Marriott International is providing $500,000 in seed money to support Conservation International’s water conservation program to help protect the largest source of fresh water on the planet, located in Southwest China and serving 2 billion people. The program, called “Nobility of Nature,” is designed to assist rural communities in Sichuan Province with sustainable businesses, such as mushroom farming and honey production, which will place less stress on the environment. Reducing erosion and sedimentation will also improve water quality downstream in both rural and urban areas.
In addition, Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels throughout China have committed to reducing their water and energy use by 25 percent by 2017, and the company’s F&B team is developing a sustainable seafood program globally. Marriott’s 45 hotels in the country have implemented sustainable practices such as recycling paper, metals, bottles, cans, and batteries; installing low-energy light bulbs; and using tea tree oil to help maintain air conditioning units.
