UCT hotel earns Green Key certification

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has reached another milestone in its sustainability journey. The Protea Hotel by Marriott Breakwater Lodge, situated at the university’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) Breakwater Campus in Cape Town, has achieved the internationally recognised Green Key certification, reinforcing UCT’s commitment to environmentally responsible operations.

The Green Key programme, administered globally through the Foundation for Environmental Education, is one of the leading standards for environmental responsibility and sustainable operation in the tourism and hospitality industry. To qualify, hotels must meet rigorous criteria covering efficient energy use, responsible water management, waste reduction and initiatives that lower their overall environmental footprint.

More than an accolade

For UCT, the recognition reflects a broader effort to integrate environmental thinking into both academic and operational spaces. The university has increasingly positioned sustainability as a key part of its long-term strategy, which seeks to advance excellence, transformation and environmental responsibility across the institution.

The certification also supports UCT’s ambition to transform its campuses into “living laboratories”, where sustainability is embedded into daily practice rather than simply discussed in classrooms.

Manfred Braune, UCT’s director for Environmental Sustainability, said the milestone was the result of teamwork. “The achievement reflects a collective effort across various teams responsible for hospitality and campus operations at the hotel and the UCT GSB campus. This is the second time Green Key status has been awarded for the hotel, which helps to highlight where improvements have been made since the last assessment.”

A growing priority

The recognition comes as sustainability becomes an increasing priority in the global tourism and hospitality sector. Travellers place greater value on environmentally conscious accommodation, while institutions face growing pressure to reduce resource consumption and operate more responsibly.

The hotel’s general manager, Colin Naiker, welcomed the successive recertification. “Achieving Green Key recertification for the second year in succession is a significant accomplishment for Protea Hotel by Marriott Breakwater Lodge. The certification recognises our continued commitment to environmental best practices, resource conservation and sustainable operations. We extend our sincere appreciation to all associates whose commitment and efforts have contributed to maintaining this standard.”

The benefits are both practical and symbolic. Reduced energy and water use can create long-term operational efficiencies and lower costs, while sustainable practices can improve the experience for guests who increasingly seek accommodation aligned with their environmental values.

Reaching a wide audience

The hotel’s location adds another dimension to the achievement. Situated within the historically significant Breakwater precinct and integrated into the UCT GSB campus, the facility serves a diverse range of visitors, including students, academics, conference delegates and international guests.

“Sustainability initiatives therefore have the potential to reach a broad audience and influence attitudes and behaviour beyond the institution itself,” said UCT’s director of Hospitality, Thobile Dlamini.

The achievement also highlights the evolving role of universities in addressing global sustainability challenges. Higher education institutions are increasingly expected not only to generate knowledge and research, but also to model responsible practices through their infrastructure and operations. At UCT, sustainability initiatives have expanded in recent years through environmentally focused building projects and campus-wide strategies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, improving resource efficiency and promoting environmental awareness. The Green Key certification of the UCT GSB hotel adds another visible example of those efforts in practice.