Hilton and WWF have announced a new partnership to help tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges that the hospitality company is facing. Their collaboration will focus on water stewardship and seafood sustainability.
This kind of cooperation was not always the norm. Many NGOs have historically focused on campaigning against corporations and corporate behaviors, contributing to a mutual mistrust. However, more recently, partnerships between NGOs and corporations have had a strong record of success in corporate social responsibility efforts. For example, Oxfam’s recent work with Unilever helped improve the lives of smallholder farmers in their supply chain. Hilton and WWF’s new partnership marks an exciting continuation of this trend, particularly because of the size, power, and ambition of the two entities.
The partnership faces a difficult task as they confront the crucial hospitality issues of water and seafood sustainability. As with many other industries, achieving transparency in the supply chain in order to improve environmental performance is a major difficulty for food services and lodging companies. This is one of the many challenges Hilton and WWF will face. Other organizations and experts will be watching for guidance and new ideas.
You can find more information on sustainability challenges in the food service and lodging industries here.