Sustainability
At The Upper House, we are dedicated to fostering a sustainable environment for our guests and the community. Together, we can make a difference!
Sustainable Practices
We actively promote positive change, encouraging visitors to engage in our sustainability initiatives. Key actions include:
Local Employment: We prioritise hiring local staff to promote active travel and use local contractors.
Electric Charging Points: We provide charging stations for electric vehicles.
Eco-Friendly Amenities: We use bamboo toilet paper, tissues, and eco-friendly slippers.
Extending the Life of Clothes: We allow staff to wear their own clothes.
Refillable Water Bottles: We offer glass refillable water bottles for guests.
Responsible Banking: We engage with our bank and pension provider about their energy sector investments.
Waste Management and Recycling
In partnership with Veolia, we separate food waste, glass, tins, plastics, and cardboard from general waste to promote effective recycling. Additional efforts include:
Laundry Reduction: Switching to table skirts instead of cloths has cut our laundry by a third.
Recycle and Repair: We use biodegradable takeaway boxes, a trusted appliance repair service, and recycle materials such as glass, paper, metals, and batteries.
Charity Donations: We donate items that we no longer use such as tablecloths, crockery, furniture, and glassware to local charities.
Energy Efficiency and Wildlife Conservation
To reduce energy consumption and support local wildlife, we have implemented several measures:
Energy Reduction: We utilise air source heat pumps, solar panels, LED lighting, low-temperature laundry practices, and timers for coolers and heating.
Hotels for Trees Partnership: We donate funds for tree planting whenever guests opt out of room cleaning.
Wildlife Conservation: Our gardens feature wildflowers, trees, and habitats for local wildlife, including owl boxes and bird feeders. We planted an orchard in 2025 and plan to produce our own cider.
Sustainable Suppliers: We collaborate with suppliers like Canva, which plants trees with each printed order.
Community Engagement and Support
We are committed to supporting our local community through charitable donations and partnerships:
Charitable Donations: We contribute to charities like Dougie Mac, Cancer Research and Client Earth as well as sponsoring community events and clubs.
SBEN Membership: We are proud members of the Staffordshire Business & Environment Network, advocating for sustainability within the business community.
Staff Education: We provide training and awareness courses, such as The Carbon Literacy course, to promote sustainability.
How Our Guests Can Help
We invite our guests to participate in our sustainability efforts by:
Reducing Travel: Consider carpooling when visiting us.
Conserving Energy: Turn off lights and devices when not in use.
Saving Water: Take shorter showers and turn off taps while brushing teeth.
Recycling: Avoid single-use plastics and ask for water bottle refills.
Minimising Food Waste: Check portion sizes and request smaller meal options if needed.
