Ec ovidrio, a non profit group that handles glass container waste recycling in Spain, unveiled the outcomes of the Barometer II on hotel sustainability in the Community of Valencia. The report shows that seven out of ten organizations on the Valencian coast with the densest tourism are strengthening their sustainability measures while running their businesses.
Valencian hoteliers have raised their sustainability indexes in recent years, reaching 5.8 points higher than before, placing Balearic Islands second in sustainability among the analyzed regions, with only Catalonia ahead. This improvement pushed the Valencian Community to a sustainability index of 7.6 out of 10. Andalusia earned 7.4 and the Region of Murcia 7.3.
In this second edition, the Ecovidrio Hotel Sustainability Barometer examined the adoption of sustainability measures. Among 3,540 catering establishments, the Valencia region achieved a global sustainability index of 76.5 percent. These findings underscore not only the Horeca sector’s commitment but also the steady pace at which Valencian hoteliers are implementing sustainability efforts in their operations. At the end of summer, Ecovidrio will recognize the two most mature Valencian coastal resorts for the environmental management of their activity.
By province, Valencia led with the best regional index of 80.3 percent, followed by Castellón at 78.6 percent and Alicante at 74.4 percent. Looking at establishment types, hotels hold the highest sustainability index at 82.9 percent, followed closely by restaurants at 80.2 percent and other facilities such as entertainment venues and betting halls at 74.8 percent; cafeterias and bars sit at 74.4 percent. Nightlife venues trail with 73.7 percent.
austerity measures
In a year marked by an energy crisis, rising costs, and a clear shift toward renewable energy, this year’s barometer highlights Valencia hoteliers’ energy efficiency. A total of 96.2 percent of participating hotels reported growth above five percent from the previous year, signaling ongoing energy-saving and efficiency upgrades across their businesses.
Across the board, all business types show similar positive shifts compared with the first barometer, with hotels reaching full compliance at 100 percent. Restaurants show 97.7 percent, nightlife 95.8 percent, cafeterias 95.2 percent, and other facilities such as local entertainment and betting establishments 92 percent, with some variance.
Key energy-saving measures cited include the widespread use of LED lighting in 98.9 percent of cases and the deployment of motion sensors and timers in 65 percent of cases. A small portion reports additional efficiency steps at around four percent.
Regionally, Valencia hoteliers achieved the highest score at 98.4 percent, followed by Castellón at 96.7 percent and Alicante at 95.3 percent.
Waste Management
More Valencian hoteliers recognize the importance of accurate data and aim to meet European targets for recycling municipal waste. Seventy-three point two percent of hoteliers in the community have taken measures to properly manage their waste, up by six and a half percentage points from 2022.
All provinces show positive changes in waste management: Valencia ranks first at 74.2 percent, followed by Alicante at 73.3 percent, while Castellón at 71.8 percent is the lowest among the trio in 2023.
Better waste handling by type includes cooking oil management at 97.8 percent and proper handling of glass container residues at 96.4 percent. Lightweight packaging at 71.6 percent and organic waste at 17.6 percent indicate areas for improvement for Valencia hoteliers as these figures have declined slightly since 2022.
According to nationwide data from this study, the coastal hotel sector holds a global sustainability index near 20 percent, scoring 8 out of 10 in terms of maturity and responsible action toward the environment.
Second edition results place Catalonia as the leader in hotel sustainability along the coast with 8.7 out of 10, followed by Valencian Community and both at 7.6; Andalusia 7.4 and the Region of Murcia 7.3.
Climate change has brought drought into sharper focus as a significant issue not only in summer but throughout the year. Water remains a critical resource for the hotel industry and requires smarter use. In response, effective water management shows a positive trend, with 89.4 percent of hoteliers already adopting water-saving measures. By province, Castellón leads with 94.7 percent, Valencia follows at 94.3 percent, while Alicante trails at 85.8 percent.
Among the water-saving measures observed in Valencia hoteliers, the use of full-load electrical appliances at peak demand (82.2 percent) and the installation of diffusers, aerators, and timer-equipped taps (75.6 percent) stand out as common practices.