Caesars bets big on corporate sustainability goals

American gaming goliath Caesars Entertainment is going "all in" on its CodeGreen environmental performance targets, after outlining reductions to energy use, waste and emissions in its latest corporate sustainability report.


Among the headline reductions for Caesars – which runs and operate Caesars Palace and the LINQ in Las Vegas – is a 28% reduction in emissions per air-conditioned 1,000 square feet since CodeGreen’s launch in 2007. The company is closing in on its 30% reduction target for 2020, which increases to 40% by 2025.

The entertainment company has also reduced energy consumption by 23% in that timeframe, and is again aiming for 30% and 40% reductions in total. Water use has also fallen by 20%, meaning that Caesars has hit its 2020 goal and is closing in on the 25% reduction target for 2025.

In total, waste diverted from landfill has been slashed by 38%, although this measured at 42% in the US a year prior. However, the company has revealed a 28% reduction in total waste produced in 2015. The waste target for 2025 sits at 60%.

Caesars Entertainment’s vice president for facilities, engineering and sustainability Eric Dominguez said: “Our progress reflects many years of hard work around energy and carbon management. We continue to evolve our programs, focusing on high-value projects that utilize new technologies to lower energy and water use, reduce operating costs and minimize environmental impact. In 2015, we set a course to replace every light source with high-efficacy LED bulbs.

“We embarked on a comprehensive retro-commissioning program to increase central plant operating efficiencies. And we implemented a new standard for network integrated guest-room occupancy controls. Although we’ve made progress, we fully understand there’s a lot more to do and we’re committed to the journey.”

Stick or twist?

The report highlights the company’s revamped commitment to sustainability, which has seen Caesars align its targets to eight of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including climate change, responsible suppliers and corporate transparency.

In light of the corporate transparency alignment, Caesars is one of the 75 organisations that invites suppliers to disclose emissions as part of the CDP initiative. In 2015 Caesars scored 100/100 on the CDP’s Climate Disclosure Score and wants 50% of its top 150 suppliers to disclose to CDP in the near future.

The CodeGreen initiative, which saves more than $50m annually through reduced utility costs, will also be tailored to the new science-based carbon reduction goals – a partnership between CDP, UN Global Compact, WRI and WWF, which helps corporations determine how much they must cut emissions to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

The company also announced that it had achieved targets to acquire LEED certification for all new builds and expanded properties, as well as receiving 100% Green Key certification for all global hotels. Since receiving its first LEED certification in 2009, Caesars has moved to ensure that 1,485,802 square feet of construction is now certified.

In recent months, three of Nevada’s largest casino companies – MGM Resorts, Wynn, and Las Vegas Sands – have announced plans to buy and produce more renewable energy for their hotels, a move driven both by increasing demand for responsible energy use from the companies that rent their conference halls.

Matt Mace

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