Sustainability at The Devon

At The Devon Hotel we believe sustainability is about making practical improvements across our hotel, restaurants and wider community. From the way we use energy and water to how we manage waste, source food and support local organisations, we continue to look for ways to reduce our impact and support our local Taranaki community.

Proudly Qualmark Gold

The Devon Hotel holds Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Business accreditation, following our latest independent Qualmark assessment on 12 February 2026. Gold is Qualmark's highest Sustainable Tourism Business accreditation and recognises New Zealand tourism businesses leading the way in sustainable tourism.

The assessment looks across five key areas:

Environment
People
Community & Culture
Business Systems
Health & Safety

Our Qualmark Gold accreditation gives our guests confidence that our sustainability practices have been independently assessed.

Think Globally, Act Locally

At The Devon Hotel, we believe that looking after our environment starts with the small things we do every day.

The United Nations Agenda 21 action plan encourages communities and businesses to think globally and act locally. It is an approach we share through our commitment to sustainable tourism and the practical steps we are taking here in New Plymouth.

From energy efficient lighting and solar energy to water saving measures, recycling and refillable bathroom dispensers, we are always looking at ways to reduce our environmental impact.

We also support local suppliers and community initiatives and offer complimentary bikes so our guests can get out and explore New Plymouth.

We know there is always more we can do. Our focus is on making practical improvements that benefit our guests, our community and the environment.

Energy & Water

We continue to invest in practical ways to reduce energy and water use across the hotel:

LED lighting throughout the hotel
A 192.82kW commercial solar system — 405 solar panels paired with two Sigenergy 99.9kW commercial inverters
Water heating is tracked under a tagged asset and servicing system, so faults and inefficiencies are caught early
Reduced-flow shower fittings in guest rooms
A towel reuse programme gives guests the option to reuse their towels during their stay, helping reduce unnecessary laundering, water and energy use.

As equipment is replaced or upgraded, energy and water efficiency is considered as part of the decision.

Reducing Waste

Running a hotel, restaurant and conference operation creates a significant amount of waste. We separate a range of materials for recycling, including:

Glass bottles
Paper and cardboard
Aluminium and steel cans
Printer cartridges

Food waste from our kitchens is also separated from general waste. Green waste from around our hotel and gardens is mulched rather than taken to transfer stations.

Reducing Single-Use Plastics

We have been steadily reducing single-use items across the hotel:

Refillable dispensers have replaced individual bathroom amenity bottles
Water dispensers in the lobby let guests refill their own bottles rather than buying single-use plastic ones
Fresh milk is provided on arrival rather than individual long-life milk tetra packs

We are constantly reviewing single-use items across our accommodation, Marbles Buffet, The Rocks and our conference operation. Small changes across thousands of guest stays can make a difference.

Local Food & Suppliers

Where possible we choose to buy local. Our kitchen team works with local and regional Taranaki suppliers and gives priority to sourcing fresh produce and ingredients locally where practical, supporting businesses and producers within our community.

Cleaning & Housekeeping

Our commercial laundry uses an automatic chemical dosing system. This dispenses measured amounts of laundry products directly into our washing machines, helping reduce unnecessary chemical use and over dosing. We continue to work with our suppliers to review the products we use across the hotel and identify opportunities to reduce waste and environmental impact.

Sponsorship

Supporting Our Community

The Devon Hotel has a long history of supporting the Taranaki community. Our support extends across sport, arts and culture, health and wellbeing, local events, charities, schools, community organisations and more.

Sport

Sport is a big part of life in Taranaki and something The Devon Hotel has proudly supported for many years. Our support extends across rugby, cricket, hockey, basketball, netball, athletics, multi-sport, golf, surf life saving, tennis, cycling, gymnastics and more.

Arts & Culture

We are proud to support arts, culture and events across the region including the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust, WOMAD, New Plymouth Festival of Lights, Taranaki Garden Festival, The Arts Trail, Devon Hotel City Brass Band and more.

Health & Wellbeing

We support a number of organisations doing important work in our community including the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter, Hospice Taranaki, Cancer Society, Alzheimers Taranaki, Autism Taranaki, Big Brothers Big Sisters and more.

Civic & Community

Our support also extends across local schools, Rotary, Lions, the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, community groups, local initiatives and more.

Sport

Sport is a big part of life in Taranaki and something The Devon Hotel has proudly supported for many years. Our support extends across a wide range of local sports including rugby, cricket, hockey, basketball, netball, athletics, multi-sport, golf, surf life saving, tennis, cycling, gymnastics and more. We are proud to play a part in supporting local sport and the people and communities behind it.

Helping Our Guests

Our guests can play a part too. During your stay you can:

Reuse towels and linen where possible
Use the recycling options available
Switch off lights, heating and cooling when leaving your room
Explore New Plymouth using one of our complimentary guest bikes
Walk or cycle the Coastal Walkway located just across the road
Charge your EV using our on-site EV charging stations

Measuring Our Progress

Sustainability is an ongoing process. Our next step is to improve the way we measure our environmental performance — electricity use, water use, waste and recycling, food waste, and single-use products. Better information will help us see where we are making progress and where we can improve further.

Our approach is simple: make practical improvements, measure what we can, and keep getting better.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sustainability accreditation does The Devon Hotel hold?

The Devon Hotel holds Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Business accreditation following our latest independent Qualmark assessment on 12 February 2026.

Does The Devon Hotel use solar power?

Yes. The Devon Hotel has a 192.82kW commercial solar system with 405 solar panels and two Sigenergy 99.9kW commercial inverters. The system generates electricity for use across the hotel.

What recycling and waste reduction initiatives does The Devon Hotel have?

The Devon Hotel separates glass bottles, paper and cardboard, aluminium and steel cans, and printer cartridges for recycling. We have also introduced refillable bathroom amenity dispensers, lobby water refill stations and fresh milk for guests to reduce our use of single use packaging.

How does The Devon Hotel reduce single-use plastics?

The Devon Hotel has replaced individual bathroom amenity bottles with refillable dispensers, provides water dispensers in the lobby for guests to refill their own bottles, and gives guests fresh milk on arrival instead of single-use long-life milk tetra packs.

Does The Devon Hotel have EV charging?

Yes. EV charging is available for guests staying at The Devon Hotel in New Plymouth. Charges apply and availability is limited.

Does The Devon Hotel offer complimentary bikes?

Yes. The Devon Hotel has complimentary bikes available for hotel guests. The New Plymouth Coastal Walkway is directly across the road from the hotel, making it easy to explore New Plymouth by bike.

How does The Devon Hotel support the Taranaki community?

The Devon Hotel supports a wide range of Taranaki sporting, arts, cultural, health and community organisations. We contribute more than $500,000 in support to the Taranaki community each year through sponsorships and other forms of support.

What cleaning products does The Devon Hotel use?

The Devon Hotel's laundry uses a Kemsol auto-dosing system, dispensing laundry chemicals directly into the machine in precise amounts to reduce waste from over-dosing and improve safety for staff.