Hotel Food Waste Certification
A framework built for hotel F&B operations
The PLEDGE on Food Waste certification is designed around 6-step process with the goal to aim for zero food waste sent to the landfills : Planning & Reporting, Staff Engagement, Monitoring & Measurement of Food Waste Flows, Food Preparation and Service, Customer Engagement, and Circularity.
Anantara The Palm Dubai
100% "All-Star" Certified
W Bangkok
100% "All-Star" Certified
Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing
100% "All-Star" Certified
Sheraton Heathrow Hotel
90% "Gold" Certified
Trusted by leading hotels worldwide.
From independent luxury properties to global hotel group outlets, +150 properties have undergone The PLEDGE Certification. Each certified property has completed an independent third-party audit and earned their recognition through a rigorous, internationally benchmarked process.
Why Take The PLEDGE certification?
Independent Auditing
An independent third-party audit validates your food waste reduction — giving investors, corporate buyers, and hotel groups the verified evidence they now require.
Built for hotel complexity
Six pillars cover every outlet: from banqueting to room service to staff canteens. One structured framework that works across your entire property, not just the main kitchen.
Direct Impact on Food Cost
Certified properties reduce food waste by 25–35% per cover. For a hotel running hundreds of covers a day, that saving compounds across every service, every year.
Recognition that travels
From the plaque on your restaurant entrance to sustainability rankings and hotel group ESG reports — The PLEDGE certification puts your property on the right lists.
Our Process To
Prevent Food
Waste
The full process can be completed online, and has been designed to align with the United Nations Draft Food Loss and Waste Standard.
Follow these simple steps and undergo the certification process to achieve certification under 6 months, including independant audit verification.
Sign up
Join the global movement and become a pledger by registering for The PLEDGE.
Review & Implement
Assess your current procedures and make necessary changes to align with The PLEDGE guidelines.
Schedule Audit
Contact The PLEDGE to schedule a third-party audit of your food waste prevention practices.
Audit Performance
The third party conducts the audit to evaluate your compliance with The PLEDGE standards.
Receive Certification
After completing the audit, you will receive your certification and join the ranks of food waste reduction champions!
What comes with your certification?
Certificate
Plaque
Digital Asset
Merchandise
The hospitality industry is moving. Is your hotel ready?
Sustainability is now a procurement filter
Corporate travel buyers and international associations are shortlisting hotels based on verified sustainability credentials, not brand promises.
Food waste reporting is becoming mandatory
Regulatory frameworks across multiple markets now require hospitality operators to measure and disclose food waste. Certified hotels already have the data infrastructure in place.
Ownership groups are raising the bar
Hotel investors and asset managers are setting sustainability benchmarks at portfolio level. Properties without a verified programme are increasingly exposed.
First movers set the standard
In every market where The PLEDGE has been adopted, early certified properties have defined what responsible F&B operations look like, and their competitors are catching up.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
All Star
Four Levels of Certification: Achieve Recognition for Your Efforts
Your hotel achieves certification by scoring a minimum of 60 points in the independent audit. Bronze (60–79%) demonstrates commitment. Silver (80–89%) signals leadership. Gold (90–99%) positions your property among the world’s most sustainable F&B operations. All-Star (100%) is the highest honour in hotel food waste reduction.
How Marriott UK & Nordics Set a New Standard for Hotel Food Waste.
In 2024, Marriott International became one of the first global hotel groups to certify an entire regional portfolio under The PLEDGE on Food Waste. Across 55 properties in the UK and Nordics, over 120 Chefs, F&B Directors, and Hotel Managers were trained and audited against The PLEDGE’s criteria, with 53 hotels achieving Gold certification and 2 achieving Silver.
What hotel teams ask us most
How long does the certification process take?
4 to 6 months from registration to certification. Hotel groups certifying multiple properties simultaneously can often streamline the timeline.
Which departments are involved?
Primarily F&B and kitchen teams, with involvement from procurement, HR department and guest-facing staff. The framework covers every touchpoint from ordering through to post-consumer disposal.
Can we certify multiple properties at once?
Yes. The PLEDGE is built to scale across portfolios — Marriott certified 55 properties in a single programme cycle. Group certifications share training frameworks and coordinated audit scheduling.
How does certification support our ESG reporting?
Your audit produces a verified food waste report and impact report aligned with the UN Draft Food Loss and Waste Standard. Ready to plug into sustainability disclosures, investor reporting, and corporate procurement questionnaires.
What does the Independent audit assess?
Your F&B operation is evaluated across 6 pillars covering planning, staff engagement, monitoring, preparation, guest inspiration, and circularity. Auditors review platform evidence and conduct an on-site inspection to determine your rating.
Do we need special equipment or technology?
No. The framework works with your existing kitchen operations. Technology tools like FIT App can enhance monitoring but are not a requirement to get certified.
