6 ways to spot a sustainable hotel

Fridge-cold rooms, wasteful breakfast buffets and fresh bed linen every day: the carbon footprint of a hotel stay can be huge.

The average UK hotel room emits 10.4 kg CO2e per night, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. That’s the equivalent of leaving a low-energy light bulb switched on for more than eight months straight.

If you want to make sure your hotel brand is doing its bit for the environment, check these six things before your next stay. 

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1. Green transport is encouraged

Check the ‘getting there’ page of the hotel’s website. Are there instructions on how to arrive by public transport rather than car? Does it also recommend local attractions guests can walk to.

Information like this suggests the hotel takes its eco credentials seriously. It will ideally also have electric charging points in its car park or highlight nearby destinations where these are available. 

2. The menu is seasonal and local

Out-of-season strawberries have a footprint seven times higher than seasonal ones. Either they are flown in from the likes of South Africa or grown in an energy-guzzling hothouse. 

That’s why you should look for hotels that serve seasonal and locally sourced food. The Pig hotels have created a 25-mile menu, meaning at least 80% of fresh ingredients are sourced locally (from farmers, fisherman and foragers) or from its own kitchen garden. 

There should also be a good selection of vegan and vegetarian options: animal products have a much higher carbon footprint than plant foods. Also beware the breakfast buffet: it can lead to massive food waste. It’s much better – not to mention more delicious – if items are cooked to order.

3. No single-use plastics

Most establishments have ditched plastic straws, but that's only the beginning. Those mini shampoo and soap bottles are a waste of plastic. 

Packaging like this can take around 500 years to break down in landfill, according to waste-reduction charity Wrap. 

Check your hotel uses bulk dispensers, or pack your own soap bars or refillables instead. Other culprits include condiment sachets and in-room freebies such as disposable razors, toothbrushes and cotton buds. 

Plastic water bottles and cups in the room are also a no-no. Much better to have glass decanters or, better still, a water fountain in reception to encourage guests to use their own refillable bottles. 

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4. Water is conserved

Many hotels are also doing their bit to limit water consumption, like using aerated shower heads and low-flow toilets. 

Some even harvest rainwater or recycle greywater (bathing water) for non-drinking purposes like laundry and toilet flushing. The TUI Blue hotel brand has committed to reducing the fresh water consumption of each guest by 10% per night to save the equivalent of 160 Olympic-size swimming pools. 

5. There are energy efficient features

We’ve all been forced to crack the window in a stuffy hotel room when the heating is turned up to the max. Maybe we’ve even checked in to find all the lights on and the radio or TV blaring. 

It’s much better for guests to adjust their own heating and have key-controlled features that automatically switch off when you leave the room. 

LED bulbs are another good energy saver. Which? Recommended Provider Premier Inn rooms are fitted with motion-sensor LED lighting, which switch off if you lie still for a while. You can turn them back on by waving your hand.

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6. It’s easy to reuse sheets and towels

The linen on one hotel bed is changed 200 times a year on average, producing 90kg of carbon. That’s the same as you’d produce charging a whopping 11,500 smartphones. 

Are there prominent notices in the room encouraging guests to reuse sheets and towels? These should also have clear instructions– eg to leave towels on the rails rather than the floor. 

Alternatively, you can hang the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door to prevent staff from cleaning.