AI to Reduce Food Waste at All Mandarin Oriental Hotels Globally

Dark/Light Mode (06/06/24)  Mandarin Oriental has unveiled plans to install Winnow’s food waste technology across all its hotels by the end of 2025.

Four of the group's hotels that have been testing the technology - Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London; Mandarin Oriental, Miami; and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, Dubai - have reported an average reduction in food waste of 36% (66 tonnes), annualized net savings of US$ 207,000 and a reduction of 289 tonnes in CO2e emissions.

According to a report published in 2021 by Tesco and the WWF, food waste accounts for up to 10% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of nearly twice the annual emissions produced by all the cars driven in the US and Europe.

With that in mind, Mandarin Oriental has set itself the goal of reducing food waste at its hotels by 50% by 2030, a commitment that aligns with the United Nations SDG 12.3, which aims to halve global per capita food waste by 2030.

Cafe Causette at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

“Our commitment to sustainability goes hand in hand with our promise to deliver exceptional guest experiences,” said Torsten van Dullemen, Mandarin Oriental's Group Director of Sustainability and Area Vice President Operations. “The integration of Winnow’s technology across our global portfolio is a bold step towards reducing our ecological impact and reinforcing our position as an industry leader.”

The Winnow technology implemented in Mandarin Oriental’s kitchens enables staff to seamlessly track exactly what wastage occurs throughout their production stream.

Designed to require minimal interaction, the Winnow system consists of a camera, smart-scale and tablet. The camera, featuring computer vision trained to identify over 600 food items, automatically identifies waste as it is thrown away. The weight and cost of the food discarded is then instantly calculated and displayed.

All captured data is uploaded to the cloud, where food waste from each day is recorded and analysed. With the preparation of daily, weekly, and monthly reports, Mandarin Oriental kitchens receive the necessary information to drive operational efficiencies, change behaviors, and innovate on techniques in preparation, cooking and plating.

It is expected that Winnow’s data will enable kitchens to save between 2-8% on food costs.

“Mandarin Oriental is at the forefront of sustainability in luxury hospitality,” said Marc Zornes, CEO & Co-Founder of Winnow. “Our collaboration is already demonstrating the powerful impact of technology and data in reducing food waste. We’re honoured to support Mandarin Oriental in their ambitious goals, and together, we’re not only setting new industry standards but also making a tangible difference for our planet.”

Initiatives to manage food waste will also expand beyond existing ones, including colleague educational campaigns, overhauling buffet operations, donating excess edible food, and innovative composting programmes to improve soil condition and support efficient absorption of rainwater.

See also: Hotel Waste, Single-Use Plastic and Climate Change - HD Video Interview with WWF (2018).

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