ESG At The Berkeley & The Emory
Introduction
The Berkeley stands as an enduring icon of contemporary luxury in the heart of Knightsbridge. Celebrated for its considered design, world-class dining and exceptional standards of service, the hotel offers an experience that is both elegantly refined and effortlessly modern.
Situated just next door, The Emory opened in 2024 and is a modern masterpiece of contemporary design overlooking Hyde Park. Expansive interiors designed by world-renowned architects and artists meet outstanding facilities, offering a contemporary stay that is both unforgettable and unparalleled.
The past year has seen both hotels deepen their commitment to sustainability, embedding it into day-to-day thinking and operations. Together, the hotels achieved an ‘ESG Excellent’ rating in their 2025 assessment, with standout progress made in the Environmental and Social categories.
Over the past two years, The Berkeley has been nominated for seven sustainability awards and won three.
Our Back of House Manager and ESG Lead, Degraft Osei Kwame Jnr, was also shortlisted for the HOSPA Inspirational ESG Leader of the Year Award in both 2024 and 2025 for his innovative waste management initiatives and zero-waste policies. Our waste strategy is understood to be one of the best in the sector. The Berkeley reached a recycling rate of 98% during 2025 and we have proudly become a point of reference within the luxury market, with other hotels visiting to learn from our state-of-the-art waste management facility.
Kostas Sfaltos, Managing Director
“I am immensely proud of the team, what has been achieved and the way they continue to drive the sustainability agenda at both hotels. At The Berkeley and The Emory, we believe that true luxury is measured not just by exceptional design and service, but by the positive impact we create for our people, our planet and the communities and organisations we partner with. Every decision we make, from sourcing ingredients to how we nurture our teams, reflects our commitment to hospitality that is responsible and thoughtful.”
People
Training and Development
We are committed to the continual learning and development of our colleagues, investing in their long-term career progression.
Our Aspiring Leaders and Developing Leaders programmes build core leadership capabilities for high potential colleagues, strengthening our talent pipeline for the future. This is complemented by the Step Up modules, which offer additional development opportunities for Maybourne colleagues beyond the Aspiring and Developing Leaders programmes.
At The Berkeley, we also run a year-round apprenticeship pathway, supporting young people to begin their careers in hospitality. Wherever possible, we aim for these to lead to permanent roles.
People
Health and Safety
To deliver exceptional hospitality, the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues is paramount. As such, we are dedicated to upholding robust health and safety practices.
This year, we have formalised responsibility for health and safety by appointing a new Director of Safety & Security and establishing a health and safety committee with representation from each department. Monthly safety walkarounds have been introduced to spot potential risks early and ensure they are resolved quickly and effectively.
Health and safety data is collected and reviewed regularly by the committee, with zero RIDDOR incidents reported in 2025.
People
Colleague Engagement
Listening to colleagues is essential to making better decisions and working more effectively as a group.
The Berkeley achieved an impressive 90% completion rate in our latest engagement survey, with a 69% completion rate at The Emory.
Analysis of The Berkeley’s results showed encouraging progress, particularly in areas related to inspiration and communication from leadership. These improvements reflect the sustained focus over the past year on strengthening leadership visibility, clarity and connection across the business.
Waste Management
Planet
We were extremely proud to have hit a record recycling rate of 98.1% in June last year.
Our state-of-the-art waste facility, situated below the two hotels, allows us to meticulously separate and segregate our waste into 14 different waste streams, for optimal disposal and diversion from landfill. We work closely with Westminster Council and Veolia, who provide us with detailed waste data, allowing us to monitor waste generated over time.
All colleagues receive thorough training in effective waste management as part of their departmental onboarding, supported by regular refresher sessions.
We continue to look for new ways to reduce the volume of waste we produce. Both hotels are currently piloting a food-waste monitoring system in the colleague restaurant, analysing preparation and plate waste to inform future reduction initiatives and support more sustainable kitchen practices.
Energy and Carbon
Planet
Together with the other Maybourne hotels, we are committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2045. We calculated our carbon emissions at The Berkeley for the third year running, which identified our emission hotspots and pinpointed opportunities for reduction.
In our 2024 financial year, although total emissions at The Berkeley increased, our Scope 1 and 2 emissions fell. This reduction was driven by our renewable electricity contract as well as Maybourne’s investment in electric vehicles. Looking to next year, we expect our Scope 1 and 2 emissions to decrease further as our investment in sub-metering and energy efficiency measures begin to deliver additional savings.
Emissions at The Emory were calculated for the first time, revealing a higher-than-average carbon footprint due to the significant renovation works carried out prior to opening. We will continue to track reductions across all scopes and categories closely and identify opportunities for carbon reduction.
Planet
Reducing Plastic
Following the 2023 plastic audit, all baseline recommendations have now been fully embedded. We work closely with suppliers to minimise plastic packaging and have a strict plastic policy in place, requiring clear justification for any single-use-plastic purchases.
Guest toiletries are supplied with refillable dispensers, and in the Food and Beverage areas we have shifted to paper packaging and wooden cutlery for takeaway items. In our spa, wooden spatulas, cotton buds, combs and bamboo toothbrushes are now standard. The only remaining plastic-packaged item is gym headphones, which are currently under review as we continue to seek fully sustainable alternatives.
Partnerships
Partnerships Supporting Early Careers In Hospitality
The Berkeley and The Emory work with a range of local partners to help young people begin their careers in hospitality. One such partner is Shannon College, with whom we have a close relationship, offering both internships and permanent positions to its students.
We also run a highly successful apprenticeship programme with Bournemouth College, Westminster Kingsway and Le Cordon Bleu, providing hands-on training and clear pathways into long-term hospitality careers.
Partnerships
Supply Chain Partners
The Berkeley and The Emory hold strong waste management and packaging standards and we extend these expectations to our suppliers.
We have been working with our key suppliers to incorporate more sustainable packaging options. A particular area of focus has been engagement with our produce suppliers, identifying opportunities to reduce, and if possible, eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging from food deliveries. This year, we have shifted from plastic to paper packaging for the majority of our food items. Additionally, some deliveries now arrive in reusable containers that are returned to the supplier, helping to minimise waste generated from single-use crates and boxes.