Hilton Worldwide sustainability score: 42/100

Hilton reports 442,406 MT CO2e Scope 1 and 2,061,608 MT CO2e Scope 2 market-based emissions for 2024, externally assured by DEKRA under ISO 14064-3. Multi-year granular data series available since 2021 for managed and franchised portfolio. Methodology is GHG Protocol-aligned. Limited assurance standard prevents higher score.

Hilton quantifies 3.99 million MT CO2e Scope 3 from franchised hotel energy (on-site fuels and purchased electricity), externally assured. However, food and beverage procurement, capital goods, and furniture supply chains are not mapped as distinct Scope 3 categories. Source with Purpose programme exists but lacks comprehensive supplier-level emissions disclosure.

Scope 1 absolute emissions rose from 415,034 MT (2021) to 442,406 MT (2024), with partial decline from 489,016 MT in 2023. Scope 2 location-based emissions rose 20% from 2021 to 2024. SBTi targets are intensity-based (75% and 56% per m²). Absolute 2024 levels remain higher than 2019 pre-pandemic baseline despite one-year improvement.

100% of US managed hotel owners adopted renewable energy contracts by Q4 2024, covering 10% of properties but 40% of emissions. Global renewable percentage not disclosed. EMEA achieved 100% renewable for one-third of owned/managed/leased hotels. Waterfall prioritises efficiency and off-site procurement over RECs. No RE100 membership.

Hilton references biodiversity in sustainable design checklists and funded 22,000+ tree plantations in 2024. However, no TNFD-aligned disclosure, no quantified nature footprint, no deforestation-free commitment with verification, and no comprehensive portfolio-level biodiversity risk assessment published. Nature policies exist at design guidance level only.

Managed hotels achieved 60.6% landfill waste intensity reduction from 2008 baseline (2024), exceeding 50% 2030 target. Full-size amenities replaced single-use miniatures; food waste and soap recycling programmes active. LightStay system tracks with DEKRA limited assurance. Data covers managed hotels only; absolute waste across full portfolio not prominently disclosed.

Hilton achieved 36.3% water use intensity reduction for managed hotels against 50% 2030 target (2008 baseline). CDP 2023 acknowledges absolute consumption will increase with portfolio growth. Water tracked via LightStay with DEKRA limited assurance. No watershed stewardship programme or verified absolute reduction strategy published.

SBTi-validated 2030 targets: 46.2% absolute Scope 1+2 reduction and 27.5% absolute Scope 3 reduction from 2019 base. Primary framing is intensity-based (75%, 56% per m²). No SBTi long-term net-zero validation found. Absolute Scope 1+2 emissions remain above 2019 levels in 2024, showing no demonstrated progress toward absolute target.

Annual Travel with Purpose Report, GRI Index, SASB Table, CDP Climate and Water responses, and 2024 Assurance Statement publicly available. DEKRA limited assurance (ISO 14064-3) since 2013. Board ESG Committee with quarterly updates. ISO 14001, 50001, 9001 certifications held. Exec compensation linkage partial (some hotel leaders only).

Hilton is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce, rated E- on climate policy by InfluenceMap, which actively opposed climate legislation including the IRA in 2021-2022. Hilton publicly advocates for climate action and signed DOE Better Climate Challenge but has not publicly distanced itself from or challenged the Chamber's anti-climate positions. No recent environmental enforcement violations found.