Six Senses Joins Global Food Waste Initiative ‘Recipe of Change’

Image: Organic farms found at many Six Senses properties (Photo Credit: IHG Hotels & Resorts)
Image: Organic farms found at many Six Senses properties (Photo Credit: IHG Hotels & Resorts)
Noreen Kompanik
by Noreen Kompanik
Last updated: 12:00 PM ET, Fri May 15, 2026

Six Senses, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts portfolio of properties has joined ‘Recipe of Change’, the global initiative created by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Tourism to unite the tourism industry in a shared commitment to halve food waste by 2030.

Sustainability has been driven by collective action since Six Senses’ founding in the mid-1990s. Across its 27-plus properties, the brand works hand in hand with local environmental organizations. Everyone from chefs, gardeners, spa managers to housekeeping, beekeepers to botanists and coral babysitters and engineers play a part in sustainability.

The brand’s guiding philosophy is based on the principles of natural ingredients, local and sustainable, and less is more. The intention is to help guests reconnect with food, safe in the knowledge that everything they eat or drink is as good for them as it is for the world around them.

Jeff Smith, VP of Sustainability at Six Senses, said in a statement, “Reducing food waste is a continuous loop that is lived, breathed, and constantly evolving within our hotels and resorts around the world. It begins long before anything reaches the plate and is a true example of the relationship between sustainability and service.”

He added, “Over the past 30 years, we have built a clear understanding of what works in practice – from designing waste-conscious, plant-forward menus to the provenance of our produce, right through to returning nutrients to the soil which feeds us. The Recipe of Change with UNEP and UN Tourism initiative reflects the collective action needed to accelerate progress. We’re honored to be part of it and look forward to continuing to learn from others too.”

Earth Labs within all Six Senses properties were introduced in 2017 with dedicated spaces for guests and hosts to engage with sustainability in a light-hearted, practical way, creating everything from lip balms to pickles, and compost using leftover organic ingredients to eliminate food waste. Hotels also sport a Fermentation Lab, home grown organic farms, solar panel gardens, a graywater catchment system and more, along with marine biologists working with government and local fishermen to support sustainable fishing practices and eliminate unnecessary and unethical catch.

Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director, Industry and Economy Division, UNEP said, "We welcome Six Senses’ commitment to joining Recipe of Change and advancing action to reduce food waste across the tourism sector. Food waste is both an environmental and economic challenge that requires systemic change. With food waste contributing up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the tourism sector has a critical role to play in driving solutions at scale. Through Recipe of Change, stakeholders are moving from commitments to implementation by measuring waste, applying practical solutions, and engaging consumers. This collective effort is essential to accelerate progress towards halving global food waste by 2030.”


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