Seven hospitality industry companies have come together to form the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP), a collaborative effort whose purpose is to improve sustainability throughout the entire hospitality supply chain.
The alliance includes Accor, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International and Radisson Hotel Group and group purchasing organizations Avendra and Entegra. EcoVadis, an independent sustainability ratings agency, will coordinate the efforts of HARP. Suppliers who participate will become part of a shared supplier pool open to all alliance members.
EcoVadis will enhance HARP’s actions to support hospitality suppliers. Engaging hospitality suppliers in a coordinated, collaborative effort will result in greater outreach to accelerate supplier adoption of EcoVadis.
The core mission of HARP is:
- Improving the sustainability performance of suppliers in the hospitality industry
- Enhancing actions to support environmental, human and economic health and vitality practices over time
The HARP members will enroll their suppliers in a sustainability assessment via the EcoVadis platform, which scores suppliers based on a range of sustainability metrics. The resulting sustainability scorecards and insights, shared by suppliers through the EcoVadis platform, will allow HARP members to better gauge their supply chain’s sustainability performance and make choices based on measurable sustainability goals and guidelines.
By aligning all seven companies as peers, the HARP founding members intend to use their collective strength to send a unified message to the supplier community and seek significant changes in the industry to benefit the whole ecosystem. Harmonizing on a common sustainability performance assessment methodology will drive positive impact in key areas of responsible procurement: waste management, plastics reduction, energy savings and sustainable sourcing.
“Innovative and solution-based initiatives that focus on core business activities are crucial to realizing the hospitality industry’s vision for a sustainable future,” said Caroline Tissot, group chief procurement officer, Accor. “This collaboration marks a crucial next step which Accor is very proud to be a part of, we are excited to be leading creative efforts alongside major hotel and procurement groups. The collaboration will no doubt deliver unmatched value to not only our suppliers but also our guests, as we continue to push for positive impact.”
Chip McIntyre, SVP, strategic sourcing, Avendra Group, added, “Avendra understands that collaboration is critical to success in reaching sustainability goals. Our efforts with HARP help ensure we have a deep and wide pool of hospitality suppliers to meet our clients’ sustainability needs.”
“Entegra is a very proud founding member of the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Sourcing powered by EcoVadis alongside the world’s leading hospitality businesses,” said Damien Calderini, global CEO, Entegra. “We firmly believe that collaboration is key to accelerate impact. Leading the way on sustainability topics has always been a priority for Entegra, and we are convinced that we can make a significant, positive impact by improving sustainability all along the hospitality supply chain and sharing our best practices and know-how. Sustainable procurement will be key to elevating the hospitality industry and exceeding guests’ expectations.”
Richard Eyram, chief customer officer, EcoVadis, added, “As companies seek to engage their value chain partners in their sustainability efforts, they realize the complex scope, as well as common challenges, in their own sector. It is through partnerships and industry-wide collaboration that the hospitality industry can maximize its collective impact. By joining forces, enabling more strategic focus and sharing best practices, HARP members can focus on positive outcomes that help pave the way towards their sustainability targets.”
