A Force for Good
A Force for Good
Our promise:
We’ve made a big commitment — to cut our own carbon emissions (Scope 1 & 2 — our energy use) by 95% and reach net zero by 2028. We’re also working towards reducing supply chain emissions (Scope 3) by 90% by 2035, following Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) guidance.
We’re proud to say we hit our Scope 1 & 2 goal in 2023 — five years ahead of schedule! Now, we’re focusing on tackling supply chain emissions.
Our vision:
To be a hotel, restaurant, and spa that’s not just environmentally responsible — but one that actually gives back to the planet. We want to leave things better than we found them, creating a healthier, safer world for everyone, now and for generations to come.
Our approach:
We’re working closely with our team, suppliers, and guests to improve what we do every day — making sustainability part of how we operate, not just an add-on.
Here’s what we’re doing to make a difference:
- Measuring our impact — honestly and transparently, with an annual audit through EarthCheck
- Reviewing our supply chain — and choosing products and services that align with our values
- Educating and inspiring — by training our team and sharing knowledge with suppliers and guests
- Embracing circular thinking — Refusing, reducing, reusing, repurposing, and recycling
- Getting smarter with energy — by investing in better technology and smarter ways of working
- Collaborating — sharing ideas and learning with our local and industry communities
Why we care:
Our owners set out to change the way a luxury hotel can operate — creating amazing guest experiences without harming the planet. Since then, we’ve built a strong environmental policy and a team that genuinely cares about making a difference.
What we’ve achieved so far:
Our team is passionate and driven, and it’s paying off.
Our journey started in 2019 through a collaboration with NOW Transforming Hospitality and EarthCheck, the world’s leading certification, consulting and advisory group for sustainable destinations and tourism organisations.
We are currently holding a silver certification with EarthCheck — aiming for Gold in 2026!
Through the purchase of renewable electricity and biogas, we have reduced our energy direct and indirect emissions (Scope 1 and 2) from 68.5 tonnes CO2e in 2019 to 0.4 tonne in 2023.
We are working closely with our suppliers to make sure they are all looking at their own impact on the planet and people, reducing their own emissions, being mindful of their environment and caring about their people.
Our actions have been recognised throughout the years, with some outstanding awards, including the Sustainable Business Catey, Condé Nast Johansens’ Most Sustainable Hotel, The Hoteliers Guild’s Sirius Academy Awards and Marie Claire Sustainability Award 2024 for Independent Hotel category.
Biodiversity and community:
Whatley Manor is lucky to feature 12 acres of gardens and a large variety of fauna and flora. Currently a great focus is set in preserving and enhancing the gardens. In 2024, we have planted an additional 52 trees across the estate, enlarged the kitchen garden beds to increase our home grown produces and redefines some areas to encourage wildlife habitats.
We also have our own hives, looked after by local beekeeper John Stevens.
Many people in the local community are passionate about doing good for the future generations. Whatley Manor is always willing to participate in local events and activities to showcase actions or improve wellbeing. We organise local community gathering and talks on a regular basis and join meetings in Malmesbury to show our support.
Doing good:
Despite all our efforts, the fact of running a business will always create some emissions and have an impact on our surroundings. With the support of the owner of the business, who’s vision is the driver of all our actions, we have committed to support international projects to reduce, avoid or sequestrate emissions.
Whatley Manor funded climate action by investing in a Cookstove Project in Kenya and purchased high-quality carbon credits certified by Gold Standard. KOKO is a bio-ethanol cooking fuel, alternative to dirty cooking fuels such as charcoal. They offer a distribution network and end-use technologies, ensuring customers safe and affordable access to clean fuel.
More recently, Whatley Manor has entered into a three-year purchase agreement to invest in 8,250 high-quality carbon credits produced by the San Jerónimo Coatlán Carbon Sequestration Project in Mexico. You can read about this action here.
The road ahead:
We’ve got big plans and even bigger ambitions to keep pushing forward, always looking for ways to do better for the planet. It’s a team effort — and learning as we go is a huge part of the journey.
Because the biggest risk to our planet is doing nothing — and we believe now is the time to act.
The greatest risk to our planet is doing nothing – NOW is the time to take action.
Click here to read our environmental and social sustainability policy
Accreditation & Partners
NOW Transforming Hospitality GmbH
Whatley Manor was one of the first UK luxury hotels to be accepted in the NOW Force for Good Alliance in 2019. Working in partnership with Now we can ensure that our sustainability goals are clear and achievable.
EarthCheck
Whatley have been committed to transparent reporting from the beginning of our journey. We partnered with EarthCheck, the world’s leading environmental certification and benchmarking program for the travel and tourism industry. We are extremely proud to have received Silver Accreditation from EarthCheck.
UN GLOBAL COMPACT NETWORK UK PARTNER
UN Global Compact Network UK Partner
We are proud to be members of the UN Global Compact Network UK, working with other organisations that share our commitment to accelerating sustainability efforts and scaling up impact. This membership allowed us to send three of our staff to the UNGC SDG Accelerator Programme, enabling them to develop skills in climate resiliency and project management, and creating a new intervention for use in the hotel.
Sustainability news
It must be NOW – Transforming Travel.
NOW Transforming Hospitality GmbH
Whatley Manor was one of the first UK luxury hotels to be accepted in the NOW Force for Good Alliance in 2019.
Members of the NOW Force for Good Alliance are part of an inspiring shift in the hosptality industry to raise the bar on accountability and transparency around sustainability and decarbonisation. These inspiring properties advances the wellbeing of people and planet by taking responsibility for their impacts on communities and the environment; and they do more than just sustain, they replenish, regenerate and respect limits with sustainability at its core.
The NOW Sustainability Reporting Tool is a tool to communicate our sustainability and decarbonization performance, to inform our stakeholders and engage their support and feedback, and to avoid accusations of greenwashing.
Advancing sustainability is about preserving, protecting, and regenerating the places we love the most.
Be informed, inspired and empowered to use your spending power to help save our world.
Good for business. Good for the planet.
EarthCheck is the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism. Established in 1987 they have developed accreditation, certification and benchmarking for the travel and tourism industry. Using a science-based approach they help hotels increase efficiencies, maximise the guest experience and minimise their environmental footprint.
Whatley Manor underwent accreditation with EarthCheck to be accepted on the Now program in 2019 and were awarded a four globe rating. This was reviewed again in early 2021 and we are delighted to receive a bronze rating. In 2022 following our assessment were awarded Silver Accreditation, this was retained after the 2023 audit.
