Accor is a leading global hospitality group with over 5,200 hotels and 10,000 restaurants and bars in 110 countries. The company is known for its diverse portfolio of hotel brands including Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, ibis, and more. As a major player in the hotel and hospitality industry, Accor takes sustainability seriously and has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental impact.
In 2021, Accor appointed Agnès Roquefort as its first ever Global Chief Sustainability Officer. This newly created role oversees Accor’s global sustainability strategy and helps the company achieve its ambitious goals to be Net Zero Carbon by 2050.
Agnès Roquefort’s Background
Agnès Roquefort has over 20 years of experience working in sustainability for major corporations. Prior to joining Accor, she served as Senior Vice President of Global Environment and Water Resources for Veolia, one of the world’s largest environment services companies.
Roquefort spent 16 years at Veolia in various leadership roles driving sustainability strategies and environmental performance. As VP of Sustainable Development, she spearheaded Veolia’s 2020 sustainability program which included goals to fight climate change, preserve resources, and promote employee wellbeing and development.
Earlier in her career, Agnès Roquefort held management positions focused on environmental protection and sustainable development with SARP Industries and Proctor & Gamble.
She holds a chemical engineering degree from the Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine and a master’s degree in environment law from the Paris Institute of Political Studies.
Roles and Responsibilities as Chief Sustainability Officer
As Accor’s first Global Chief Sustainability Officer, Agnès Roquefort is responsible for overseeing all aspects of sustainability across the company’s global operations. Her main responsibilities include:
– Developing and implementing Accor’s comprehensive sustainability strategy to achieve its Net Zero Carbon goal and other ESG (environmental, social, governance) objectives.
– Coordinating sustainability efforts across Accor’s portfolio of over 5,200 hotels and 10,000 food & beverage venues.
– Embedding sustainability into all business functions including brand management, real estate, procurement, food & beverage, etc.
– Partnering with Accor’s brands to drive adoption of sustainable and responsible practices at the property level.
– Communicating Accor’s sustainability vision and initiatives to all internal and external stakeholders.
– Monitoring key sustainability KPIs (key performance indicators) and ensuring Accor meets its short and long-term targets.
– Staying abreast of the latest sustainability trends, technologies, regulations and guest expectations.
– Representing Accor externally as a sustainability thought leader at conferences and events.
Accor’s Sustainability Goals and Commitments
Under Roquefort’s leadership, Accor has established a comprehensive sustainability program called “Planet 21 – Acting Here” centered around four strategic priorities:
– **Work with local partners:** Accor aims to support 10,000 community and sustainability projects by end of 2022. The company already works with impact organizations like ECPAT to fight child exploitation and human trafficking.
– **Preserve our planet:** Accor has set targets to reduce carbon emissions by 46% by 2030, use 100% renewable electricity by 2030, and achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050. Other goals include reducing food waste 50% by 2030 and eliminating unnecessary plastics.
– **Innovate with plant-based foods and eco-materials:** Accor plans to develop plant-based cuisine options and eliminate food waste at its restaurants. The company is also piloting new eco-friendly hotel room materials like carpets made from recycled fishing nets.
– **Empower our people:** Accor provides sustainability training for its 300,000+ employees and has committed to having 35% female managers by end of 2022. Diversity, equity and inclusion are also top priorities.
As Chief Sustainability Officer, Agnès Roquefort is responsible for bringing Accor’s sustainability vision to life and mobilizing the organization to achieve these strategic goals.
Key Sustainability Initiatives and Pilot Programs
Under Roquefort’s direction, Accor has already spearheaded several innovative sustainability programs and hotel pilots focused on decarbonization, circular economy principles, responsible dining, and more. Some examples include:
– **Net Zero Carbon hotels:** In 2021, Accor opened its first Net Zero Carbon hotel in the UK and plans to bring the concept to more than 500 hotels worldwide. Energy reduction, renewable energy, carbon offsets, and sustainable construction allow these hotels to operate with net zero carbon emissions.
– **Circular economy hotels:** Accor is testing circular principles at hotels to reuse materials and reduce waste. Pilot initiatives include mattress recycling programs, replacing small toiletry bottles with bulk dispensers, and equipping staff with recyclable cleaning gear.
– **Sustainable dining:** Accor’s restaurant brands like Café Prévôt are expanding plant-based menu options, eliminating single-use plastics, monitoring food waste levels, and sourcing locally.
– **Eco-friendly building design:** New hotel construction and renovation projects focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, water conservation and eco-friendly materials. Accor also considers sustainability when selecting real estate locations.
– **Staff engagement:** Accor provides sustainability e-learning modules to all employees and has online communities like Open Innovation Hub to crowdsource ideas. The company also offers bonuses for hotels that meet sustainability targets.
Partnerships to Drive Sustainability Progress
To accelerate its sustainability efforts, Accor actively partners with leading organizations worldwide across its key focus areas:
**Carbon Reduction**
– Science Based Targets initiative – Set science-based carbon reduction targets
– Solar Impulse Foundation – Develop profitable carbon-cutting solutions
**Circular Economy & Food Waste**
– ONE/THIRD – Reduce food waste at buffet restaurants
– World Wildlife Fund – Shift to plant-based proteins
**Responsible Hospitality**
– ECPAT – Fight against child exploitation in tourism
– ILO – Promote labor and human rights in hotel industry
**Sustainable Hospitality Alliance** – Share best practices on ESG
These partnerships provide Accor with expertise, resources, and certification standards to implement sustainable solutions globally and drive meaningful progress.
External Recognition for Sustainability Performance
Accor’s comprehensive approach to sustainability and commitment to tangible action has earned the company notable recognition, including:
– **Dow Jones Sustainability Index:** Accor has been listed on the DJSI World and DJSI Europe indices since 2016. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices evaluate corporate ESG performance and benchmark sustainability leaders.
– **CDP Climate Change A List:** Accor earned an A score on CDP’s annual climate assessment, which evaluates corporate transparency and action on climate risks and decarbonization.
– **MSCI ESG Rating of AAA:** In 2021, Accor obtained an MSCI AAA rating, indicating it is a “Leader” and tops in its industry for managing ESG risks and opportunities.
– **Ecovadis Sustainability Gold Rating:** Accor maintains a Gold CSR rating from EcoVadis, placing it in the top 5% of 75,000+ rated companies across 200 industries.
– **FT European Climate Leaders:** Accor was #1 in market capitalization on the Financial Times listing of European companies leading on climate action.
These recognitions validate the strength of Accor’s sustainability initiatives and the progress made under Agnès Roquefort’s leadership as Chief Sustainability Officer.
Conclusion
As a leading global hospitality provider, Accor is striving to embed sustainability across all its brands and operations worldwide. Appointing Agnès Roquefort, a seasoned sustainability executive, to the newly created role of Global Chief Sustainability Officer signifies Accor’s commitment to driving real environmental and social impact.
In her first two years on the job, Roquefort has helped shape a comprehensive strategy, set ambitious carbon and waste reduction goals, launched innovative pilot programs, and formed partnerships with impact organizations. While challenges remain, Accor is on the path to achieving its vision of becoming a model of responsible hospitality. With Roquefort’s continued leadership, Accor is poised to make sustainability a core pillar of its identity worldwide and push the entire hotel industry to follow suit.