Fingal Hotel - case study
Fingal Hotel - case study
Fingal achieved their Green Key certificate through Green Key Scotland accreditation in June 2025 with support from Keep Scotland Beautiful. The hotel, alongside its sister site The Royal Yacht Britannia, has demonstrated excellence in all aspects of the Green Key criteria with a particular focus on staff engagement to drive up environmental standards aboard both ships.
We were delighted to hear more about The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust's story from Charlie Granleese, Guest Experience and Environmental Manager.
The crew on-board Fingal are extremely proud to become a Green Key certified hotel. As a hotel we endeavour to conduct our business in a way that “does no harm”. We believe in the principle of caring for the environment and the application of circular economy values, and we continually strive to incorporate environmental good practice into our workplace.
Charlie Granleese | Guest Experience and Environmental Manager, Fingal Hotel
Q. Why did you make environmental improvements a priority in your organisation?
A. Sustainability is at the top of our priority list. Aboard our environmental commitment is a journey
whereby we look to make consistent improvements thereby ensuring that we do our part in
protecting the world for future generations.
The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust (the Trust) is committed to conducting our business in a
responsible and sustainable way, with the aim of being of value to the community and being
valued by them. We are also committed to operating in a way that is beneficial to all
stakeholders, our environment, the wider community, and conducting our business in a way
that does no harm.
Q. Why did you choose Green Key?
A. We choose the Green Key as it offered an in depth environmental audit into the business and follows the same sustainable principles as the Keep Scotland Beautiful's National Award for Environmental Excellence for which Fingal and The Royal Yacht Britannia have met Gold level.
The Green Key certificate is also a recognised international environmental standard.
Q. What were the outcomes from your Green Key certification?
A. We began the process by breaking down the Green Key Application into its individual criteria and sharing with individual teams. We spoke with each team about the scoring system and the targets that must be achieved to achieve a Green Key certificate.
The Green Key application was also communicated at the Quarterly Green Team Meeting to ensure teams were able to achieve targets and if any additional support or guidance was required from the Environmental Managers.
The process enabled us to and understand our sustainable practices collectively, while identifying opportunities for improvement.
Q. What support did Keep Scotland Beautiful provide?
A. The Green Key team visited Fingal prior to the audit and were available by email of call during the application process.
Q. What were the benefits?
A. It was a very useful process in allowing us to pull together all our environmental practices across the ship. Each team was able to consider there environmental practices and how we use these throughout the business to have a positive impact on the environment and the guest experience.
Developing and utilising our ESG framework to track progress on our various environmental commitments, giving more detail, percentages complete, and milestones achieved in Environmental, Social and Governance objectives.
To continue and promote our passion for moving to a more sustainable workplace. To develop a diverse and environmentally friendly work culture and the direct impact it has on the guest experience.
Q. What’s next?
A. Further development of community partnerships in line with our ESG framework. Projects for 2025 include further enhancement to the Biodiversity around the ship and the beginning of a relationship sponsoring Bee Hives with a local Apiary in Granton.
To begin to understand the importance of data collected for energy usage, waste management and staff travel to work. Considering how this can be applied in reduction of our carbon emissions.
We will be developing our Environmental Road Map to include a 3 and 5 year plan.
What's the process to apply for Green Key certification?
Please see our Green Key webpage, or get in touch with our Awards and Accreditation Co-ordinator, Jamie Ormiston, to discuss your requirements and timescales.
