A framework for managing food wastage: Strategies to promote recycling and sustainability in the hotel industry.

Abstract: Author: Afzal Muhammad & Katuwal Saurab Title: A framework for managing food wastage: Strategies to promote recycling and sustainability in the hotel industry. Degree Title: Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism. Keywords: food waste, recycling, sustainability, Finland, hotels, Pakistan. Food waste is a significant concern for many hotels because they waste 1.3 billion tons of food annually. The purpose of the study is to identify the causes of food waste that Bahria Grand Hotel Lahore is facing and to devise a development plan to cater to the issue of food waste for the betterment of the environment and to promote sustainability. In order to accomplish this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with hotel managers Bahria Grand Hotel Lahore in Pakistan and Scandic Hotel Kajaani and Sokos Hotel Kajaani in Finland. After ensuring the reliability and validity of the preparation of interview questions, data collection, and analysis, the research findings indicate that food waste occurs most frequently during the preparation and consumption stages. Inadequate planning, managerial constraints, financial issues, government indifference, and inventory management mistakes are the primary causes of food waste. Loss of biodiversity, depletion of the planet's fertile land, a larger carbon footprint, and monetary loss are all consequences of food waste. Included among the strategies for reducing food waste are employee training, the use of appropriate equipment, improved menu planning, accurate demand forecasting, the donation of uneaten restaurant food, and the implementation of efficient storage practices. Providing customers with attractive, informative, and innovative portion guides can also reduce food waste resulting from over-ordering and over-consumption. Recycling is an additional method for reducing food waste. Food waste can be minimized using reduction and reuse techniques. There is no doubt that recycling can contribute to environmental sustainability. This study demonstrated that recycling and sustainability can assist nations such as Pakistan in eliminating food waste. In addition, Pakistan can learn how to manage food waste from other nations, such as Finland. Because, Finland has developed techniques for managing food waste to a considerable extent