Every hospitality brand has a sustainability page. Fewer have anything you could actually put into practice before lunch. 

So here's ours: nothing to give up, no lectures, no towel card with a leaf on it. Just the small, easy stuff – how you pack, how you get around, where you eat, and what you throw away – that quietly adds up to rather a lot.

*Pack light

The heavier your luggage, the more fuel is needed to transport it. Pack only what you need and choose versatile clothing to reduce the number of items you bring. Be honest: the second pair of boots will come home unworn, exactly like last time.

*Wash as you go

Booking somewhere with a washing machine is the easiest way to halve your luggage – and every Bob W has a washateria. Cold wash, full load, air dry, and you'll travel lighter for the whole trip.

*Use digital tickets

Choose electronic tickets and guides on your phone or tablet to reduce paper waste. Bob W's digital check-in and guest area is designed with this principle in mind, so there's no printer, no queue, and nobody behind a desk asking for a booking reference you've already forgotten.

*Use public transport or walk

Explore on foot, by bike, or by using public transport rather than hiring a car. Not only is it more sustainable, but it's by far the best way to experience a place. The best places tend not to announce themselves at 40km/h.

*Stay somewhere that means it

Look for accommodation with sustainable practices, such as recycling programmes, energy-efficient appliances, and water-saving initiatives. Ask what a place actually does, not what it prints on a card.

*Dine locally

Support local restaurants that serve organic, locally-sourced, and sustainably-produced food. Lower impact, better dinner, and infinitely better than a breakfast buffet with eleven types of pastry left out to harden.

*Minimise food waste

Try to order smaller portions, share dishes, or take leftovers with you to avoid food waste. Try your best to order with your stomach over your holiday optimism.

*Join eco-friendly tours

Choose tours and activities that are designed to be sustainable and have a reduced impact on the environment. Small group, local guide, no coach with a PA system. You'll learn more, and your ears will thank you.

*Shop locally and responsibly

Support your chosen neighbourhood by shopping locally. Not only will you find more authentic gifts, made nearby, but their associated carbon footprint will be greatly reduced compared to imported goods. It's never good when the fridge magnet flew further than you did.

*Reduce water and energy use

Take shorter showers and reuse towels to save water. Turn off lights, air conditioning, and heating when you leave your room. We'd put this on a laminated card, but we suspect you can manage without one.

*Reduce plastic waste

Bring reusable water bottles to reduce single-use plastics (if you stay with Bob W, reusable water bottles are supplied for your stay). Refill your water bottle from water stations when you're on the move. No minibar, no €6 bottle of water, and no feeling of betrayal at 2am.

*Use reusable shopping bags

It reduces plastic waste and single-use plastics – which is why you'll find a stylish tote for you to use at every Bob W apartment. If you love it, you can take it home for a small fee – just try not to let it join the others in the drawer.

*Reduce, reuse, and recycle

Make an effort to dispose of waste properly, using recycling bins, and avoid excessive packaging. At every Bob W apartment, recycling is super straightforward, which is to say you won't need to stand there holding a yoghurt pot, trying to decipher the enigma bin code.

*Pack eco-friendly products

Look out for biodegradable toiletries and sunscreens that are less harmful to the environment. If you stay at Bob W, we've already sorted most of that for you: refillable dispensers filled with biodegradable toiletries, so there's less to pack, and not one miniature plastic bottle in sight.

And don't forget to share your sustainable travel experiences and tips with friends and on social media to inspire others to do the same. 
A little smugness seems a small price to pay to do your bit.

At Bob W, sustainability is something we work hard at. 

Our focus is on emitting less in the first place: a typical guest night with us generates 69% lower carbon emissions than the average European hotel stay, and you can see the numbers for yourself on our live impact site.

That comes from the big decisions – buildings, amenities, and furniture chosen for the lowest possible carbon emissions – as well as the smaller touches you'll notice on a stay, like reusable water bottles, and recycling that makes immediate sense.

So, join us and experience a sustainable, authentic, and unforgettable stay that's deeply embedded in the character of the neighbourhoods we call home.