From carbon-positive operations and zero-waste dining programs to renewable energy and regenerative agriculture, these hotels prove that responsible travel and exceptional hospitality can go hand in hand.
By Julie Pham and Degen Pener
(main image: Populus Denver / Jason O'Rear)
Sustainability in hospitality has come a long way from simply asking guests to hang their towels to save on water use from laundering. Today, a number of standout hotels are trying to make a positive climate impact in an industry that accounts for an estimated 1 percent of global emissions per year. (That’s equivalent to the energy used by 46 million homes annually.) These initiatives can’t come soon enough, considering that, according to the Sustainable Tourism Network, a single four-star hotel with 200 rooms can use “around 300,000 pieces of single-use plastic in a month alone.” At these properties, sustainability, top-level service, and comfort coexist in a way that feels earned, and it shows in the details, from cutting food waste and transitioning to renewable energy to using ecofriendly bath amenities, ethically sourced bedding and local, organic produce. Here are seven hotels that are going above and beyond to redefine what it means to travel responsibly.
Populus Denver
Populus Denver opened in 2024 and holds the title as the first carbon positive hotel in the United States. Natural inspiration is ingrained in the building, a scalloped white structure with eye-shaped windows, designed by Studio Gang to mirror the pattern of aspen trees, peering out towards the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. The 265-room property—managed by Aparium and developed by Urban Villages, the team behind several environmentally driven projects across the Mile-High City—features interiors by Wildman Chalmers Design that favor warm and earthy tones, sunlit spaces, and natural materials. At the property’s Pasque and Stellar Jay restaurants, led by chef Ian Wortham, the menus offer plant-based options, while BioGreen360’s “Food Cycling” technology is used to convert food waste into compost. The building runs on 100% renewable electricity, and, notably, not offering onsite parking encourages guests to take public transportation or walk in the fresh Colorado air.
Populus Denver’s carbon footprint is offset through carbon credits from Grassroots Carbon, OneTreePlanted, and Terrapass, and via its One Night, One Tree program, a partnership with the National Forest Foundation, one tree is planted for every night a guest stays. An online “Road to Carbon Positive” dashboard tracks emissions and offsets in real time, keeping the hotel publicly accountable. Populus Seattle followed in 2025 as an adaptive reuse property carrying the same ethos.
Hotel Commonwealth, Boston
Sitting in the heart of Kenmore Square, Hotel Commonwealth is within reach of the best of Boston: Fenway Park, MGM Music Hall, Newbury Street, and Back Bay. The city’s ambitious climate action goal targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and Hotel Commonwealth is playing its part. With a grand European-influenced design that befits the historic character of Commonwealth Avenue, the property is sleek and modern, flooded with natural light. As the official hotel of the Boston Red Sox, the buzz of game days fills the air. It claims to be the first hotel in the city to carry out a circular food waste management program, partnering with BioGreen360 to divert 100% of its food waste away from landfills and instead turning it into organic fertilizer, with 17 tons diverted since 2023. With the goal of eliminating single-use plastics, the hotel offers refillable PATH water bottles and still and sparkling water stations. Key collaborations with Save That Stuff and Clean the World handle recyclable waste and discarded soaps, respectively, in responsible fashion, and an in-house Clean Earth Clean Air program keeps the air quality high.
1 Hotel Seattle
Seattle consistently ranks among the most sustainable cities in the country, so it makes sense that a 1 Hotels finally opened 1 Hotel Seattle in 2025. “Nature is our CEO,” 1 Hotels founder Barry Sternlicht has said. The property is on its way to LEED Silver certification with a 37% reduction in water use, UV water filtration, advanced air quality systems, and 70% of construction waste redirected away from landfills. Many single-use plastics are replaced by items such as reusable glassware, compostable packaging, and upcycled products like recycled-paper hangers and sustainable wood amenity trays. Biophilic design enlivens the lobby with walls of cascading moss and layers of raw stone overlooking the grand staircase, and all 153 rooms have soft wood finishes, travertine floors, and sculptures made from reclaimed materials lining the corridors. In-room green touches include 100% organic linens, wooden key cards, recyclable Nespresso pods, motion-sensor LED lighting, and smart thermostats. The property runs a certified TRUE Zero Waste program, and in-house restaurant La Loba, helmed by chef Oscar Amador Edo, spotlights low-waste cocktails and locally driven menus with offerings like Yuzu Oysters and Smoked Candy Salmon Montadito. Initiatives such as “1 Less Thing,” which collects gently used clothes for Mary’s Place, and Mission Membership, which donates 1% of revenue from stays to environmental nonprofits and plants a tree for every new member through the Arbor Day Foundation, are other ways the hotel commits to net-positive change that is effortlessly second nature.
