Zero Waste for HoReCa
Guides
4-Week Quick Start Guide
Phase 1 is your foundation. You cannot skip this.
Hotels and restaurants that jump straight to "solutions" without measuring waste first fail within 3 months because they're solving the wrong problems. Your waste breakdown is unique to YOUR operation - your menu, your guests, your kitchen team.
These 4 weeks will tell you exactly where your waste happens and which tactics will give you the biggest ROI.
VSME Reporting Template for HORECA
Why Use VSME for Your Zero Waste Program?
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✓ Unlock green financing - Banks offer better rates (0.5-1% lower) for VSME-reporting businesses
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✓ B2B requirements - Corporate clients increasingly require sustainability documentation
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✓ Certification readiness - Prepares you for Green Key, EU Ecolabel, B Corp
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✓ Marketing credibility - Third-party aligned reporting > marketing claims
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✓ Regulatory future-proofing - EU moving toward mandatory reporting; get ahead
Complete Zero Waste Implementation Plan
✓ Step-by-step implementation details for each tactic - not theory, but exact procedures, timelines, and checklists
✓ Tools and templates you can use immediately - tracking spreadsheets, recipes, staff training scripts, signage
✓ Common pitfalls and solutions - we've seen these implementations dozens of times and know where people get stuck
✓ Supplier recommendations and resource links - vetted partners and platforms ready to work with you
✓ Measurement frameworks and ROI calculators - prove the business case to your team and track progress
✓ VSME reporting integration - turn your Zero Waste data into credible sustainability credentials
Most restaurants and hotels that take this seriously save hundreds of euros per month in avoided food waste. One month’s savings can easily pay for the full guide.
Includes Waste Audit Spreadsheet
One-page visual summary of current performance
Purpose: One-page visual summary of current performance
This dashboard should:
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Auto-update from other tabs (linked formulas)
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Be printable on 1 page
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Use conditional formatting (red/yellow/green based on targets)
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Include small sparkline charts showing trends
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Be posted in staff area + shared monthly with team