Does your company have a plant-forward food sustainability policy? Non-profit organization Scope Three Action just published scorecards ranking hotel groups across Europe and North America on their plant-forward food sustainability policies, revealing that most major chains lack the measurable commitments needed to address one of the key sources of their carbon emissions.
According to Scope Three Action, the scorecards evaluate clear, publicly disclosed plant-forward policies and protein diversification targets across the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. While only a handful of leaders have committed so far, this approach is gaining traction, with momentum building as more hotel groups recognize the business case for such policies. Forward-thinking hotels adopting these goals not only cut emissions and attract guests, but also reduce costs, improve margins, and decrease exposure to price-volatile ingredients.
The global food system is a major contributor to climate change, and for hotels specifically, the food supply chain represents one of the largest sources of their carbon footprint. Scientific research, including findings from the EAT-Lancet Commission and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, confirms that increasing the share of plant-based ingredients across menus is essential for meeting climate targets. Plant-based proteins generate significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than animal-based alternatives while reducing pressure on land, water, and biodiversity.
Single Biggest Opportunity Overlooked
Scope Three Action says food is the climate solution hiding in plain sight for the hotel industry. While many chains focus on incremental gains in energy or waste, they’re overlooking the single biggest opportunity: what they serve on the plate. Shifting protein sourcing delivers emissions reductions that dwarf most other operational changes yet require no capital investment in infrastructure.
As offering plant-based options has become the bare minimum, companies demonstrating genuine commitment are moving forward with measurable policies and targets. An A rating requires a public target with a specific deadline to make at least 30 percent of meals plant-based or vegetarian, or to achieve a specific protein-split procurement target. Lower ratings reflect commitments without deadlines, partial venue implementation, or no policy at all.
In Germany, Accor and Radisson Hotel Group both achieved A ratings, demonstrating industry leadership. Accor committed globally to 50 percent vegetarian or plant-based dishes by 2030, with Novotel hotels targeting 25 percent plant-based offerings by 2026. Radisson Hotel Group set a target for the EMEA region to offer 35 to 40 percent of menu options as plant-based or vegetarian, and has consistently exceeded it, currently offering 30 to 40 percent plant-based and 60 to 65 percent vegetarian meal options across its properties.
The United States and Canada show a starker divide. Accor leads with an A rating while Radisson drops to C for setting a 40 percent plant-based and vegetarian goal without a specific deadline, reflecting weaker North American commitments. Other major groups, such as B&B Hotels, Choice Hotels, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Minor Hotels, Premier Inn, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, received F ratings because they have no public policy.
