Four Seasons has made significant progress in removing plastic water bottles from its global portfolio. To date, 97 percent of Four Seasons hotels and resorts have eliminated plastic water bottles, instead offering water in glass, aluminum or paperboard cartons. The remaining properties have plans to finalize their transition this year.
“In addition to supporting our environmental goals, replacing plastic water bottles with alternatives provides an elevated guest experience and reduces potential exposure to microplastics,” the company said.
Kudos to Four Seasons for closing in on the elimination of all plastic water bottles. Can your company boast the same?
This is just one of many accomplishments described in its recently released Four Seasons for Good 2025 Progress Report. It contains information about the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance of Four Seasons.
A Bit of Background
Four Seasons opened its first hotel in 1961. As of year-end 2025, Four Seasons managed 135 hotels and resorts and 61 residential properties in 47 countries, with more than 60 projects planned or in development. Four Seasons has 58,567 team members globally and was the most-awarded brand in the 2025 World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards.
Four Seasons for Good is centered around two pillars: Planet (environmental priorities) and People (social priorities).
Some Planet & People Highlights
64—Number of properties with sustainability certifications—a 128 percent increase from the previous reporting period.
670 metric tons of food waste estimated to have been avoided through the use of Winnow, KITRO and Lumitics food waste measurement tools.
2.8 percent reduction in energy consumption per square meter (2025 vs. 2024).
2.1 percent reduction in water consumption per square meter (2025 vs. 2024).
17,292 total team member volunteer hours.
$5.8 million raised for charitable causes globally.
95 percent of properties have a recycling program in place.
5,336 food and beverage team members trained in food waste reduction since 2022.
40 percent of hotels and resorts report using reclaimed water.
As part of its commitment to animal welfare, all Four Seasons hotels and resorts have transitioned to serving cage-free shell eggs to guests.
62 percent of hotels and resorts report running, hosting or supporting hospitality apprenticeship programs.
100 percent of hotels and resorts use large-format bathroom amenities.
Four Seasons uses a wide range of strategies to care for the environment, from reducing our water and energy use to working alongside guests, residents, experts and neighbors to strengthen and nurture the ecosystems that surround its properties.
Design & Construction Requirements
Four Seasons’ design and construction standards include sustainability standards for all new construction and major renovations projects signed after 2023 to achieve LEED Gold certification or higher, or an approved regional equivalent (e.g., BREEAM in Europe). Projects are also required to follow select Fitwel standards.
At the top of the Comcast Innovation and Technology Center in Philadelphia, guests find the 12-storey LEED Platinum-certified Four Seasons Hotel, a serene urban escape offering unobstructed views of the historic city in all directions. Opened in 2019, the hotel uses a range of technologies to reduce its energy needs while promoting guest comfort. Windows equipped with daylight harvesting sensors automatically adjust light and shading as natural light fluctuates, while a double façade system helps key spaces, such as the hotel’s sky lobby, maximize daylight and offer sweeping city views while maintaining comfortable temperatures and avoiding glare.
Chilled beam technology passes hot and cold water through ceiling pipes, efficiently moderating inside air temperature. The “embodied” energy of the hotel is also lower than in standard construction, thanks to the incorporation of recycled materials, while biophilic design measures such as extensive indoor plantings weave nature throughout the building. The Four Seasons team complements these features by striving to reduce the environmental impact of its operations. The hotel makes electric vehicles (EVs) available for guest transfers and offers bicycles and EV charging stations for guest use. The property participates in Lights Out, a program that works to reduce the risk of bird collisions during seasonal migration. And through a Power Purchase Agreement with Comcast, the hotel aims to eventually be powered entirely by renewable energy.
Property leaders, including hotel managers, directors of engineering, directors of finance and directors of residences, are financially incentivized to support the achievement of annual energy and emissions targets at their respective properties. As part of this incentive program, teams are also encouraged to increase the use of renewable energy from approved sources, such as on-site solar installations or Renewable Energy Credits.
Waste Management Progress
Many properties work with external organizations to compost food waste, directing the resulting material to local agricultural operations. Some properties use biodigesters or other on-site tools, allowing them to create compost for use in landscaping or herb and vegetable gardens at the property. Four Seasons is piloting solutions to recycle end-of-life linens and textiles at scale. While many Four Seasons hotels and resorts have relationships focused on upcycling or downcycling these products, it is evaluating options to turn linen and terry products into recycled cotton fiber which can be used for new products.
Four Seasons requires all its properties to carry out regular waste audits. An internal waste audit is required every two years, with an external audit by a third-party specialist recommended every four years.
Nurturing the Local Environment
Four Seasons properties offer residents and guests a range of opportunities to participate in local biodiversity initiatives. In addition to nurturing the local environment, these experiences provide a chance to learn from local experts about the habitats and ecosystems that surround the property—from mangroves to coral reefs to grassy dunes—and about the community efforts to protect them and help them thrive. Activity clubs for children, Kids for All Seasons, often engage the youngest guests around these efforts.
One example of the company’s community initiatives: In 2025, it joined allies around the world in celebrating the 45th anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope—an annual fundraising initiative that has cumulatively raised more than $720 million for cancer research and for care and services for people living with cancer.
To learn more about Four Seasons and to access its Four Seasons for Good 2025 Progress Report, click here.
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