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One Aldwych becomes first five-star London hotel to earn B Corp certification
By Shivani Dubey | 18 March 2025 | Lifestyle, Travel
One Aldwych in Covent Garden has become the first and only five-star hotel in London to earn a B Corp certification for sustainability
One Aldwych, the independent hotel in the heart of Covent Garden, has become the first and only five star hotel in London to earn a B Corp certification. It is one of only 18 within the accommodation sector across the UK.
Receiving a B Corp certification is one of the highest honours in the field of sustainability. This is a certification that is awarded to companies that have voluntarily met the highest standards for social and environmental performance. These certifications are awarded by the B Lap to companies that meet the high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, which in turn makes them invaluable to the luxury industry.
Spearheading this has been the hotel’s managing director Janine Marshall, who believes sustainability is not a byword, but a buzzword.
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“Since our inception in 1998, caring for people and the planet has been at the heart of One Aldwych’s operations, with responsible and thoughtful decisions playing an integral role in every aspect of the business,” Janine tells Tempus. “Becoming a B Corp was a natural step for us and formalised our dedication to sustainable and ethical business practices.”
To Janine and One Aldwych, B Corp is not just a certification, it reflects “who we are, what we stand for, and our ongoing commitment to doing better for the world around us – our community, our guests and our people”.
Some of the ways One Aldwych champions sustainability is sourcing local, sustainable goods, implementing energy-efficient solutions and reducing waste through upcycling and composting. They also use in-house filtration systems and bottling to eliminate single-use water bottles and reduce carbon emissions.
“We have set ourselves a target of reducing our energy usage by 5% through more responsible use of gas, water and electricity – this ranges from LED lighting to meticulous tracking and timers. Each day the hotel uses seven times less water thanks to a specialist vacuum drainage system,” says Janine.
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One Aldwych has also introduced a carbon footprint monitoring system where all daily water meter readings, gas, electricity usage, room occupancy, food covers served, etc., are entered to give a monthly report of wastage. They are also involved in a government-led project with the London Heritage Quarter, which allows businesses to have their energy (heat and air conditioning) provided by the River Thames.
In recent years, there has been a shift in consumer expectations, particularly in the luxury travel industry, where authenticity and responsible business practices are increasingly valued. B Corp has become a benchmark for luxury businesses to aspire to, and hotels like One Aldwych are hoping that through achieving this certification, they can engage guests in meaningful conversations about sustainability.
“We have always worked at creating a purposeful, positive and inclusive work environment and are proud of our culture that is diverse and provides opportunity for growth, says Janine. “By raising awareness, we hope to encourage more responsible choices, not just within our hotel but beyond.”