Sustainability Seminar 2025

Allen welcomes delegates to our annual sustainability seminar and will reflect on how hospitality is progressing on its journey to net zero, including how the sector is reacting to a challenging economic environment and an overview of our campaigning to Government.

The need to tackle climate change and reach net zero is almost universally accepted, but does everyone agree about how we get there and how consumer behaviour should change? 

We’ve polled business leaders, sustainability professionals and the public to better understand where the differences lie, where common ground exists and how we work together to achieve our goals.

Karl Chessell, CGA

As a sector, hospitality has committed to reach net zero by 2040. With that goal only 15 years away, we are joined by Mark Chapman from the Zero Carbon Forum and Tim Doubleday from Burger King and UKHospitality’s sustainability group to provide an update and assessment of our sector’s progress to date.

Tim Doubleday, Burger King; Mark Chapman, Chief Executive, Zero Carbon Forum

Hospitality businesses are rightly expected to prioritise both sustainability and nutrition in their operations, but are the two objectives compatible? We hear from a leading contract caterer about their perspective on how to deliver on both ambitions, and if there are any trade-offs. 

Gina Camfield, Head of ESG, Aramark UK and Offshore

With hospitality businesses facing cost challenges in every part of their operations, how do businesses invest in green initiatives and what do they decide to go for? Our panel will discuss this challenge, the funding models available and what the most effective options can be. 

There is an unprecedented focus on packaging and this is having a big impact on hospitality businesses through cost and operations..
Simpler Recycling demands more segregation of product; how are businesses and recycling providers adapting to this? Are the changes delivering the right outcomes? What does best practice look like in the hospitality sector?

In addition to this, we have seen the impact of Extended Producer Responsibility requirements that fully come into effect in October. We will hear from Molson Coors to explain the process from a supplier perspective, what they’re doing to adjust their packaging sizes and how they’re working with the supply chain.

Carla Brian, Biffa

With changes announced to property energy rules, what should businesses be aware of? We’re joined by a lead government official responsible for this area, who will update on what changes are coming, and when.

As well as running more than 1,000 pubs, Marston’s have built the sector’s biggest electric car charging network across their estate. With more than a million miles charged to date, Andy Kershaw from Marston’s join us to explain why they’ve invested so heavily in EV charging, how they did it and what benefits they’re seeing. 

Andy Kershaw, Director of Investment, Marston's

Hospitality is a bricks and mortar sector, so the properties our businesses operate out of are critical to net zero success. How do we make old buildings more sustainable and how are we designing new buildings to be as efficient as possible? 

We hear from three operators about their experiences doing just that, and the lessons they learnt along the way.  

There is no silver bullet to reaching net zero, which is why operators are having to work across multiple fronts to reduce their emissions, become more efficient and manage their resources. We hear from a leading operator about the approach they’re taking.  

Sermet Baykaner, Director of Procurement and Sustainability, Haven