As hoteliers continue to face the challenge of designing spaces that are appealing, comfortable and functional for their discerning guests, they are now prioritising the need to deliver this combination of goals in the most sustainable way.
So, with sustainability at the forefront of many hotel mission statements and board-level discussions, it’s now more important than ever to look at your supply chain as a way to reduce your hotel’s impact on the environment. Biophilic design is a key area that can have a significant impact on sustainability.
Biophilic design is an approach that incorporates elements of nature into hotels, with many benefits including improved air quality and increased wellbeing. By incorporating natural elements into the design, hotels can reduce their environmental impact and improve the wellbeing of their guests. Hotels use biophilia including plants and living walls to blur the boundaries between the inside and outside natural world – a trend that is set to keep growing.
It’s not only the hoteliers driving this trend. A 2021 study (HotelTechReport) found that “81% of travellers surveyed said they plan to choose a sustainable accommodation option in the coming year”. Hotel guests are willing to pay 23% more for rooms with a view of biophilic elements* and having attractive planting displays in hotel lobbies increases dwell time by up to 36% (Terrapin Bright Green).
Leaflike is a leading biophilic design company that helps hotels achieve sustainability by incorporate beautiful, sustainable planting designs into their spaces and is committed to helping the hospitality industry move towards a more sustainable future.
Having recently received the gold Ecovadis award, Leaflike is a company that keeps sustainability front and centre of everything they do. Ecovadis is a global sustainability rating system that assesses the environmental, social, and ethical performance of companies.
Here, Leaflike shares how hoteliers can incorporate sustainable biophilic design into their spaces:
- Use sustainable materials. When choosing plants and other materials, opt for those that are sustainably sourced and produced. This will help to reduce your environmental impact.
- Consider the water needs of your plants. Plants have different water needs, so choose plants that will thrive in the environment you’re creating. You can conserve water resources by choosing plants that are drought-tolerant or that require less water.
- Incorporate designs with preserved products. Real plants that have been preserved such as Leaflike’s Everleaf range that require no water and they last a long time.
- Use natural light. Natural light is a great way to bring the outdoors in and reduces your energy consumption. Design your space so that it takes advantage of natural light wherever possible.
- Incorporate water features. Water features can improve air quality, reduce stress levels and cool the air in your space, which reduces your energy consumption.
A classic Leaflike example of approaching a planting scheme with the sustainability mindset can be seen by observing The Waldorf Hilton hotel and how it has combined British luxury with sustainability using recycled woodchip planters in its Palm Court.
Some of the ways that Leaflike is committed to sustainability include:
- Using sustainable materials in their planting solutions, such as recycled plastic and reclaimed wood.
- Conserving water by using drip irrigation and recycled water.
- Reducing their carbon footprint by using energy-efficient lighting and by offsetting their carbon emissions.
- Providing sustainable options including recycled planters, hydroculture planting, flower rejuvenation programmes, living biophilia, their Everleaf preserved range and natural moss walls.
- Providing hotels with plant maintenance that ensure longevity and health of their plants, reducing the need for replacement and promoting sustainability.
Leaflike offer a full biophilic design service including consultation, design, installation and maintenance. If you would like to find out how you can improve your hotel space in the most sustainable way, visit leaflike.co.uk to get in touch with the team.
