Passions
Sustainability
To effect lasting change by inspiring awareness and action in our people
“Swire Hotels’ people are what make us different. Everything we do revolves around our diverse team. We see our environment changing and understand the role we have in addressing the effects of climate change. We deploy our philosophy of thinking differently to explore ways to improve the sustainability of our hotels, our communities and our partners.”
- Dean Winter, Managing Director, Swire Hotels
We are dedicated to delivering uplifting experiences to our guests and the communities we call home. The world is changing, not only through technological and cultural advances, but also through humanity’s impact on the environment. We understand that we have the power to effect change in our communities through our decisions and actions. To manifest this change, we start with the core of our brand: our people.
We are creating a healthy ecosystem of individuals who embody our values, care about our environmental impact, and have the passion to grow, inspire, and innovate. In this way, we can continue delivering wonderful experiences today and for generations to come.
What we plan to achieve
“I feel our role in protecting this world should be embraced by everyone as a responsibility to future generations.”
-Jennifer Cheung, General Manager,
EAST Hong Kong
Energy ConservationWe recognise the hospitality industry is one of the biggest consumers of energy – that’s why we’re committed to finding innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint, while providing exceptional comfort for our guests.
In 2025, we managed to cut energy usage per guest night across all our properties by 19%* and by 2030, we aim to reduce it by 26%*.
*vs. a 2018 baseline for all hotels and residences, with the exception of Upper House Shanghai and EAST Residences, which use a 2019 baseline.
Water ConservationOn average, a person uses up to 100 litres of water per day, often more when travelling. Hotels can play a key role in water conservation, and we aim to be at the forefront of that change.
Through water-saving initiatives, we are on track to reduce water consumption across all our properties by 12% by 2030*
*vs. a 2018 baseline for all hotels and residences, with the exception of Upper House Shanghai and EAST Residences, which use a 2019 baseline.
Waste ManagementFrom in-room water filters and the removal of single-use packaging to amenities made from recyclable materials, we prioritise efforts to manage waste and prolong the life of our everyday items through the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Our goal is to achieve a waste diversion rate of 28% at our Hong Kong properties and 54%* at our Chinese Mainland properties by 2025. By 2030, we aim to increase this to 34% in Hong Kong and 58%* in the Chinese Mainland.
*vs a baseline in 2018 for all hotels & residences, except for Upper House Shanghai and EAST Residences which use 2019 as the baseline.
SMALL ACTIONS, BIG CHANGES
As we strive to inspire change, our team members are always seeking new ways to make the Swire Hotels journey more sustainable while offering exceptional service to our guests.
Their creativity and passion for a greener future shine through the initiatives and experiences they have brought to life.
Together with The Nature Conservancy, we are collecting oyster shells from our restaurants FEAST at EAST Hong Kong and Salisterra at Upper House Hong Kong, with more than 900kg to contribute to reef restoration in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
Water Conservation
Every drop matters. At EAST Miami, we collect rainwater in a cistern tank and use it to refill the cooling towers and to irrigate our property. It may be a small action but it has double the impact, reducing the consumption of both water and energy.
At Upper House Hong Kong, we’ve outfitted all the guest rooms with a water filtration system to purify local tap water on-site, making it safe for guests to enjoy whilst reducing our carbon footprint. From September to December 2021, we saved over 7,000 bottles of water, which amounts to a 70% reduction in consumption since the launch of this initiative.
Water conservation is important in every aspect of our hotels. At Upper House Chengdu and Upper House Shanghai, we’ve replaced the kitchens’ faucet aerators with higher flow rate models to decrease water usage, resulting in an annual reduction of 3,000m3, 2,400m3 and 120m3 respectively.
Across all EAST properties, we’ve fitted flow controllers onto guest room water taps and showers. At EAST Hong Kong, for example, this has meant an estimated average of 1,040 liters of water saved daily.
Say bye to bottles. Instead of bottled water, we’ve placed filtered drinking water systems in all our guest rooms at EAST hotels for a cleaner, more sustainable experience.
Energy conservation
We designed Upper House Shanghai to reduce our carbon footprint. We use reclaimed water system for toilet flushing, solar hot water in the kitchen and LED lamps throughout our House. Beyond just removing plastic straws and stirrers in all our restaurants and bars, we also worked closely with the property management to launch a waste-recycling program in the complex, helping to generate renewable electricity.
At EAST Hong Kong, lighting is automatically switched off when guestrooms are empty and the temperature is kept at a standard level. In the lobby and restaurants, dimming systems offer atmospheric lighting with less power consumption and from 11pm-6am, our gym BEAST uses motion sensors to turn off the lights and TV when unoccupied. Plus, the hotel’s decorative outdoor lighting is only on from 5:30pm to 10:45pm each day.
Waste Management
SD DIALOGUE
IN CONVERSATION WITH EDITECTURE: HOW SUSTAINABILITY DRIVES THEIR DESIGN STUDIO
Read moreJennifer Cheung, General Manager of EAST Hong Kong visits the studio of Jacqueline Chak and Genevieve Chew, co-founders of multidisciplinary design studio EDITECTURE and hears the story behind their vision of sustainability and how the idea of more plastic than fish in the sea led to educating the next generation.
Jennifer Cheung x Michael Lee
Read moreJennifer Cheung sits down with Michael Lee, Area Back of House Manager of EAST Hong Kong to chat about her passion for sustainability and how she looks to inspire the people around her.
MEET OUR SUSTAINABILITY AMBASSADORS
Jennifer Cheung
General Manager, EAST Hong Kong
“If we don’t act today, then when?”
Lawrence Wong
Director of Housekeeping, Upper House Hong Kong
“Not one single person can do everything. But small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. We're already seeing this happening in some places of the world, so what's stopping us from doing the same?”
Kylie Lam
Hotel Manager, Upper House Chengdu
“Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility - it doesn't only sit in the hands of a few. The smallest actions can add up to a big impact, such as the initiatives we create at Upper House Chengdu. We are proud to see our team members increasingly putting efforts into integrating sustainability in their daily lives, and how motivated they are to create positive impacts for guests as well as the environment.”
Michael Lee
Area Back of House Manager / Event Production Manager, EAST Hong Kong
“Over the last few years, we have been watching the extreme weather become more and more serious. This should be a wake-up call that if everyone doesn't change their living habits, the future generations will inherit a completely different world. If not for ourselves - act now to bring a better world to the next generation.”
Bob Ren
Executive Assistant Manager, EAST Beijing
“Sustainability may be tough for some to adopt because although it is one of the most important acts, it's also one of the most selfless. We act today, for a better tomorrow. A tomorrow that we may not see, but that our kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids will."
Anita Lee
People & Culture Manager, Headland Hotel
"A healthy planet equals a happy life, and a happy life leads to happy team members. It's that simple! "
Swire Properties SD 2030 vision
Discover MoreAs part of our long term approach to sustainability, we are whole-heartedly committed to Swire Properties’ SD 2030 vision. The holistic strategy focused on constant development in the areas of Places, People, Partners, Environmental Performance, and Economic Performance.