Bob W Exposes Underestimated Carbon Footprint in Hospitality Industry

• Bob W’s new measurement tool, LEGIT, reveals that the hotel sector’s carbon emissions are five times higher than previously estimated.
• The new tool, developed in collaboration with Furthr, takes into account a wider range of factors, including indirect emissions, for more accurate data gathering and transparent reporting.

Hotel carbon emissions are significantly greater than previously thought, according to new research by hospitality operator Bob W. The innovative measurement tool, ‘Lodging Emissions & Guest-night Impact Tracker’ (LEGIT), indicates that emissions are at least five times higher than estimates derived from existing frameworks, such as the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI).

This tool, developed by Bob W in collaboration with consultancy Furthr, provides comprehensive environmental impact metrics for each room type in every Bob W property. The company now publishes these metrics on its booking website, guest app, and sustainability reports, fostering transparency and enabling guests to make informed, sustainable choices about their accommodation.

While the HCMI standard has been widely used and praised for its role in carbon measurement, it only includes factors such as electricity, gas, refrigerant gases, and laundry services. On the other hand, LEGIT goes a step further by incorporating additional elements like the environmental impact of construction materials, cleaning services, toiletries, food and drink consumables, waste, water, and furnishings.

Upon applying LEGIT to their portfolio, Bob W found that the average carbon footprint was 419% higher than the HCMI estimate—a staggering fivefold increase. This significant discrepancy was largely due to the inclusion of more supplier-contributed indirect emissions.

This new tool’s implications are far-reaching. It provides a more comprehensive understanding of the hotel sector’s environmental impact and raises crucial questions about the efficacy of current sustainability strategies within the sector. This implies that many operators could fall short of addressing the full scope of their emissions, particularly from indirect sources.

Bob W, known for its commitment to sustainable practices, is a leader in the hospitality industry. In 2021, it became the first international climate-neutral hospitality provider and has pledged to become a net-zero business by 2050. The company offsets 100% of its operational emissions and prioritizes renewable energy sources.

The company’s latest Sustainability Report provides a detailed assessment of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for its entire portfolio in 2023, revealing a total carbon footprint of 4,489 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) – a 90% increase from 2022.

Recognizing the industry’s need for transparency, Bob W encourages other operators to adopt comprehensive standards, accurately measure emissions, and share data transparently. It also urges the industry to help guests make informed choices and foster trust.

With the unveiling of the LEGIT tool, Bob W has taken a bold step in addressing the hospitality industry’s environmental impact. The company is committed to refining and enhancing the tool through open dialogue and collaboration, underscoring the importance of collective effort in creating a more sustainable industry.