Caring for our environment

Recognising the environmental and social impact of hotel operations, Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga is committed to enhancing the guest experience while continuously monitoring and improving energy and water use and waste management through the EarthCheck programme.
 

VERIFICATION AND AWARDS 

Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga is committed to following best practices in environmental and social sustainability. The hotel has partnered with EarthCheck, the world's leading benchmarking and certification provider, to support its ongoing sustainability efforts.

As part of this commitment, the hotel has implemented an environmental management system that meets the requirements of the EarthCheck corporate standard. The system supports the hotel’s efforts to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while continuously improving environmental performance.

Sustainability is an integral part of our operational approach, supported by the EarthCheck environmental management system and a culture of continuous improvement. Our team is dedicated to reducing the ecological footprint of daily operations and embedding sustainable practices across all areas of the hotel. In recognition of this commitment and ongoing compliance, the hotel has been awarded the EarthCheck Silver certification.
 

SUSTAINABILITY AND ROOM DESIGN

Designed with sustainability in mind by Aleks Kravets from AK Design, the interior prioritises longevity, moving away from ‘fast fashion interiors’ through the use of natural materials and local artisans wherever possible. The hotel features repurposed and reused furnishings, retaining some of the former accoutrements and accessories, including preserved bas reliefs, wall panels, a grand staircase and lobby chandeliers. Such aspects of the historic hotel were reworked to enhance contemporary aesthetics and create a modern and serene space.

 

BEHIND THE SCENES

The hotel exclusively sources fresh, free-range eggs from local farms, with animal welfare at the heart of its sourcing practices. The eggs come from hens raised without medication or synthetic additives and fed high-quality, GMO-free feed.

Waste is carefully sorted and collected separately, including paper, plastic bottles, communal waste, glass, food waste, used cooking oil and dry-cleaning waste. These materials are collected regularly and processed appropriately.

The hotel’s laundry uses phosphate-free detergents to help prevent nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms. As phosphates can remain in wastewater and eventually enter natural bodies of water, their use is avoided as part of the hotel’s approach to responsible laundry practices.

Motion sensors are installed in selected areas to ensure lighting is activated only when needed, helping to conserve energy.

 

GUEST AREA

The hotel purchases biodegradable wooden or bamboo cutlery and drinking straws from environmentally responsible manufacturers. Detergent bottles are collected and recycled for reuse.

Plastic cocktail picks and stirrers have been replaced with brass or stainless steel, while plastic packaging for bathroom amenities, including hygiene sets, emery boards, cotton buds and cotton pads, has been replaced with paper-wrapped alternatives wherever possible.  

The hotel has introduced the new Diptyque Fleur de Peau amenities collection, which reduces plastic waste by eliminating small individual packaging. The use of larger dispenser bottles also streamlines operations and helps to reduce expenses. 

Bedlinen is changed every second day. Guests who wish to have their bedlinen changed daily may place a handmade wooden Latvian sun symbol on the bed. The sun sign is the symbol of light, harmony, eternal motion and the power of life, and the wooden figure is available on guest bedside tables. The accompanying card raises awareness of both environmental and cultural values.

Grand Kempinski Hotel Riga uses wooden key cards in place of traditional plastic ones. Energy-efficient LED lighting has been introduced throughout the hotel, replacing conventional bulbs and signage to reduce energy consumption.

Kempinski-branded water is provided in cooperation with Zaķumuiža water. The Latvian company’s natural mineral water wells are surrounded by a nature reserve covered by an ecologically pure pine forest. Zaķumuiža takes care to minimise the use of raw materials that may be harmful to the environment throughout its production process.

For banqueting events and guest room minibars, Lielbāta water has been introduced. Sourced locally from the Lielbāta spring, one of Northern Europe’s rare and largest clear springs, it comes from the pristine region of Kurzeme, Latvia. Lielbāta water is naturally filtered through layers of sand before emerging from a protected underground aquifer. The company adheres to strict environmental standards to ensure that the water collection process is both safe and sustainable. This approach helps to preserve the natural balance of the ecosystem while ensuring the highest quality water. Lielbāta uses recyclable materials for its packaging and continuously explores ways to minimise waste and reduce the environmental impact of its bottles, ensuring they have minimal impact on the planet.

To reduce printed materials, restaurant and in-room dining menus are also available in digital format through the website or via a QR code on guest television sets.

 

CLEAN THE WORLD

Kempinski Hotels has partnered with Clean the World, an organisation that collects and recycles soap bars and bottled amenities discarded by the hospitality industry.

By joining Clean the World, we help ensure that our toiletries do not end up in landfills or incinerators. Through the distribution of these and other donated hygiene products to communities in need, the programme helps prevent millions of hygiene-related illnesses and deaths each year. Clean the World provides at-risk individuals with access to soap, along with education on proper hygiene practices. The programme also significantly reduces waste and supports a more sustainable future.

Clean the World collects used amenity bottles and soap bars from our hotel. Liquid hygiene products are extracted from the bottles for reuse, while the bottles themselves are recycled through a state-of-the-art process that produces high-purity recycled plastic, which supports a circular economy. Soap bars are sanitised, remoulded into new bars and distributed to communities in need, including shelters, children’s homes and refugee camps, as well as to individuals affected by poverty, misfortune or natural disasters.