At the Lord Elgin Hotel, our vision is that we are committed to green hotel policies and the implementation of proactive measures to help protect and sustain the environment for future generations while creating wonderful memories for our guests.
Climate change, biodiversity loss and social challenges are shaping our ecosystem and increasingly have an impact on business and growth. The travel and tourism industry represents 9 to 12% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. We readily acknowledge our responsibility to the health of our environment.
Our commitment is to always have our Green Committee review the procedures and practices throughout the Hotel with the goal to implement polices and measures to improve our environmental and sustainability footprints.All our sustainability goals are detailed in our action plan which is regularly reviewed and updated by the Green Committee. Some of the initiatives include:
- To continuously revise and review the needs of the hotel with respect to environment needs
- To continue to increase our Green Key Score
- To find ways to lower energy usage (hydro, gas)
- To find ways to reduce water consumption
- To continue decreasing our paper usage
- To switch to more bulk guest amenities
- To divert more waste from landfills
- To increase employee engagement in our green initiatives
- To continue working with environmental leaders for inspiration on how we can improve
- To move towards greener purchasing decisions
- To ignite a green passion in the hotel
- To continue working with La table de chef to reduce food waste
With climate change becoming an increasing challenge, we recognize the importance of achieving all our goals in order to do our part to create a sustainable future.
The Hotel has achieved 4 Green Keys under the Green Key Eco-Rating Program and are a member of Ottawa Tourism and the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association. Green Key’s 13 categories and 100+ criteria ensure that all participating establishments strive towards meeting the highest standards in environmental and social responsibility. For more information about Green Key Global, please click here.
The Hotel supports any and all green initiatives brought forward by Ottawa Tourism, including but not limited to the recent addition of the ‘La Tablée des Chefs’ program within the Hotel.
For a full list of green initiatives, the green committee would be happy to share their action plan.
The Green Committee, along with the General Manager, hold the hotel accountable to the standards and commitments outlined in the Environmental Policy and the Sustainability Policy. We are open to and love feedback that helps with our sustainability goals!
Green Policies
All of our policies are included in our employee handbook which is always available to staff and sent electronically to all staff once a year after it has been reviewed. All employees are provided adequate time to thoroughly review and read all policies to ensure they are familiar with any changes that have been made in the last year. Employee education and engagement is very important to the culture of the hotel, and we strive for ongoing and continuous improvement in all areas. The below sections of the green policies include all environmental, conservation, social, economic, IT, and various other policies within the hotel.
Environmental and Conservation
The hotel is aware of our impact on the environment in everything we do. Environmental issues are able to be raised by all staff for the green committee to review. We have an action plan in place to discuss broad environmental strategies that are management supported. The accounting department tracks monthly all energy and waste usage, including gas, hydro, water, waste, and recycling. The green committee seeks ways to continuously improve and reduce waste. The hotel has practices in place for the safe disposal of all hazardous and toxic materials if/when necessary. This is a part of our larger health and safety practices which are regularly reviewed and updated. Our maintenance and housekeeping department continuously monitor all equipment and chemicals for risk assessment (to eliminate or control) both employee safety and environmental hazards. While the hotel is conscious of biodiversity, this area is not in our geographical control. In our action plan we have included guest participation in our employee initiatives for yearly international/national days of environmental awareness.
The hotel works closely with our guests and clients to ensure proper accommodations are made for people with special needs (physical limitations, dietary, etc.). Collaborating with our guests to ensure their comfort and safety is essential.
Social & Economic
The green committee keeps up to date with current events of ongoing social, cultural, and human rights issues so that we are cognizant of what is happening outside of our walls. We are mindful of the economic impact that these types of events/occurrences have on our guests, staff, suppliers, vendors and business partners.
The hotel works with local organizations from time to time in partnership for raising funds or awareness for their causes. Part of the 2024-2025 action plan is introducing more initiatives such as park cleanup, where we could help the local community.
Information Technology/Systems
All computers and laptops within the hotel are set up to go to low power/power savings mode when not in use for a period of time. Computers that are not regularly used are shut off, and monitors are powered off. Employees who have a dedicated computer turn their computers and monitors off at night. In addition to this, our IT company does a system wide reboot with updates once a week to all systems in the hotel.
Our larger meeting rooms have a ‘close room’ function that will shut down all AV and cove lighting at once. All regular lighting in meeting rooms not in use are kept off.
Responsible Purchasing
The hotel always shops locally, when possible, from within Ontario, and prefers small independent companies or family-owned companies wherever possible. We purchase paper products for our housekeeping department that are all post-consumer recycled. Bulk cleaners that are environmentally conscious are purchased and dispensed into smaller receptables on site. We proudly order guest amenities in larger format bottles that are cleaned and refilled in Ontario which has eliminated a lot of single use plastic amenities from our waste. Our restaurant serves fair trade and organic tea and coffees, which also supports local and indigenous communities.
CFCs, VOCs and HCFCs
At the hotel, the only CFCs used on site is chlorine for the pool, so it is fully used up in the course of regular pool maintenance, disposal and equipment recovery is not required.
At the hotel, we do not have any products containing VOCs. All paints on site are all no VOC, so no employee exposure is possible.
What are Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?
CFCs are a family of inert, nontoxic, and easily liquefied chemicals used in refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, and insulation, or as solvents and aerosol propellants. CFCs are harmful to the earth’s upper atmosphere where their chlorine components destroy the ozone layer.
What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?
VOCs are a group of chemicals found in many common household products like paints and carpets that can easily vaporize. VOCs are known to cause health effects including irritation to the eyes, nose and throat.
What are Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)?
HCFCs are organic compounds used in refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosols and fire suppressions. There are many types of HCFCs, some of which have been banned for their ozone-depleting properties.
Food and Drink
The Lord Elgin Hotel’s policy demonstrates our dedication to the environment by sourcing fresh, seasonal ingredients from local, sustainable, and organic suppliers where possible. We recognise our responsibility to retain a reduced carbon footprint while providing our guests with the highest quality of service. We use recyclable materials wherever possible and all takeout products are fully compostable. Any usable food that is not consumed to donated to a reputable food recycling organization. We use an organic filter for our fryer oil that extends the life of the oil by 60%. Our chemical provider uses green chemistry pirnciples which includes scrap reprocessing and eliminiating all hazardous substances substances used or generated in the manufacturing process. All of our chemicals are biodegradable.
Our restaurant, FortyOne, maintains very high standards, driving positive change and creating a better food system for people and the planet.
It helps to create a more socially responsible and environmentally friendly sector, encouraging, supporting, recognising, and celebrating sustainable practices across the hospitality industry.
- We serve fair trade and organic tea and coffees, which also supports local and indigenous communities.
- Our suppliers source locally produced product whenever possible
- We recycle plastic, cardboard, cans, and organics
- All of our takeout products are fully compostable
- Any usable food that is not consumed is donated to a reputable food recycling organization
