This World Environment Day focuses on ending plastic pollution, a challenge the events and hospitality industry is tackling head-on. Across the UK, venues are making bold strides to reduce their environmental impact and lead by example.
From achieving carbon neutrality and cutting single-use plastics to enhancing biodiversity and earning top sustainability accreditations, Church House Westminster, ICC Wales, The Celtic Collection, and Chapel House Estate are proving what’s possible with purpose and innovation.
Church House, Westminster
Church House Westminster won the Carbon Reduction & Net Zero category at the Greengage Awards 2025 and was awarded with platinum.
The award is well deserving and celebrates the fact the venue achieved carbon neutrality in 2024, six years ahead of schedule, through a carbon-negative refurbishment. Key actions included using carbon-absorbing paint, spray cork insulation, and clay plaster to reduce emissions. LED lighting, waterless urinals, and energy-saving measures further decreased carbon footprints. Waste is minimized, with 75% recycled, and 100% electricity sourced from renewables. Employee engagement was crucial, with carbon literacy training leading to sustainable practices, like eliminating plastic and using biodegradable cleaning products.
Partnerships with sustainable suppliers, such as Searcy’s for local produce, and Event Decision for carbon tracking, strengthened its green goals. The venue also collaborates with the Westminster and Victoria District Energy Heat Network to use heat from the tube and Thames. Looking ahead, Church House plans to reduce event-related emissions by 25% by 2030, enhance community engagement, and achieve a BREEAM Excellence rating, continuing its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
ICC Wales and The Celtic Collection
ICC Wales and seven hotels within The Celtic Collection have earned Green Dragon Level 4 accreditation, a leading environmental management standard in Wales.
This certification highlights significant progress in sustainability, including energy and water reductions, waste management, and biodiversity enhancement.
ICC Wales champions sustainability through initiatives like eliminating single-use plastics, using locally sourced produce, and maintaining Green Meetings Certified status, supported by a dedicated Green Team. A member of leading industry sustainability body isla, ICC Wales offsets 465 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually thanks to its 230 acres of woodland and its state-of-the-art construction includes a smart power Building Management System to minimise energy consumption.
The Celtic Collection properties are the first hotels in Wales to achieve the Green Dragon Level 4 standard. Committed to achieving Net Zero by 2050, the Celtic Collection also hold Green Tourism and Green Key accreditations. All energy has been procured from REGO-backed renewable sources since 2012 and all waste is diverted from landfill, with food waste converted to biogas. At the flagship Celtic Manor Resort a new Environment and Ecology Stewardship Manager has overseen the planting of 5,000 trees, the installation of 120 bird boxes and the introduction of 150,000 honeybees to boost biodiversity over the last two years.
Chapel House Estate
Since its launch in 2022, Chapel House Estate has remained dedicated to preserving the site’s rich heritage, protecting local wildlife and creating a venue that leaves a positive environmental legacy. Its sustainability policy is built around four core goals: reducing waste, supporting biodiversity, minimising chemical use and lowering the estate’s carbon footprint.
Redefining responsible hospitality, the team has taken a holistic approach to implement meaningful change across the estate. Key green initiatives include water conservation through the installation of water butts and drought-tolerant planting; wildlife friendly landscaping to attract pollinators; bee hives; solar panels; an intelligent lighting control system to optimise energy efficiency; and using local suppliers to reduce food miles.
With the focus of World Environment Day 2025 being ending plastic pollution, this is something that Chapel House Estate has prioritised over the past 12 months. From reducing single-use plastic waste in the gardens through reusable plant pots and homegrown compost to refillable glass bottles for toiletries in washrooms, the team are committed to coming up with innovative solutions to eliminate plastics use.
The estate’s green journey has been recently awarded a prestigious Greengage ECOsmart Gold Award 2024, which recognises a comprehensive commitment to environmental sustainability.
