Key Impact Points:

• Marriott Hotels UK installs Winnow AI technology in 53 hotels to monitor and reduce food waste.
• Aiming for a 50% reduction in food waste by 2025, following a 25% decrease in early 2024.
• Sustainability initiatives include menu adjustments, responsible dining awareness, and surplus ingredient repurposing.

Marriott Hotels UK is taking a significant step in sustainability by deploying Winnow AI technology across 53 hotels in the UK, Ireland, and Nordics. This innovative system aims to monitor and minimize food waste effectively.

Winnow AI consists of a camera, weighing scale, and AI chip that captures images of food waste, identifying types and quantities. Each discarded item is assigned a cost based on cloud-stored pricing data. Kitchen teams receive real-time insights on food waste, with detailed reports sent the following day.

In the first half of 2024, Marriott achieved a 25% reduction in food waste. With Winnow AI, the hotel group targets a 50% reduction by 2025. Joanna Chugh, area vice president for UK, Ireland, and Nordics at Marriott International, emphasized the importance of menu engineering: “We are looking at what has worked best, what minimises waste… If you see a lot of waste coming back from specific dishes, you know you are serving too much in the first place.”

Marriott is also adjusting portion sizes and raising awareness about responsible dining through in-restaurant posters, particularly at buffets. The London Heathrow Marriott has transitioned to an à la carte breakfast model, and menu changes are communicated via QR codes, inviting customer feedback.

Winnow AI can recognize over 1,000 food items, although it currently struggles to measure mixed food waste accurately. David Jackson, director for marketing and public affairs at Winnow, noted that improvements are underway. Meanwhile, Marriott staff are trained to separate waste by type before disposal.

Anna Pazdera, executive chef and sustainability champion at Marriott Heathrow, highlighted the creative use of surplus ingredients: “The insights we’re getting allow us to make immediate adjustments in the kitchen… turning banana peel into pulled pork for our signature vegetarian burgers.” Surplus food waste that cannot be repurposed is donated to food banks and Too Good to Go.

Marriott’s sustainability efforts extend beyond food waste. All managed hotels in the UK, Ireland, and Nordics are Green Key certified, with initiatives like Meat Free Monday, energy-efficient LED lighting, and a rooftop greenhouse for growing herbs.

As the hospitality industry increasingly prioritizes sustainability, Marriott’s proactive measures position it as a leader in reducing food waste and promoting responsible dining practices.