge, says she has been passionate about sustainability for many years. “It gelled when ‘green’ and ‘sustainability’ became the new buzzwords,” she says. “It is rewarding to be in a role that has a responsibility for developing sustainability strategy. I enjoy the ability to make a difference and contribute to a better world.”

Pines is certified by the Institute for Supply Management as a Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) and Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P). She is a member of the Institute for Supply Management-Northern VA, a member of the Center for Sustainable Procurement Leadership Group and a volunteer for the Capital Region Minority Supplier Diversity Council.

Go to Hilton Worldwide.

Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

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