The hospitality market is shaped by rising environmental awareness and changing guest expectations, meaning that sustainability is a business imperative. The Accor Group, a hospitality group with over 5800 hotels in 110+ countries, has decided to focus on earning the EU Ecolabel.  

The Ibis Styles and Ibis Budget Brest Centre Port in France is its flagship venture in this area and an example of how a hotel can reduce consumption and increase efficiency.

It was not a simple process, however. EU Ecolabel certification entailed a detailed review of everyday operations, from lighting systems to water pressure in showers.

Waste sorting and composting were reinforced, single-use plastics eliminated from breakfast services and surplus food offered through a partnership with Too Good to Go. Maintenance procedures became stricter, with regular checks to curb unnecessary consumption.

Regular meetings and onboarding sessions ensure that every employee understands the EU Ecolabel criteria and their own contribution, thus creating a shared culture of responsibility across the hotel.

The EU Ecolabel is displayed at reception and on the hotel façade, and staff are trained to explain the measures in place. Towel reuse policies, plastic-free breakfasts and waste sorting facilities are increasingly well understood. 

On booking platforms where environmental sustainability now influences rankings and visibility, the EU Ecolabel strengthens the hotel’s positioning in a region sensitive to preservation of the environment.