The 10 Most Sustainable Hotels in the French Riviera

A Sustainability Ranking in partnership with ETIC Hotels

You’re planning a trip to the French Riviera (including Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Menton, Eze, St-Tropez, St-Jean Cap-Ferrat) and you’re trying to be as ethical and sustainable as possible?
niood lists you the 10 most sustainable hotels in the French Riviera:

1. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc – Antibes
Antibes, France

From $1,200 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc sustainable?

1. Energy efficiency: Implementing energy-efficient technologies like LED lighting, smart thermostats, and energy management systems to reduce energy consumption.
2. Water conservation: Installing low-flow fixtures, water-saving appliances, and smart irrigation systems to minimize water usage in the hotel and its grounds.
3. Waste reduction: Implementing recycling and composting programs, reducing single-use plastics, and working with suppliers to reduce packaging waste.
4. Local sourcing: Sourcing food and other supplies from local producers and vendors to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and support the local economy.
5. Eco-friendly cleaning products: Utilizing non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products that have minimal impact on the environment.
6. Green transportation: Encouraging guests to use eco-friendly transportation options, such as bicycles or electric vehicles, and providing charging stations for electric cars.
7. Employee training: Training staff on sustainability practices and encouraging them to adopt eco-friendly habits both at work and at home.
8. Sustainable design: Incorporating sustainable building materials and design elements in new construction and renovation projects.
9. Community engagement: Supporting local environmental initiatives and partnering with organizations to promote sustainability in the community.

2. Hotel Metropole
Monte Carlo, Monaco

From $500 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo sustainable?

1. Energy efficiency: Using energy-efficient technologies such as LED lighting, smart thermostats, and energy management systems to reduce overall energy consumption.
2. Water conservation: Installing low-flow fixtures, water-saving appliances, and smart irrigation systems to minimize water usage throughout the hotel and its grounds.
3. Waste reduction: Implementing recycling and composting programs, reducing single-use plastics, and collaborating with suppliers to minimize packaging waste.
4. Sustainable food practices: Sourcing food from local, organic producers, and promoting sustainable seafood choices to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint and support local economies.
5. Eco-friendly cleaning products: Employing non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products to minimize the environmental impact of housekeeping operations.
6. Green transportation: Encouraging guests to use eco-friendly transportation options such as bicycles or electric vehicles and providing charging stations for electric cars.
7. Employee training and engagement: Training staff on sustainable practices and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among employees.
8. Sustainable design and construction: Incorporating sustainable building materials and design elements in new construction and renovation projects, as well as preserving the historical features of the hotel.
9. Community engagement: Partnering with local organizations and supporting initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility in the community.

3. Five Seas Hotel
Cannes, France

From $350 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes Five Seas Hotel Cannes sustainable?

1. Energy efficiency: Employing energy-efficient technologies such as LED lighting, smart thermostats, and energy management systems to reduce energy consumption.
2. Water conservation: Installing low-flow fixtures, water-saving appliances, and smart irrigation systems to minimize water usage throughout the hotel and its grounds.
3. Waste reduction: Implementing recycling and composting programs, reducing single-use plastics, and working with suppliers to minimize packaging waste.
4. Sustainable food practices: Sourcing food from local, organic producers, and promoting sustainable seafood choices to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint and support local economies.
5. Eco-friendly cleaning products: Using non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products to minimize the environmental impact of housekeeping operations.
6. Green transportation: Encouraging guests to use eco-friendly transportation options such as bicycles or electric vehicles and providing charging stations for electric cars.
7. Employee training and engagement: Training staff on sustainable practices and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among employees.
8. Sustainable design and construction: Incorporating sustainable building materials and design elements in new construction and renovation projects.
9. Community engagement: Partnering with local organizations and supporting initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility in the community.

4. Hotel EPI 1959
Pampelonne, France

From $800 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes Epi Baie de Pampelonne sustainable?

