Colombo Court Sustainability
Sustainability, with purpose.
From the way our hotel was built to the way we work every day, sustainability is part of how Colombo Court operates.
Our certification
South Asia’s first CarbonNeutral® city hotel.
Colombo Court was the first city hotel in South Asia to receive CarbonNeutral® certification. Since 2014, we have measured the hotel’s carbon footprint, looked for ways to reduce it and offset the emissions that remain.
We still use energy for air conditioning, lighting, kitchens and the everyday running of a hotel. Our approach is straightforward: understand what we use, reduce where we can and take responsibility for what remains.
Colombo Court has also been named Luxury Green Hotel, Indian Ocean, at the World Luxury Hotel Awards.
The building
A hotel made from existing buildings.
Colombo Court was created by converting existing office buildings on Alfred House Avenue rather than demolishing them and starting again. That decision became part of the hotel’s character, preserving the original structures while giving them a new life.
The same thinking continues throughout the property. Salvaged brick, reclaimed timber, old tractor seats and scrap metal have all been given new purposes, while a wall of climbing plants brings greenery up the Alfred House Avenue frontage.
Sun, rain and shade
Solar power, rainwater and natural shade.
Some of our sustainability measures are easy to see. Solar power helps heat hot water, rainwater is collected and reused, and LED lighting helps reduce energy use.
The garden also plays an important role. Rooms face inward towards mature trees rather than the street, creating shade and allowing air to move through the open spaces. The greenery is beautiful, but it also helps keep the hotel naturally cooler.
What leaves the building
Reducing waste every day.
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Water in glass
Drinking water is filtered and bottled in glass at the hotel, reducing our reliance on purchased plastic bottles. During exceptionally busy periods, plastic bottles may still be required.
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Waste separated
Waste is separated and weighed before leaving the hotel. This helps us understand what we use, recover recyclable materials where possible and reduce what ultimately goes to waste.
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Thoughtful printing
We have moved away from unnecessary paper wherever we can, using digital communication and confirmations where practical. When printed materials are needed, we keep them purposeful and limited.
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Laundry every three days
Guest laundry is collected every three days rather than being processed daily. Towels and linen are refreshed as needed, while guests can request a fresh towel at any time by leaving it on the bathroom floor.
Beyond the gate
Giving back to nature.
Sustainability is not only about what happens inside the hotel. It is also about the place we are part of and the people around us.
Through our CSR activities, our team takes part in initiatives that give something back to both the community and the natural environment. We organise plant giveaways, join beach clean-ups and look for opportunities to turn our environmental values into something practical.
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Plant giveaways
On World Environment Day and other special occasions, we give plants to members of the community, encouraging more greenery beyond the boundaries of the hotel.
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Beach clean-ups
Our team comes together for beach clean-ups, helping remove litter from Colombo’s coastline and reminding us that caring for the environment extends well beyond our own garden.
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Supporting local
Wherever possible, we source food and supplies from Sri Lankan producers and businesses. It keeps more of what our guests spend within the country and supports the people behind the products we use every day.
For us, sustainability is not about being perfect. It is about making better choices, continuing to improve and understanding that a hotel has a responsibility to the place it calls home.
Stay with a lighter footprint.
Our responsibility extends beyond the walls of the hotel.