FOOD waste poses challenges across the globe. In the Philippines, household food waste amounts to 2,954,580 million tonnes annually. The hotel industry faces significant waste issues due to the challenge of managing inventory and excess food, particularly with the large number of customers served daily.
One solution is ORCA (Organic Refuse Conversion Alternative) Biodigester, the new tech installed in Taal Vista Hotel, which turns food waste into filtered wastewater in under 24 hours. Since its rollout by SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), the hotel operator of the SM group, it has managed to divert over 40,013 kilograms (kg) of food waste, which is equivalent to 20,406.63 tons of carbon dioxide emissions saved.
The ORCA Biodigester “has transformed our food waste management process from a weekslong process to a streamlined green-friendly one-day cycle, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and our environmental impact,” said SMHCC Vice President for Quality and Sustainability Leah Magallanes.
Reduced total processing time for food waste has positively impacted employee engagement and led to changes in their roles and responsibilities. With biodigesters generating more accurate data, designated employees are more focused toward managing and monitoring rather than manually weighing and computing waste metrics.
Providing sustainable solutions to food waste management also positively impacts customer experience in SM Hotels properties. By adopting more responsible ways to divert food waste on site, it minimizes the amount of waste that needs to be stored and transported. It leads to the prevention of pest harbourage contributing to a more hygienic and safer environment for guests.
The ORCA Biodigester. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
While the biodigester is currently used at the Taal Vista Hotel, similar responsible food waste reduction initiatives are under way across the SM Hotels portfolio. One example, bokashi composting involves using specialized kits where food waste is layered with activators, or biological additives to produce compost, which allows it to ferment for 10 to 15 days. The resulting liquid can be collected as natural fertilizer, while the solid residue can be composted or buried.
Since its introduction across five properties of SM Hotels — Taal Vista Hotel, Pico Sands Hotel, Park Inn Bacolod and Iloilo, and SMX Manila — the bokashi composting technique has made a total diversion of food waste of over 198,640 kg, equivalent to 101,306.4 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Magallanes said, “Our commitment drives us to constantly innovate and find new ways to contribute to a greener future.”
SM Investments Corp. is one of the leading Philippine companies that invest in market-leading retail, banking and property businesses.
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