Four Seasons releases 2022 ESG report

Any dollar figures are stated in USD unless otherwise indicated. The report is designed to share the organization’s ESG accomplishments to date, including efforts that extend back decades, with a strong emphasis on the calendar year ended December 31, 2022.

Unless otherwise stated, data related to portfolio level achievements are based on information that was self-reported by its hotels, resorts and residences via an annual survey process with a March 31, 2023 deadline. The report also sets out Four Seasons’ plans for its ESG program, distilled in a simple commitment: Four Seasons for Good.

Highlights from the report:

Four Seasons is committed to supporting our communities and the environment. Through its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) program, Four Seasons for Good, the company reports that it aims to preserve and regenerate the beautiful places in which it operates, and leave a positive, enduring impact on communities.

The Four Seasons for Good program is centred around two pillars: Planet (environmental impact) and People (social impact). Each pillar is supported by specific activities and objectives, with a close eye on how efforts will contribute to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reads a statement from the company.

The company's managed properties around the world use a range of strategies to enhance overall building performance, from capturing water runoff for irrigation use to recovering waste heat so as to reduce the energy needed for hot water.

For operating hotels, the hotel is also introducing new engineering team roles that focus on reviewing energy consumption and minimizing carbon footprints. Many organizations are now seeking information about the emissions associated with particular spaces and activities as they seek to plan their gatherings in the most sustainable way possible. The hotel provides relevant data when requested and strives to be a trusted partner to its corporate clients—in pursuit of the shared goal of reducing its climate impact and enhancing its environmental performance.

The company supports its properties around the world in seeking appropriate environmental and ESG certifications, especially the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and certifications recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Furthermore, in 2022, Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica achieved a dramatic improvement in its avoidance of food waste by using advanced technology tools. Under the leadership of executive chef Emiliano Rabia, the team adopted AI tools from Winnow to pinpoint and reduce key sources of waste. The tool features a built-in camera and connected scale that automatically recognizes food waste items being thrown away. The system is able to identify, quantify and precisely estimate the cost of food waste, ultimately producing reports for food and beverage leaders that help them to optimize their use of food with the goal of waste reduction. First installed in two kitchens and the staff dining facility, Winnow delivered remarkable results from August to December 2022:

• $46,000 cost savings
• 50 per cent reduction in food waste (by value)
• Over 13,000 kilograms of organic waste diverted from landfill.

In late 2022, the hotel group began a detailed review of ESG factors across its supply chain, with the goal of developing a comprehensive Four Seasons Sustainable Sourcing Strategy in 2023. This new strategy, which will include ESG Supplier Criteria and Key Performance Indicators, builds on foundational steps it took over the last several years—such as the creation of a Supplier Code of Conduct that references human rights, environmental protection, animal welfare and other ESG factors. As of 2022, all corporate Sourcing and Procurement contracted suppliers are required to acknowledge adherence to our Supplier Code of Conduct to be eligible to participate in RFPs.

Read the full report.