Sustainability at Zedwell

At Zedwell, sustainability is about creating spaces that are better for people and lighter on the planet. By re-imagining how hotels are built, operated and experienced, we aim to reduce environmental impact while enhancing guest choice and calm.

Old buildings, new purpose

By reimagining underutilised urban spaces, such as subterranean environments, Zedwell significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional new-build hotel development. This adaptive reuse approach lowers embodied carbon, minimises construction waste and limits disruption to the surrounding cityscape.

Zedwell Hotels have been designed with energy efficiency in mind, incorporating low-energy lighting, optimised building systems and durable materials to support long-term operational sustainability, while delivering high-quality accommodation.

Windowless by Design

Cocoons are Windowless by Design not only to support deep sleep, but also to enhance energy efficiency.

Windowless rooms reduce heat loss, limit solar heat gain, and create a more stable indoor temperature, which lowers heating and cooling demand. With highly efficient HVAC and LED lighting systems, our hotels have delivered 15 to 25% in energy savings.

Our subterranean hotels see even better energy efficiency. Zedwell Underground Tottenham Court Road achieved a carbon footprint per occupied room of 6.28 kgCO2/occ room, significantly lower than London’s average of 11.5 kgCO2/occ room. The soil acts as an even stronger thermal insulator, maximizing the energy efficiency of the building.

A lighter way to stay

From check-in to check-out, our operations are designed to minimise waste. On arrival, guests receive reusable bamboo key cards, while payments and receipts are handled digitally to reduce paper use.

Single-use plastics have been eliminated from our Cocoons and Capsules, with refillable toiletries being used instead. To further reduce unnecessary consumption, our Beauty Rooms offer shared access to irons, ironing boards, and hairdryers. We also forgo televisions, helping to lower both electronic waste and energy use.

Cocoons are fully serviced every four days, with gentle daily refreshes in between, reducing excessive use of chemicals, linen, and water. From the moment you arrive, every choice during your stay can make a meaningful difference:

Reusing your towels. We only replace those left on the shower floor.
Keeping your Cocoon tidy to reduce the need for additional cleaning.
Returning your key card at check-out so it can be reused.

London for all

We aim to support local communities by creating jobs, working with nearby partners, and making it easier for guests to experience the area. Here’s what that looks like:

Partnerships Network: the Zedwell & More helps direct guests to local businesses, supporting our neighborhood’s economy.
Cultural Initiatives: We offer space for local artists to share their work. We recently hosted Shared Light, London’s first interfaith art exhibition, at Zedwell Piccadilly Circus.
Stakeholder Engagement: We collaborate with partners like The Crown Estate, Westminster City Council, and the Heart of London Business Alliance to foster collective stewardship and community outreach.

where we are…

Highlights

All Zedwell Hotels have attained a EcoSmart Silver Level sustainability certification from Greengage. The EcoSmart certification independently assesses hotel sustainability across key areas including energy, water, waste, carbon, supply chains and social responsibility. Achieving Silver status reflects the steps we’ve already taken and our commitment to go further.

A major sustainability milestone at the Zedwell Capsule Hotel Piccadilly Circus is the installation of 70 rooftop solar PV panels which:

Generate 24,608 kWh of energy annually
Save 5,732 kg of CO₂ emissions per year
Cover 29.4% of the building’s energy needs

Zedwell Underground Tottenham Court Road, achieved a carbon footprint per occupied room of 6.28 kgCO2/occ room, significantly lower than the average of 11.5 kgCO2/occ room in London.

Sustainability at Zedwell - Zedwell Hotels

where we are going…

Next steps

We know sustainability is an ongoing journey. As we continue to grow, our focus is on practical next steps that help us reduce our impact and improve the guest experience at the same time. This includes:

Strengthening how we measure and report environmental performance across our hotels, so we can better track progress and identify where more improvements can be made.