GREEN FEATURES     MacDonald Hotels says it recognises the importance of reducing its environmental impact and has already taken practical steps to do so. For instance, the Group has a clear food sourcing policy with a focus on sustainable development and work practices. Traceability is seen as crucial, as is developing strong relationships with suppliers.   It has developed an Environmental and Sustainability Policy which takes care not to detract from the guest experience. It is described as simply written and containing common sense and practical activities, with responsibilities allocated to every level of management.   It consists of a set of operational standards including sustainable purchasing for consumables, equipment, energy and chemicals; efficient and effective use of transport resources; pollution prevention measures and emergency procedures to reduce the risk and impact of incidents; waste minimisation including recovery and recycling; energy economy measures for each hotel department; and environmental support to each hotel's local community. These factors will be considered and incorporated into new builds and refurbishments.    The initiative requires an initial assessment of the hotel's environmental status in order for priorities and local objectives to be set, together with timescales for compliance, staff training and the communication of performance.