Sustainability

Our Environment

At Rydges Latimer Christchurch we’re choosing better …for our customers, our communities, and our planet.
Choosing to do business in better ways by…..

Sourcing responsibly:

Choosing to work with suppliers and source products that align to our sustainability principles.
So far we have:

• Replaced single use plastic water bottles in favour of Antipodes Water in glass bottles and we provide water refill stations for guests to refill their water bottles.
• Removed single-use plastic dry amenities, such as toothbrushes and combs, from guest rooms and sourced a compostable shower cap.
• Replaced single-use plastic small portion amenities with eco-friendly pump dispensers throughout the hotel.
• Replaced plastic pens with a biodegradable paper-based product.
• The Grab and Go snack bar in Reception is packed with treats from around the neighbourhood; Chia Sisters Juice, Three Boys Kombucha, Antipodes Water, Pals Vodka Mixers and NZ Wines.
• Bloody Mary’s steakhouse, brasserie and bar prioritise seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and collaborate with suppliers who share our vision for sustainability. This includes:
  • Milk sourced locally from farmers and bottled in reusable kegs which are returned to the farm where they are cleaned and refilled up to 1000 times.
  • Chia Sisters locally made natural pressed juice on tap and bottled in reuseable kegs, eliminating 30 single use litre containers for every keg.

Designing for the future:
Choosing to actively embed sustainability into how we design, refresh and operate the property.
We have measures in place to improve energy and water efficiency across our operations, such as:

• Energy efficient LED lighting is fitted throughout the Hotel.
• All tapware is low flow, and toilets are dual flush to conserve water.
• Modern heat pumps provide efficiency to in-room split system cooling/heating units with fresh air also ducted into rooms.
• Six Electric Vehicle Charging Station are available in our car parking area.
• Rydges Latimer Christchurch monitors greenhouse gas emissions annually and is working towards meeting EVT’s Group emissions reduction targets.

Minimising Waste and Recycling Responsibly:
Choosing to minimise and manage waste in a sustainable way and maximise recycling.
We have minimised waste in the following ways:

• Implemented a paperless check-in process where invoices are emailed to guests
• Selected locally brewed beers delivered by keg to reduce glass bottle waste
• Selected milk and juice delivered by keg to reduce plastic bottle waste
• Takeaway coffee cups & lids are made from plant- based certified home compostable materials
• Room service deliver trays with condiments served in glass containers to avoid any packaging

We have maximised recycling by :

• Separating cardboard and organic food waste from general waste, thus minimising our impact on landfill.
• Recycling bottles & cans across our food and beverage and conferencing departments and invite our guests to separate any recyclables with recycle bins provided by the lifts.
• Recycling print cartridges, batteries, computer parts, and old mobile phones, preventing hazardous materials from ending up in landfills and reducing the need for the extraction and processing of new raw materials.

Playing our part:
Choosing to respond to a changing climate, empower our people and customers to take part, and share our progress along the way.
We have:

• Made towel and linen reuse available in every room by introducing an incentive for guests to say ‘no thanks’ to housekeeping, with a $10 food & beverage voucher each night a guest chooses to help us to reduce water and energy consumption.
• Installed water fountains and recycling bins for our guests to choose to reduce, reuse and recycle with us.
• Partnered with Backyard Honeybees to bring two beehives to the Hotel. Rydges Latimer Christchurch recognise that bees play an integral part in the ecosystem and remain vital to the biodiversity of our environment. This initiative enables our guests to enjoy liquid honey and honeycomb at the breakfast buffet, provided by our rooftop bees when available.
• Rydges Latimer Christchurch have been awarded Silver Certification with Qualmark, New Zealand tourism’s quality assurance organisation. Businesses are evaluated against the Sustainable Tourism Business criteria which is official recognition by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). newzealand.com/nz/feature/qualmark/

Supporting our partnerships:
Choosing to maintain strong connections with our local community and give back wherever possible.
Rydges Latimer Christchurch acknowledges ngā iwi ō Māori as the tangata whenua of Aotearoa /New Zealand, and their rich contribution to society.
At Rydges Latimer Christchurch, our team believes that we all have a responsibility to protect the planet and its natural resources for future generations, and we strive to make a positive impact in our local environment and community.
At Rydges Latimer Christchurch we support:

• Community Fundraisers: such as Bayleys Plate Up for a Purpose, which supports the Christchurch City Mission’s Back to School Program.
• Monthly corporate volunteering: staff pack and supply lunch items for Full Bellies, a grassroots Christchurch-based charity helping families by providing children with nutritional food delivered into schools. Full Bellies aims to eliminate the impact of hunger on children’s ability to learn, and to participate and engage fully in their learning experience at primary school. fullbellies.co.nz/our-partners
• Workplace Giving: our STRETCH Program empowers team members to donate to community partners. Our team donates regularly to the following causes: Cancer Society, Make a Wish Foundation, Mental Health NZ, SPCA New Zealand and Starship Foundation.
• Youth Education: we support youth education and employment by partnering with Christchurch Polytechnic Institute who offer accredited training programs.
• Local Purchasing: we stock many local products and support local breweries such as Chinchiller Brewing, Last Minute Distilleries and Chocolate Traders chocolate.
• Conservation Support: we sponsor Trees for Canterbury, a not-for-profit Community Conservation Organisation, providing native plants and undertaking plantings with community organisations and schools throughout Canterbury. Our Sponsors | Trees For Canterbury

Join us in choosing to protect our environment
We encourage our guests to choose to support sustainable tourism through the following simple actions:

• Use water efficiently and choose to skip linen changes to save water and energy and be rewarded with a Rydges Latimer Christchurch food & beverage voucher.
• Use energy efficiently and when leaving your room choose to make sure all lights, air conditioners and devices are switched off.
• Never litter, and recycle where you can. At Rydges Latimer Christchurch our food & beverage teams separate recyclables, and recycle bins for guest use are provided by the lifts.
• Use reusable water bottles to minimise use of single use plastics bottles and try to use reusable grocery bags when you go shopping.
• Reduce emissions, meet the locals and immerse yourself in the culture by using public transport
• If renting a car, opt for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles or hybrid or electric vehicles. Rydges Latimer Christchurch car park provides EV charging facilities.
• Rydges Latimer Christchurch does not sell any souvenirs but encourages guests to consider the origin of items when purchasing souvenirs while travelling and to avoid purchasing any heritage artefacts or items derived from rare or threatened species.

As an EVT Hotel, Rydges Latimer Christchurch is committed to doing business in a way that contributes to a better tomorrow for our customers, our communities and our environment. To learn more, click here. Our Environment – EVT