Reducing our food miles – one local ingredient at a time
At IBB Hotel Collection and Cugó Gran Collection, Earth Day isn’t just a date on the calendar, but it’s a celebration of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, community, and conscious hospitality.
This year, we’re proud to have introduced a special Earth Day menu in the hotels where we have restaurants, crafted using organic, locally sourced, and plant-based ingredients. Each dish tells a story; not just of exceptional flavour, but of the farmers, producers, and artisans who make it possible.
Why local matters
Sourcing locally isn’t just a trend but it’s a tangible way we reduce our environmental impact. By prioritising ingredients from suppliers near our hotels, we significantly cut down on the miles our food travels, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transport.
In 2024, nearly 75% of our suppliers were located within a 50km radius of our hotels; a huge step forward from 2023 which was at 50%. That means more than two-thirds of the ingredients in our Earth Day menus come from just down the road. The result? Fresher produce, more authentic flavours, and a stronger bond with our surrounding communities.
Lower emissions, higher standards
This commitment to sourcing nearby doesn’t just support local businesses but it also has a measurable effect on our carbon footprint. We’re proud to share that in 2024, we’ve reduced our Scope 3 emissions (those generated from the transportation of products to our hotels) from 89,783.06 KgCO2e to 45,183.44 KgCO2e. That’s nearly a 50% reduction year-on-year; proof that small steps at the source lead to big changes down the line.
Our Earth Day menu also gave us the perfect opportunity to spotlight the incredible people behind our produce. Whether it’s herbs grown on a family farm just outside Lublin or tomatoes hand-picked in Malta, our local partners are at the heart of everything we do.
By choosing their produce, we’re not just delivering quality, but we’re championing traditional farming methods, biodiversity, and the resilience of small-scale agriculture.
Let’s celebrate the Earth not just on Earth Day, but every day, by making mindful choices, supporting local communities, and staying committed to change.