At Renaissance Services, the efforts to integrate sustainability in the company’s operations in providing Accommodation, Services Solutions and Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) services is an ongoing and continuous process. As Oman’s leading company in these sectors and listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange since 1996, Renaissance has always recognised the importance of responsible practices that contribute to the Sultanate’s growth and environmental stewardship. One of the key areas where the company has made significant progress is in food waste management, reflecting its commitment to a sustainable, greener future.

With over three decades of experience, Renaissance Services caters to more than 100 locations and delivers over 50mn meals annually. The company strives to uphold the highest standards in food safety, hygiene, variety and quality, which inevitably generates substantial amounts of food waste. Recognising this challenge, Renaissance has taken proactive steps to manage and reduce food waste as part of broader environmental goals.

Smart Scale System
In 2024, it successfully piloted a Smart Scale System at its 18,860-bed Renaissance Village Duqm facility to help monitor, measure and reduce food waste. The Smart Scale System integrates hardware and software to track and analyse food waste by type, weight and location.

The process involves:
• Setup: Placing the food waste bin on the smart scale.
• Input: Recording each type of food waste, with the system capturing the weight and image of the waste.
• Real-time feedback: Displaying the weight and type of waste immediately.
• Data storage: Transmitting the collected information to a data management platform for further processing.
• Analysis and reporting: Offering users access to detailed reports and analytics, including waste trends by type, weight, and location.

Adding further value to the workflow, the system also allows for menu integration, enabling users to track food waste against specific dishes, providing deeper insights into waste sources and helping to refine menu offerings to minimise waste.

Composting: Turning Waste into Resources
It is also a matter of pride that the company has installed advanced composting devices to process all types of food and biowaste at various sites across Oman to reduce the physical volume of organic waste generated by an impressive 80% to 90%.

These composting units are strategically placed across our operations:
• Eight large composting devices are stationed at the waste transportation hubs in Qarn Alam, Fahud, Lekhwair, Bahja, Nimr and Marmul. Each can process up to two tonnes of waste.
• Five smaller units with a capacity of 350 kg each are deployed in remoter locations such as Rima and Harweel, ensuring even the most isolated sites benefit from sustainable waste management.
• A large composting device has also been installed at Renaissance Village Duqm, which has helped reduce kitchen waste sent to landfills by 90%. More importantly, the compost generated is being used for landscaping within the facility, thereby contributing to a greener environment.

Renaissance is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact through innovative practices. Its composting devices and smart scale system are essential elements of the strategy to achieve a substantial waste reduction and promote a greener, more sustainable future across all of its sites. The company is highly motivated by the opportunity to bring about positive change within the industry and beyond.

Contributed by Noor Al Rashdia

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