Hilton's New Plan Will Help the Planet — and Could Help You Earn Extra Rewards

Hilton is looking at new ways to become a major player when it comes to reducing environmental impact and promoting human rights programs across the globe.

By 2030, the brand plans to cut its environmental footprint across its more than 5,300 properties in half, becoming the world’s first major hotel chain to implement science-based targets.

These goals are part of the Science Based Targets initiative — a joint venture between the CDP, the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) — to ensure the brand’s emissions are in line with those outlined by the Paris Climate Agreement.

In total, Hilton plans to reduce its carbon emissions by 61 percent, tapping into areas like plastic waste reduction, sustainable food and supply sourcing, and water consumption reduction to achieve the goal.

A majority of Hilton hotels will see the removal of plastic straws and the continued use of the brand's soap recycling program. The brand is also testing ways to get guests involved with the efforts.

For example, possibilities could include using Hilton's “connected room” technology, which lets you use your phone to control room light and temperature settings, to reward you each time you shut down the lights, according to Max Verstraete, Hilton’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and ADA compliance.

In addition to its environmental impact, Hilton also plans to double its investment in local initiatives and programs that benefit women and children across the globe by 2030, while also doubling the funding it provides for natural disasters.

Hilton will also contribute 10 million volunteer hours towards local issues by tapping into the brand's hospitality experts, whether it utilizes its culinary teams to work with food banks and create recipes or its housekeeping teams to work with local shelters on creating efficient cleaning methods.

"For nearly 100 years, Hilton has been driven by our mission to have a positive impact on the communities surrounding our hotels," Christopher J. Nassetta, Hilton's CEO and President and chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said in a statement. "In this Golden Age of travel, we are taking a leadership role to ensure that the destinations where travelers work, relax, learn, and explore are vibrant and resilient for generations of adventurers to come."