The Athenaeum’s Green Journey

At The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences, we believe that luxury and sustainability can coexist harmoniously. Our commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices has guided our journey to becoming one of the leaders in eco-friendly hospitality. Since embarking on our green journey in 2019, we’ve taken bold steps to reduce our environmental impact, improve our social responsibility, and foster meaningful partnerships with suppliers who share our values.

A Commitment to Reducing Carbon Emissions

The Athenaeum’s carbon reduction efforts have been pivotal in our overall ESG strategy. We’ve seen impressive results since we began actively tracking our carbon emissions, reducing our CO2-e per guest night from 58.486 kg in 2020 to just 25.25 kg in 2022. These reductions were achieved through several energy-saving initiatives:

• Installing occupancy sensors and LED lighting across the property.
• Introducing energy-efficient systems, such as automatic A/C shutoff when windows are open.
• Upgrading boilers, chillers, and air-handling units (AHUs) to improve efficiency.
• Utilizing our long-standing Business Management System (BMS) to manage ventilation, heating, and cooling intelligently.

In 2023, we took a significant step forward by receiving REGO certification, ensuring that our electricity comes from renewable sources. This transition alone is set to remove over 400,000 kg of CO2 from our annual footprint, equivalent to the weight of the International Space Station!

Driving Sustainability Through Waste and Water Management

Our efforts don’t stop at energy conservation. We’ve also made significant strides in improving waste management and water conservation:

• We increased our recycling rate from 44.7% in 2022 to 58.3% in 2023, and we are on track to surpass 60% this year.
• Water consumption has been reduced by 8.22% per guest, thanks to initiatives such as installing water flow reduction systems, dual-flush toilets, and training staff on efficient water usage.

Partnering with sustainability leaders like Grundon for waste management and Belu for water has allowed us to divert waste from landfills and support life-changing initiatives through WaterAid.

EarthCheck Silver Certification: A Global Standard

In 2023, The Athenaeum proudly achieved EarthCheck Silver certification, recognizing our commitment to sustainable hospitality. The EarthCheck program, based on science-backed methods and aligned with global sustainability standards, requires continuous improvement to maintain certification. We are working diligently on our environmental management system, which includes robust documentation and annual audits to ensure we meet our ambitious ESG goals.

Sustainable Partnerships: Working Together for a Greener Future

At The Athenaeum, sustainability isn’t just something we do internally—it’s a mindset that extends to our valued partners. We have implemented an ESG code of conduct for all new suppliers, ensuring that those we work with are aligned with our green values. From our partnership with Nespresso for recyclable coffee pods to offering Tregothnan ethically sourced British tea, we are committed to making sustainable choices at every level.

Our introduction of wooden key cards, which replace plastic, has removed nearly 6,000 plastic cards from circulation, and our refillable Molton Brown dispensers have eliminated over 44,000 single-use plastic bottles from the property.

Biodiversity in the Heart of London: The Living Wall

One of our proudest achievements is our iconic Living Wall, which stretches from street level to the 10th floor. This lush garden of over 2,000 plants not only enhances the beauty of our hotel but also plays a vital role in increasing biodiversity in Mayfair. Each year, it removes 757 kg of CO2 from the air and produces 559 kg of oxygen, providing a natural sanctuary for birds and bees.

Looking Ahead: Our Future ESG Goals

While we’ve made incredible progress, we know there is still much more to do. Our next major initiative is to measure and reduce our Scope 3 emissions by analyzing our supply chain’s carbon footprint. We are excited to partner with suppliers who are equally committed to sustainability and look forward to continuing our journey toward EarthCheck Gold and beyond.

At The Athenaeum, we are proud to be setting the standard for sustainable luxury in the heart of London. By working together with our team, guests, and partners, we are confident that we can make a lasting positive impact on our planet.