Caesars Entertainment Hits Sustainability Jackpot

Use Case

Centralizing and managing resource and emissions data across a diverse, large-scale portfolio to improve visibility, support sustainability target tracking, and enable data-driven decision-making across operations.

Challenge

With more than 50 destinations, 39,000+ hotel rooms, 300+ restaurant and dining outlets, and 200+ nightlife venues globally, Caesars Entertainment is one of the most geographically diverse entertainment companies in the world. When the company first set forth aggressive sustainability goals in 2007, leadership executives knew that achieving these goals across such a complex organization would be no simple task.

As the organization has grown, so have its sustainability initiatives – and corresponding complexity. Caesars was even one of the first organizations that committed to science-based targets, demanding an even greater commitment to data quality and discipline. To achieve its aggressive environmental goals, Caesars Entertainment turned to Arcadia for help.

Solution

With over four years of partnership, Caesars has engaged the Arcadia team of industry-leading carbon, energy, and waste experts to provide data-driven insights and expertise to achieve aggressive goals. Some highlights of the partnership include:

• Efficient and accurate collection, tracking and monitoring of energy, water, waste, and emissions data. Arcadia's Global Data Management helped aggregate portfolio-wide data to deliver the essential foundation to baseline and track performance to reduction goals.
• End-to-end Waste Management: Using portfolio-wide data, site-specific insights, and Arcadia's expertise, Caesars designed a spectrum of diverse programs to address recycling, organics, waste prevention, asset recovery, and employee and guest engagement.
• Current state assessment to understand waste generation, Caesars invested in high-quality data that would show a 360° view of waste opportunities, including:
• Waste invoice data management – A consistent, cross-portfolio view of waste details that matter, such as tonnage and pick-up frequency
• Waste Audits – Deep dives into waste collection skips and across site operations revealed items that could be recycled, composted, or repurposed
• Technology – Compactor sensors to monitor waste levels, identifying opportunities to reduce waste collection frequency
• Regulations and Supplier Assessments – Matching local regulations to available composting or recycling suppliers.

Execution

Caesars didn't stop at setting targets — they built programs that made sustainability the path of least resistance for employees and guests alike. A single-stream recycling program at loading docks separated recyclables from general waste and recovered silverware and reusable items before they disappeared into the waste stream. Sixteen pressure monitors installed across 11 properties notified waste collectors only when compactors were full, eliminating unnecessary hauls and cutting transportation costs. Food waste baselines were established to drive measurable progress going forward. Employees got involved through competitions to collect partially used soaps for donation, cut organic kitchen waste, and bring efficiency habits home. Guests could easily opt out of daily housekeeping, recycle through clearly labeled bins, and feel confident their choices mattered. And when hotel rooms were refurbished, furniture was donated to neighboring communities — keeping usable items out of landfill and putting them to work where they were needed.

GHG Emissions Accounting and Disclosure

On the reporting side, Caesars partnered with Arcadia to bring the same rigor to emissions disclosure that it applied to operations. Using Arcadia's CDP-accredited Carbon Manager software and a team of disclosure experts, Caesars built a consistent, verifiable methodology for tracking and managing GHG emissions across the enterprise. The result: a perfect 100 disclosure score on the 2015 CDP Climate Change questionnaire, earned through more compelling, qualitative responses grounded in real data. Rather than treat that as a finish line, Caesars pushed further. For its 2016 CDP response, Caesars leveraged Arcadia's expertise to develop and report its first-ever science-based carbon target aligned with the Paris Agreement — earning a perfect A score and a place on the CDP Climate A-List.

Benefits

The results speak for themselves. Since 2011, the company has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 23.7% and cut waste to landfill by 49%. Absolute water consumption is down 10% since 2008, and the company is 79% of the way to its 2025 Science-Based Target — a credible, third-party-verified benchmark that keeps sustainability progress honest. CDP recognized the effort with an A-List designation, its highest rating. And across every North American owned or managed hotel and resort property, the company has achieved a Green Key Global rating of 4 or higher — a certification recognized in 56 countries that confirms environmental performance isn't just a commitment on paper, but a measurable reality on the ground.