Sustainability at Rydges World Square

We are delighted to announce our Sustainable Tourism certification by EcoTourism Australia was awarded to Rydges World Square in January 2026. Have a read through our sustainability initiatives and standards below:

A Better Stay for You and the Planet

At Rydges World Square, we acknowledge the Gadigal people as the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which we operate and pay respect to the Elders past, present, and emerging.  We believe that every choice matters. From the suppliers we partner with, to the services we offer our guests, sustainability is woven into everything we do. Our approach focuses on four key pillars: sourcing responsibly, minimising waste, playing our part, and supporting local partnerships and communities.

Sourcing Responsibly

We choose to work with suppliers and products that reflect our sustainability values.
Some of the changes we’ve made so far include:

• We’ve replaced single-use plastic water bottles with glass bottles in Amber Restaurant and Sydney Cidery.
• We have installed water refill stations for guests across the hotel.
• Swapping out single-use bathroom amenity bottles to large format Thank You pump dispensers throughout the hotel. All guest amenities are in recyclable packaging.
• Our toilet rolls and tissue boxes are sourced from Yarn’n – a responsible vendor that donate 50% of their profits to the education of First Nation students in Australia. Take a look at yarnn.au for more information.
• Using biodegradable, paper-based pens instead of plastic.
• Partnering with local suppliers in our restaurants and bars to offer fresh, locally sourced ingredients such as Black Forest Smokehouse and the Sydney Brewery.
• Fitting all soft furnishings with Vendella DreamGreen products — the hotel used the equivalent of 96,000 recycled PET bottles.
• We commit to not selling merchandise derived from heritage artefacts or items of significant cultural value.

Minimising Waste & Recycling Responsibly

We’re committed to reducing what we send to landfill and increasing what we recycle.
Here’s how we’re making a difference:

• Paperless check-in and emailed invoices help reduce paper usage.
• Local beers delivered in kegs eliminate glass bottle waste.
• Takeaway coffee cups and lids are made from certified home-compostable, plant-based materials.

We recycle across the hotel by:

• Separating cardboard waste from general waste and recycling.
• Recycling all glass and plastic bottles and cans from Amber Restaurant and Sydney Cidery.
• For our guests staying, please leave all recyclable materials next to your bin for removal and sorting by our Housekeeping Team.
• All toner cartridges, batteries, e-waste and old mobile phones are recycled to keep hazardous materials out of landfill.

Conference & Events

Our commitment to sustainability extends to every meeting, conference, and event hosted at Rydges World Square. We understand that corporate gatherings present unique opportunities to demonstrate environmental responsibility while maintaining the highest standards of service.

• Implementation of our sustainable snack station, offering three nutritious options for delegates and event attendees.
• All refreshment service utilises sustainable cups and completely eliminates single-use plastics from event catering. Refillable glass water bottles are used in all our event spaces.
• Event planning consultations include sustainable options to help organisers reduce their environmental footprint while creating memorable experiences.

Playing Our Part

We aim to respond to climate challenges with action — and encourage our guests and team to do the same.
Our initiatives include:

• Offering guests a $10 food & beverage voucher when they opt out of daily housekeeping, helping reduce energy and water use.
• Installing water fountains and recycling stations to encourage reuse and responsible waste separation.
• Achieving NABERS ratings of 4 for Energy and 3 for Water.

Supporting Our Partnerships & Community

We’re proud to support local communities. Our partnerships include:

• STRETCH Workplace Giving – empowering our team to support charities and causes that matter to them. Our charity and conservation partnerships include Westmead Childrens Hospital, RSPCA, Cancer Council to Badgerys Creek Wildlife Sanctuary and Starlight Foundation. Our team can extend a donation of their choosing directly via their pay. A small donation helps make a big difference.
• Youth Partnership – providing employment and training opportunities for young people with our partnership with The Schwartz Foundation and their “Room For Hope” initiative.
• Local Purchasing – from Sydney Brewery beers to Black Forest Smokehouse meats, we’re committed to buying local.
• Celebrating Indigenous Art & Culture: We encourage guests to explore and support local Aboriginal artists through https://aboriginalartgalleries.com.au/ showcasing authentic works that connect deeply with our country and culture. The Yiribana Gallery at The Art Gallery of NSW is a must see. Take a look at https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/yiribana/ for details.

Join Us in Choosing Sustainability

Guests are invited to help support sustainable travel through a few easy actions:

• Choose to opt out of Daily Housekeeping — we’ll reward you with a voucher to use in one of our Food & Beverage venues or In Room Dining.*
• Any bath towels you would like to reuse please hang on the wall hooks in the bathroom.
• Remember to turn off all the lights, air conditioning and devices when leaving your room. Top Tip! Close your room curtains closed to help keep your room an ambient temperature during the day!
• Remember to use water wisely; did you know that an average bathtub uses around 90 to 150L of water and our showers use just 7.5L per minute!
• Don’t forget! Leave any recyclable materials next to the bin – our Housekeeping team will remove for sorting when attending your room.
• Refill reusable water bottles and bring a reusable bag for shopping. We have filtered water taps around the hotel – just ask Reception for your closest!
• Explore Sydney via public transport or, if renting, choose a hybrid or EV — charging is available in our car park.
• Avoiding purchasing merchandise derived from threatened species, heritage artifacts or items of significant cultural value whilst travelling.

*T&Cs apply – Speak to Reception for more information.