Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon Earns Green Key Certification for Third Consecutive Year, Reinforcing Its Position as a Leader in Sustainable Luxury Hospitality

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon has been awarded the Green Key certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) for the third consecutive year, coordinated in Portugal by Associação Bandeira Azul de Ambiente e Educação (ABAAE). The renewed certification confirms the Hotel's sustained commitment to environmental responsibility and comes as the property adds new initiatives, including an AI-powered food waste reduction system and an expanded corporate volunteering programme for its team.

The Hotel was the first Four Seasons property worldwide to achieve Green Key certification, and this third consecutive award places it among a select group of hotels that have not only met but also maintained the programme's rigorous annual standards for energy, water, and waste management.

"Receiving Green Key certification for a third consecutive year is especially meaningful because it reflects consistency. Sustainability is not achieved through a single initiative, but through the daily decisions and long-term commitment of our teams," said Guilherme Costa, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. "We are proud to continue integrating responsible practices into the guest experience while maintaining the highest standards of luxury hospitality."

The certification reflects a broader set of sustainability initiatives implemented across the property, including:

• Energy & Water Efficiency: Excess heat captured from the Hotel's refrigeration systems is redirected to heat the swimming pool.
• Environmental Programmes: Electric vehicles are available for guest transfers, supported by on-site EV charging stations.
• Waste Reduction: Coffee grounds are recycled through the "Reciclar e Alimentar" program, converted into organic compost for rice paddies, with the resulting rice purchased and donated to Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome.
• Sustainable Dining: Newly implemented AI-powered technology helps the kitchen team track and reduce food waste, reinforcing the sustainable sourcing practices already in place at the Michelin-starred restaurant CURA.
• Community Engagement: Since 2012, the Hotel has donated daily food surplus to the local community through its partnership with Associação DariAcordar, now in its 14th year; and this year expanded to include corporate volunteering, giving employees the opportunity to join hands-on environmental and community actions during working hours.
• Responsible Purchasing: The Spa boutique stocks exclusively Portuguese brands, from jewellery to swimwear, reflecting a broader purchasing philosophy that favours local, sustainability-certified suppliers.

The Green Key certification requires establishments to undergo annual audits, ensuring continuous improvement across environmental management, energy conservation, waste management, water conservation, and other sustainable practices.

"This recognition encourages us to keep moving forward," said Mariana Domingues, Sustainability Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. "In the coming years, we will continue to invest in practical initiatives that support both people and the planet, while sharing best practices across our teams. Our goal is to ensure sustainability remains an integral part of how we operate and how we welcome our guests every day."