Our Impact
Sustainability is just the beginning...
Since we opened our doors in 1998, One Aldwych has had an innate sense of responsibility for the environment and world around us. From the beehives on our roof, to the chlorine-free swimming pool in our basement, doing the right thing by our planet is in our DNA. Over time this has extended into our wider impact on the world – our community, our people and our guests.
As the first luxury hotel in London to become B Corp Certified™, we are extremely proud and excited to share the news.
As one of the very few hotels in London (or indeed the world) that can say it is truly independent, our story is very much our own to write and comes straight from the heart.
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MINDFUL FROM THE VERY START
From the outset we created a hotel with the aim of doing things a little differently. Private ownership allowed space for thinking not just of our guests, but also our community, our people and our environment.
More than 20 years later, we have paused to take stock and through B Corp have checked on our progress, asking ourselves what are we doing well? And more importantly, what can we do better?
Think local & Long-term
In the last year we have overhauled our supply chain with a focus on long-term relationships with like-minded, and where possible, local suppliers and producers. It may have started with a rigorous checklist (think banning single use plastics and carbon offsetting), but through it we have developed new friendships and partnerships with some incredible people with whom we share a passion for doing the right thing and doing it really well.
Let us introduce you...
Chocolarder
From bean to bar – and from ship to shore – Chocolarder is one of the most ethical and sustainable craft chocolate makers out there. Not only do they source cocoa beans from responsible farms from around the world, they transport them across the seas by sailing ship, straight into Falmouth in Cornwall. The beans are then roasted, ground and tempered using vintage machines restored by the team. As for the chocolate itself, it’s free of palm oil, emulsifier and additives, comes wrapped in plastic-free packaging, but is packed with fantastic flavour!
Skye Weavers
Guests love the throws found on all of our beds, they are created by the wonderful Skye Weavers. On the Hebridean Isle of Skye, woollen yarns of exceptional quality are woven in a little weather-beaten shed on a loom that operates solely on pedal power. The results are beautiful blankets in our soft blues, coral and lavender.
Mitchell and Peach
In our bathrooms, you’ll find bath and body products from the fifth-generation floricultural estate in Kent, Mitchell and Peach. As trusted partners, we have worked together to develop their first non-plastic bottles and after many trials and tests we have introduced pioneering aluminium bottles. Over two years in the making, these new ‘infinitely recyclable’ bottles with their ceramic-like finish set a new standard in sustainability.
Canned Wine
Tucked into our mini bars are some award-winning wines from Canned Wine Co. who are making high-level wine accessible and sustainable. By buying in vats, not heavy glass bottles, emissions in transportation are lowered. The cans, being airtight, capture the wine at its best, so whether it’s an Old Vine Garnacha or a Grenache Rosé, it’s ready for individual serves with no waste.
bring the energy
We strive to lead and innovate in energy saving features, including heat reclaim and water efficiency. Our accreditation holds us to the highest standards of environmental performance and transparency, but we are committed to going further.
Each year we aim to reduce our energy usage by 5% through more responsible use of gas, water and electricity – this ranges from LED lighting to meticulous tracking and timers. We’re currently measuring carbon emissions at 26kg per room per night, well below the UK average of 33-36kg.
With water we’re particularly mindful of wastage. Each day we use 7 times less water in our building thanks to our specialist vacuum drainage system. What’s more, in-house filtration and bottling eliminates single-use water bottles and reduces carbon emissions in the transport of bottled water.
we're a people place
Our passion for preserving the environment and enabling our guests to live better influences all of our operational decisions. We are dedicated to continually seeking to evolve and improve in this area, and we empower the hotel’s brilliantly diverse team to suggest new ideas and get involved.
Communication is key and through our corporate citizenship, our customer service and our employee responsibilities we are a listening organisation – open to review and respond to all as part of our positive contribution to society.
Our commitment to charity is a quiet, yet active story, with donations and projects spread across a variety of sectors including supporting seriously ill children through Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity and London’s homeless through The Connection at St. Martin’s.
As a B Corp pioneer in luxury hotels, we see ourselves as guardians for future generations and are part of a global movement towards benefiting all.
After all, there’s One Earth and One Aldwych.
