Rapidly escalating food waste concerns plague the short-term vacation rental market, totaling approximately $2.3 billion
Short-term Rental Hosts Embrace Sustainability: Reducing Food Waste
A new study from Ohio State University, published in the journal Waste Management, has revealed that vacationing Americans waste more than $2.3 billion of food each year, with short-term rental accommodations contributing significantly to this issue. However, a segment of travelers is willing to take steps to reduce food waste if provided an easy solution.
According to the study, more than 40% of survey respondents are "very interested" in getting information on donating uneaten items at the end of their stay. Yet, just 21% of hosts currently provide such information. To address this gap, online platforms might flag hosts providing information about food waste as "sustainable hosts."
The report suggests that hosts could provide information or interventions to help guests purchase less food that goes uneaten, reducing organic waste. This could include instructions on food disposal, donation, and composting in the host's information booklet or welcome materials. Nearly 75% of guests expressed openness to receiving such guidance, suggesting high receptivity to host-led initiatives.
Hosts might also encourage guests to buy only what they will eat or plan to transport unused food home if possible. Guests who traveled by car could be advised on how to take leftover food with them, reducing waste at the property.
Providing recycling options and clear signage about waste sorting is another practical measure. Although 46% of hosts already offer recycling, expanding this along with food waste-specific information could improve outcomes.
Potentially, more formal programs through host associations or short-term rental platforms could be implemented where hosts promoting sustainable practices are recognized or certified. This may encourage better waste management behaviors among renters and provide a marketing advantage.
The rationale behind these suggestions is that food waste from short-term rentals leads to substantial economic and environmental costs. Ready-to-eat items make up the largest proportion of groceries by volume (37%). Produce and staples make up the largest portion of uneaten food on average. This waste contributes to methane emissions in landfills and the inefficient use of resources involved in food production and distribution.
By adopting simple, low-cost interventions like providing targeted guest education and waste disposal options, hosts can help cut this waste significantly. The report estimates that hosts could potentially reduce annual food waste costs by hundreds of millions of dollars and lower associated environmental impacts.
For hosts looking to implement these practices, information on donating and composting unused food can be obtained through local and regional short-term rental host associations. The exact steps vacationers would need to take to donate or compost unused food are not specified in the report. However, it highlights a potential opportunity for short-term rental hosts to help reduce the impact of uneaten food.
- Short-term rental hosts could incorporate sustainable practices in their properties by providing information on food donation, composting, and proper waste disposal, catering to guests who are eager to reduce food waste.
- To make a difference in minimizing food waste, hosts can advise guests on buying only necessary food, recycling, and sorting waste effectively, while also considering joining formal programs that recognize and certify sustainable living in short-term rentals.
