The Usual | The Usual Impact Report 2024

A sustainability report isn’t always headline news. But for The Usual, this one matters.

Not because we’re ticking boxes, but because we built something from the ground up, then challenged ourselves to measure it seriously, transparently, and in ways that matter. This first impact report is the foundation of how we make our footprint measurable, understandable, and actionable while also sharing what can’t be measured.

‣ Setting the baseline.
2024 was a big year. We opened our first two hotels in Rotterdam and Brussels. At the same time, we began tracking our full footprint: energy, water, waste, and emissions. By putting numbers behind our operations, we can see clearly where we stand today and where we need to go tomorrow.

‣ Renovation with purpose.
Rather than starting from scratch, we chose to reuse existing buildings. Guided by BREEAM standards, both hotels were future-proofed through studies on climate risk, biodiversity, and energy efficiency. Interiors were designed using our  Sustainable & Circular Program of Requirements, with a focus on reuse, durability, and low-impact materials.

‣ Making impact visible.
Hospitality often hides its footprint. We’ve made it visible — calculating the impact of a guest stay, including the emissions generated by producing the interior of a hotel room. Alongside energy, waste, toiletries, food, drinks, and cleaning. Transparency like this helps us (and our guests) understand what really matters.

‣ Turning stays into action.
Every direct booking retrieves 1 kg of river waste in partnership with CLEAR RIVERS, which has already collected 15.926 kg. In Brussels, we contribute to a harbour litter trap that captures 2.5 m³ of plastic each month.

‣ Social commitment in numbers.

Impact goes beyond the environment. In our first year, we:

- Donated 3.9 million litres of clean water

- Supported 39 weekly food donations with our local partner

- Contributed 84 hours of volunteering

- Hosted 12 community events , bringing locals and guests together

‣ More than numbers

We believe in data and transparency, using leading frameworks like CSRD, SBTi, and CRREM, but we also believe in what cannot be counted: community, creativity, and regeneration. From working with local makers to hosting social/environmental events, this report captures our first year of opening our doors and the foundation we are building for the years to come.

This is just the beginning.

The Usual Impact Report 2024

A sustainability report isn’t always headline news. But for The Usual, this one matters.

‣ Setting the baseline.

‣ Renovation with purpose.

‣ Making impact visible.

‣ Turning stays into action.

‣ Social commitment in numbers.

‣ More than numbers

➝ Read the full Impact Report 2024

Our stories.