Minimising waste: How to have a sustainable Christmas

Christmas can be, for hospitality, the busiest time of the year. It brings more customers and bigger orders, but also greater exposure to risk, particularly around cost. Packaging waste multiplies, energy use spikes, and food waste can become a problem. All this may result in a period when businesses sometimes throw sustainability (along with the wrapping paper and crackers) out of the door to bring people in.

When it comes to running a sustainable business, stability and predictability are key. They enable consistent staffing, cost control, customer satisfaction, and long-term planning, reducing unnecessary stock orders and vulnerability to unpredictable customer behaviour. Increasingly, there are both digital and practical solutions that may help you plan ahead so your business can reduce waste, lower risk, and protect its bottom line – even when the festive rush is at its peak. Here are some of the most effective approaches for managing both cost and sustainability.

Technology to support waste reduction and energy efficiency

Technology provides a powerful way to reduce both waste and risk. Specialised inventory and procurement systems now offer full visibility of costs, stock, and usage from ordering through to invoicing. This prevents over-ordering, minimises spoilage, and gives kitchen teams better control over resources.

In hotels and restaurants, AI-driven waste-tracking platforms are making a measurable difference. Marriott Hotels, operating in the UK, Ireland, and Nordics implemented an AI tool that gave real-time data on food consumption, helping to make better decisions on things like portion sizes and smarter ordering of stock. This reduced food waste by 25 per cent in just six months – the equivalent to 486 tonnes of CO2. These tools can also be predictive, helping businesses plan ahead for the unique spike in December. 

Beyond food and stock, smart energy management also has an important role. Occupancy-based heating, lighting and ventilation systems can achieve savings of up to 15 per cent of total energy bills, while helping reduce, carbon emissions. For larger chains or multi-site operators, a Building Energy Management System (BEMS) or integrated Building Management System (BMS) allows central control of lighting, heating, ventilation, and refrigeration. 

At Christmas, people’s plans often change, rooms may be cancelled and are often left unoccupied for long periods. Some systems automatically switch unbooked or empty rooms into set-back mode, avoiding unnecessary energy use. Travelodge, for example, will save an estimated 19GWh annually when it achieves full rollout of such a system across its estate.

From an insurance perspective, these tools also reduce exposure by limiting equipment failures and fires caused by overuse. They create clear records of control and maintenance, which can support any future claims and demonstrate sound risk management.

Supplier choice and efficient delivery

Sustainability during December extends beyond the things you can implement for your own business. Choosing suppliers who operate sustainably through efficient delivery, reduced packaging, and use of lower-carbon transport can make a significant difference to your wider carbon footprint. 

Local or regional suppliers often provide shorter routes, smaller vehicles, and more frequent deliveries, which limits both carbon emissions and the need to store stock in bulk. Many now offer return-and-reuse schemes for crates or trays and can deliver goods in recyclable or compostable packaging. “Just-in-time” deliveries timed to bookings also help reduce spoilage risk when customer numbers are more unpredictable.

Keeping records of supplier sustainability credentials and delivery performance can further strengthen your risk management profile. Digital tools like Ecovadis have made a big difference for many businesses wanting to have greater impact through their supply chain. This shows due diligence and can positively influence insurance discussions, particularly around business interruption and supply-chain resilience.

A sustainable Christmas with reduced risk

A sustainable Christmas is not about cutting corners; It’s about smarter planning, stronger controls, and effective partnerships with both technology providers and suppliers. Start with an audit of current waste, stock, and energy use. Then introduce appropriate digital tools and predictive AI, review supplier practices, and upgrade building systems where needed.

Each improvement helps the move towards Net Zero and comes with the benefits of reduced costs, fewer breakdowns, a more resilient supply chain, and reduced waste. Implementing them at Christmas may well provide benefits for the rest of the year too. By taking a planned and transparent approach, you can deliver a festive season that is not only profitable and environmentally responsible but also resilient to the operational risks that so often accompany the busiest time of the year.

Your business is built on great service. Ours is too.

At Howden, we understand that hospitality is all about people - guests, staff, and the experience you deliver every day. Whether you run a restaurant, hotel, or bar, we provide handcrafted hospitality insurance designed to protect what matters most: your people, your income, and your reputation.

While we manage the risks, you can focus on what you do best, delivering memorable experiences to your customers.