47 Boutique Hotel, Rome
Rome's only Green Globe-certified hotel since 2023, 47 Boutique Hotel sits facing Piazza della Bocca della Verità in the Foro Boario, with the Circus Maximus and Colosseum within walking distance. The hotel prides itself on its self-production horticultural project, 47 Hortus, a four-hectare estate with more than 200 olive trees, vegetable gardens, and greenhouses in Tuscia's Marturanum Regional Park. Canino and Leccino olives from the property bring homegrown organic olive oil and seasonal vegetables to the tables at 47 Circus Roof Garden, chef Maurizio Lustrati's terrace restaurant with uninterrupted views of The Eternal City. The property also offers guests a leafy courtyard, private cinema, and billiards room. The green program touches every corner with energy-saving air conditioning, magnetic key cards, flow reducers on taps, personal care products made with biodegradable corn starch, and free bike rentals to explore Rome. Staff and guests are encouraged to change linen only when necessary and be mindful of their water use throughout their stay.
Hotel Kong Arthur, Copenhagen
With plans to be the world's first country entirely independent of fossil fuels by 2050, Denmark has long set the bar for sustainable living. Nestled by Copenhagen's lakes, Hotel Kong Arthur has kept its 1882 facade intact since opening in 1982, while the interiors are a touch of contemporary Scandinavian design with classic Danish furniture and a fireplace in the lobby. The standout is a New Nordic breakfast buffet that features local and organic grains, fresh juices, and a spread of European charcuterie and cheeses from sustainable farms, with options for any dietary needs and a focus on reducing food waste and produce delivery distances. Around the property are 15 electric vehicle charging stations and readily available bike rentals. The hotel lies within the charming Nansensgade Quarter and near Nørreport, Denmark’s most bustling train and bus station. The hotel, which has been Green Key certified since 2009, keeps its commitment to low-impact practices through LED lighting, reduced CO2 emissions, and responsible consumption.
The Savoy, London
Is it possible for sustainable and well-heeled luxury to exist in the same sentence? The Savoy, part of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, answers that question with a resounding yes. Opened in 1889 and one of London's most quintessential addresses, it has been a preferred stay for illustrious guests like Queen Elizabeth, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and the Beatles. The 267 rooms are either Edwardian or Art Deco style, with checkerboard bathroom tiles, luxuriously draped curtains, chandeliers, and elegant crown molding. Located on the Strand, it overlooks the River Thames, which served as Claude Monet’s muse during his visits to the hotel. The Savoy holds Green Key UK and FuturePlus Impact certifications, runs on 100% renewable electricity, and maintains a 98%+ recycling rate. A partnership with Recorra and Orbisk, an AI food-waste monitoring system, spotlights circular waste practices across the on-site restaurants, including River Restaurant and Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay. Guests can participate in the eco initiatives through a linen and towel reuse program, and still and sparkling water are served in reusable glass bottles at The Savoy Well.
The Hari, London
The Hari, a stylish haven in central London since 2016, was named the 7th most sustainable hotel in the world by TripAdvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Awards in 2024. The property’s green commitment includes zero carbon wooden key cards, a partnership with npower for fully renewable electricity, and stocking eco-conscious products like Ada Cosmetics, Jo Loves, Belu Water, and Bumboo. Such initiatives have won it Silver Accreditation by EarthCheck and membership in the NOW Force for Good Alliance. The location is a prime Belgravia spot near The Royal Albert Hall, Buckingham Palace, the V&A Museum, Knightsbridge, and Hyde Park. Tara Bernerd & Partners bring a sophisticated boutique aesthetic to life throughout 85 rooms, including 14 designer suites, highlighted by understated colors, white Arabescato marble, chic velvet furniture, and a curated art collection. On-property restaurant il Pampero, run by chef Angelo Alberais, incorporates zero-waste initiatives and serves authentic Italian dishes like Tagliata di Manzo with wild rocket, parmesan, and balsamic glaze and tableside tiramisu. The Hari encourages their employees to reduce their carbon footprint by biking to work through the Cycle 2 Work program. A sister location in Hong Kong opened four years after the London flagship helps spread Hari’s good ethos around the world.
