Hilton Worldwide commits to responsibly sourced seafood

Hilton Worldwide is strengthening its commitment to the environment by announcing multi-year sustainable seafood goals.

The commitment to sustainable seafood includes the global ban of procurement of endangered species as identified by WWF, and purchasing seafood from sustainable and responsible sources. Hilton will source at least 25 percent of its total global seafood volume for owned, managed and leased properties by 2022 from Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified farms and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fisheries. The remaining seafood will be sourced from fisheries and farms working toward ASC and MSC certification, comprehensive fishery and aquaculture improvement projects, or those listed as “green” on WWF regional seafood guides.

“We applaud Hilton Worldwide for their pledge to support aquaculture producers that minimise environmental impacts and care for farm workers and local communities.  Hilton’s decision to source its seafood from ASC certified farms is an example of how the hospitality sector can lead the way and make an impact on global seafood consumption. We are excited to see Hilton’s commitment to the ASC programme and the assurances that certification brings,” said Esther Luiten, ASC’s Senior Commercial Marketing Manager.

“Identifying, implementing and scaling up responsible sourcing practices is a huge and complex task, but we are committed to addressing the environmental and social impacts of our supply chain – beginning with seafood,” said Maxime Verstraete, vice president of corporate responsibility, Hilton Worldwide. “We are pleased to work with WWF to further engage our Team Members, suppliers and guests, and leverage our company’s size and scale to help protect the world’s oceans for current and future generations.”

“By committing to buy more seafood from MSC-certified fisheries and ASC-certified farms around the world, Hilton is sending a strong market demand signal for responsibly sourced seafood,” said Caroline Tippett, director of seafood, World Wildlife Fund. “When multinational companies extend their commitments across their global operations, it increases sustainable seafood awareness and demand in various markets, which is especially valuable for those where the concept may be less advanced. In addition, it’s particularly important that the company will support MSC and ASC, as they represent the strongest certification programs for responsible seafood supply.”

In 2014 Hilton banned shark fin from its restaurants and food & beverage facilities globally, and in 2015 Hilton became the first brand in the hospitality industry to receive MSC chain-of-custody certifications in Europe and Asia.

In addition to collaborating to advance sustainable seafood, Hilton and WWF are also working on improving the company’s water stewardship, reducing food waste, and accelerating the adoption of renewable energy. These efforts will help reduce pressure on fisheries, farms, and watersheds around the world.