1. Energy efficiency: Employing energy-efficient technologies, such as LED lighting, smart thermostats, and energy management systems to reduce energy consumption.
2. Water conservation: Installing low-flow fixtures, water-saving appliances, and smart irrigation systems to minimize water usage throughout the property and its grounds.
3. Waste reduction: Implementing recycling and composting programs, reducing single-use plastics, and working with suppliers to minimize packaging waste.
4. Sustainable food practices: Sourcing food from local, organic producers, and promoting sustainable seafood choices to reduce the property’s carbon footprint and support local economies.
5. Eco-friendly cleaning products: Using non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products to minimize the environmental impact of housekeeping operations.
6. Green transportation: Encouraging guests to use eco-friendly transportation options, such as bicycles or electric vehicles, and providing charging stations for electric cars.
7. Employee training and engagement: Training staff on sustainable practices and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among employees.
8. Sustainable design and construction: Incorporating sustainable building materials and design elements in new construction and renovation projects.
9. Community engagement: Partnering with local organizations and supporting initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility in the community.

5. Hôtel Hermitage Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo, Monaco

From $400 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes Hôtel Hermitage Monte Carlo sustainable?
The Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo putting its prestige and know-how towards promoting sustainable development.
We are contributing to efforts to conserve energy resources, biodiversity and goodwill in our local community.
Every day, we strive for sustainable and sensible development, and our commitments reflect this: we signed the Energy Transition Pact on 23 March 2018 and are seeking Green Globe certification in March 2019.

• Selective Sorting & Recycling:
  The hotel is taking action to recycle with systematic selective sorting run by our employees: paper, glass, packaging and containers, plastic caps & corks, small electronic devices, medicine, batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges and cooking oils.
  Collection of Nespresso capsules: all capsules used in our bars and restaurants are recycled in collaboration with Nespresso and are used to make compost and recycled aluminium.

• Energy saving:
  Smart Plus project:  In January 2019, our hotel signed the implementation of the Smart Plus project to increase energy savings in partnership with SMEG (Société Monégasque d’Eléctricité Générale).
  Decrease water and electricity consumption: the hotel has installed water flow restrictors in all rooms and LED light bulbs throughout the building.
  Greywater: in 2008-2009 then in 2011-2012, the hotel was equipped with a greywater treatment system, which now allows it to treat 60% of wastewater from the building, which is used mainly for toilet flushing and watering its green spaces.

6. Hôtel Martinez, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Cannes, France

From $320 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes Hôtel Martinez Cannes sustainable?
Recently transformed, the Martinez Hotel has just won “Gold” status with Green Globe, certification rewarding its commitment to sustainable development. As part of its renovation, extensive technical improvements have been introduced to reduce the hotel’s footprint on the environment, while in the restaurants and bars, local producers are henceforth given pride of place.

7. Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort
Monte Carlo, Monaco

From $1,000 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort sustainable?
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort has reduced its energy expenditure by 30% in just 8 years! The Group also differentiates itself by purchasing clean energy (98,5 % of the electricity certified as from renewable sources) and offsetting its gas consumption. Finally, water consumption has fallen by 35% in 10 years.

8. InterContinental Carlton Cannes
Cannes, France

From $600 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes InterContinental Carlton Cannes sustainable?
A Sustainable Development Charter developed by the hotel outlines key areas that are targeted by setting sustainable goals and procedures, which have become part of daily life at the InterContinental Carlton Cannes. All staff are familiar with the hotel’s eco-responsible policies. And IHG’s in-house Green Engage system continually monitors usage of electricity, gas and water as well as waste management.

As a result of this effective sustainability management 500kW to 600 kW of energy are saved per day. Initiatives such as the installation of low energy light bulbs and turning off computers at the end of the day make a significant contribution to this reduction. The introduction of dual flush toilets and thermostatic shower mixing valves, along with other water saving devices, save from 20 to 30 cubic meters of water per day.

9. Hotel Ellington Nice Centre
Nice, France

From $160 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes Hotel Ellington Nice sustainable?
In 2013, Hotel Ellington Nice Centre received La Clef Verte label, a distinction to the hotels which have an environmentally friendly approach. From this moment, we kindly ask our clients to help us, by simple gestures, to be more respectful towards our nature and minimize the environmental impact of their stay with us. Committed to this, the hotel has set up various eco-responsible actions that have earned this label.

10. Hôtel Barrière Le Gray d’Albion
Cannes, France

From $220 per night
ETIC Hotels Green Score: 9.5/10

What makes Hôtel Barrière Le Gray d’Albion sustainable?
As a key player in sustainable and responsible tourism, Barrière is committed to protecting the environment with its five focuses: reducing energy use, providing a healthy environment in our establishments, preserving biodiversity, promoting a circular economy, and encouraging sustainable eating.