10 Hotel Sustainability Practices You Can Bring Home (Inspired by Impact Hotels)

When we think of sustainability, we often picture large-scale systems or futuristic technology. But some of the most impactful ideas are happening in hotels right now—beautiful properties where design, luxury, and environmental responsibility coexist.

Across the Impact Hotels collection, sustainability isn’t a buzzword, it’s daily practice. The good news? Many of these habits can inspire your own routines at home. Here are 10 lessons from hotels around the world that prove eco-living doesn’t mean compromising on comfort.

1. Save Every Drop 💧

Water is a precious resource, and hotels have a unique responsibility due to the high volume of guests they host. At Six Senses Douro Valley in Portugal, for example, smart irrigation systems and water recycling ensure their sprawling vineyards and gardens thrive without straining local resources.

💡 At home: install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators—tiny changes that could save thousands of liters of water a year. You might not have a vineyard to manage, but every drop still counts.

2. Rethink Food Waste 🍽️

Hotels serve hundreds of meals daily, making food waste a critical issue. Many are addressing this by creating closed-loop systems—composting food scraps, redirecting leftovers to local farms, or transforming them into meals for staff.

💡 At home: try planning weekly meals, freezing excess portions, or starting a compost bin. The same systems that keep hotels efficient can make your kitchen more sustainable, too.

3. Shop (and Eat) Local 🥬

Supporting local producers is a win-win: it reduces carbon emissions from shipping while uplifting nearby farmers and artisans. At The Betsy Hotel in Miami, much of the menu is sourced from local farms, ensuring fresh seasonal dishes and strengthening community ties.

💡 At home: visit local markets, join a community-supported agriculture program, or commit to buying produce that’s in season. You’ll taste the difference, and your carbon footprint will shrink in the process.

4. Design for Efficiency 🏠

Great design can drastically cut energy use. Hotels with eco-friendly architecture maximize natural light, encourage natural airflow, and use smart layouts to reduce reliance on artificial systems.

💡 At home: rearrange your living spaces to capture more natural sunlight, swap heavy curtains for lighter ones, and replace traditional bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs.

5. Cut Plastic for Good 🚯

Single-use plastics have long been a problem in hospitality. Many eco-conscious hotels are making the switch to refillable bathroom amenities, glass bottles, and biodegradable alternatives.

💡 At home: keep a reusable bottle and tote bag with you, replace cling film with beeswax wraps, and stock your pantry with glass jars instead of plastic packaging.

6. Make Energy Smarter ⚡

The Parkroyal Collection Pickering in Singapore is a shining example of how hotels can combine technology and nature. With its lush green façade, solar panels, and motion-sensor lighting, the hotel balances luxury with sustainability seamlessly.

💡 At home: consider smart plugs and timers, unplug devices when not in use, and explore small solar options like garden lights or chargers.

7. Bring Nature Indoors 🌿

Biophilic design—using natural elements indoors—creates spaces that improve mental health while supporting sustainability. Hotels worldwide are embracing lush plant-filled interiors, not only for aesthetics but also for better air quality.

💡 At home: add low-maintenance plants like snake plants or pothos, or create a mini indoor herb garden. It’s décor that gives back.

8. Choose Wellness with Purpose 🧘

Wellness at Impact Hotels isn’t just about luxury spas—it’s about conscious connection to the planet. Whether it’s forest bathing retreats in Europe or yoga classes held in nature, wellness here is rooted in environmental mindfulness.

💡 At home: trade one screen-filled evening for a nature walk, or practice mindfulness with natural scents like lavender and eucalyptus to bring that eco-wellness vibe into your day.

9. Repurpose with Creativity ♻️

Hotels are showing that reusing doesn’t mean compromising on style. From reclaimed wood furniture to upcycled décor, sustainable choices often end up being the most unique design elements in a property.

💡 At home: instead of buying new, check thrift shops or give furniture a second life with a fresh coat of paint. Repurposed design tells a story, just like it does in hotels.

10. Travel Light, Live Light 🎒

The Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland invites guests to embrace minimalist travel—packing less, consuming consciously, and immersing themselves in the local culture instead of overindulging in excess.

💡 At home: declutter your wardrobe, donate what you don’t use, and invest in quality over quantity. Living light often means living freer.

Bringing It Home

Sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated. From water-wise gardens in Portugal to mindful dining in Miami, from smart energy in Singapore to the conscious travel philosophy of Newfoundland, Impact Hotels remind us that small steps add up to lasting change.

Every refillable bottle, every local purchase, every small eco-step matters. And when we learn from the world’s most innovative hotels, the path to sustainability becomes a lot more inspiring.

👉 Want to keep up with more inspiring stories from Impact Hotels around the world? Subscribe to our Journal and be part of a growing movement in sustainable travel.