Room2 CHISWICK From responsible FF&E to clean energy, Lamington Group’s West London retreat is a blueprint for sustainable hospitality. Words: Ben Thomas • Photography: © Andrei Botnari
R
esearch by Booking.com shows that
“Reducing carbon is something that we can
travellers are more conscious than ever
agree on globally,” says Godwin as we sit down
about their environmental impact, with
to discuss the West London site’s sustainable
70% of those surveyed last year saying they were
strategy. “At Room2 Chiswick, this means not
more likely to choose a hotel that implements
only measuring our emissions and offsetting
sustainable practices.
them, but assessing every element of carbon
Removing single-use plastics and cutting down on food waste is no longer enough, with
produced. Any unavoidable emissions are then offset through verified removal processes.”
every aspect of a hotel’s life cycle – from its
Such stringency has seen the hotel become one
construction to its interior design and day-to-
of the first in the world to account for its entire
day operations – now under the microscope.
carbon footprint, with the siblings choosing
For Room2, a hometel brand launched by
suppliers – whether that be local craftspeople,
Lamington Group in 2015, the need to create
manufacturers with science-based targets or
greener accommodation was essential from the
those with a roadmap to net zero – that are
get-go, with brothers Robert and Stuart Godwin
on a similar journey as them or align with the
setting out plans to develop a design-led
environmental values of the brand. “The next
portfolio that leaves little trace on the planet.
step will be working with artisans and suppliers
Following openings in Southampton and
to improve their practices,” Godwin continues,
Hammersmith, the pair earmarked a former
adding that given indirect emissions make up
wallpaper factory in Chiswick as the location
around 90% of the brand’s carbon footprint,
for their third development, and soon the eco-
the new Chiswick hotel will become something
conscious ethos evolved into a net zero approach
of a blueprint for the 5,000 keys it hopes to
that informs the project from top to bottom.
introduce to the UK by 2030.
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