Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) has verified its near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). SBTi is a global climate action organization that develops tools that allow businesses to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets in line with data-driven methodology. Marriott is the largest global hospitality company to receive approval for both near-term and long-term science-based targets.
The company has committed to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 46.2% by 2030 from a 2019 base year. Marriott also commits to reducing absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel and energy-related activities, waste generated in operations, employee commuting, and franchises by 27.5% by 2030 from a 2019 base year, and that 22% of its suppliers by emissions covering purchased goods and services, capital goods, and upstream transportation and distribution will have science-based targets by 2028.
Marriott commits to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by 2050, reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90% by 2050 from a 2019 base year and reducing absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 90% by 2050 from a 2019 base year. The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.
“For nearly a century, Marriott has been committed to our core value of serving our world as we strive to be a force for good wherever we do business,” said Anthony Capuano, President and CEO, of Marriott International. “The impact of climate change is being seen and felt across the globe. As we continue to connect people through the power of travel, we are committed to driving meaningful improvements to the environment and are energized by reaching this significant milestone. The approval of our near-term and long-term targets is the result of the hard work and dedication of Marriott’s teams around the world who are committed to our climate action journey and creating the future of sustainable hospitality.”
Click here to view an infographic of Marriott International’s science-based net-zero targets.
“Marriott has been on a journey to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our operations and supply chain. We believe it’s good business and good for the planet,” said Erika Alexander, Chief Global Operations Officer, at Marriott International. “The decarbonization of the global electrical grid is a vital component of reducing GHG emissions. We are united with other leading companies in elevating efforts to help address the effects of climate change and hold ourselves accountable as we embed sustainability throughout our operations.”
To reach its net-zero target, Marriott is focusing its efforts in three distinct areas: energy reduction, sourcing more energy from renewables, and purchasing goods with lower carbon footprints across its portfolio of over 8,800 properties in 139 countries and territories.
The company’s recent sustainability highlights include:
- Launching the Climate Action Program (CAP), the company’s approach to charting a growth-focused future through building climate fluency, addressing climate risk, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the organization.
- Delivering property-specific carbon and energy reduction targets to every managed and franchised hotel globally.
- Enhancing the Marriott Environment Sustainability Hub (MESH), a global platform for properties to log monthly power, water, and waste metrics. With these enhancements, properties can now easily access customized, property-specific information for reducing energy and carbon.
- Introducing the Energy Optimization Program to help properties manage rising energy costs. The program assists properties in conducting an energy audit to identify ways to become more energy efficient.
- Engaging with suppliers as they work to understand and reduce their emissions.
- Sharing sustainability information, including individual hotel carbon footprint data, on Marriott.com.
Marriott’s sustainability strategy is focused on a wide range of tactics including designing resource-efficient hotels, implementing technologies to track and reduce energy and water consumption, as well as waste and food waste, increasing the use of renewable energy, managing water-related risks, focusing on third-party sustainability certifications at the hotel-level, supporting innovative ecosystem restoration initiatives, implementing and responsible and local sourcing.
In support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Marriott created its sustainability and social impact platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, which guides the company’s efforts to make a positive and sustainable impact on the world’s most pressing social, environmental, and economic issues wherever it does business. More details about Serve 360 can be found at Marriott.com/Serve360.
Note on forward-looking statements:
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements related to the company’s plans and expectations related to our ESG and/or sustainability-related goals, targets, and commitments, including our science-based emissions reduction targets; our sustainability-related plans, initiatives and strategies; and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. These statements are typically accompanied by the words “continue,” “plan,” “expect,” “goal,” “target,” “commit,” “commitment,” “will,” “prioritize,” “strive,” or similar expressions. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including the risk factors that we describe in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. Goals, targets or commitments described in this press release are aspirational and subject to change and are not guarantees or promises that all goals, targets, or commitments will be met. We make these statements as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,800 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on X and Instagram.
SOURCE: Marriott International, Inc.
