Heteroatom-incorporated　zeolite　catalysts　are　critical　for　biomass　utilization　and　feedstock　valorization　in　green　chemistry.　Key　features　are　adjustable　acidity,　high　stability,　and　a　tailored　range　of　functionalities.　However,　an　environmentally　benign　synthesis　of　zeolites　with　good　crystallinity　and　especially　with　high　levels　of　metal　substitution　into　the　lattice　remains　challenging.　Here,　we　propose　a　mechanochemistry-based　liquid-assisted　method　(MCLA)　for　Zr-incorporated　Beta　zeolites　that　is　high　yielding,　facile　and　sustainable.　Compared　with　the　fluoride-mediated　hydrothermal　method,　crystallization　times　were　considerably　shortened　so　that　Si-Beta　and　Zr-Beta　(Si/Zr　100)　zeolites　can　be　synthesized　within　9　and　15　h,　respectively.　Using　the　MCLA　route,　Beta　zeolites　with　Zr　loading　up　to　10.4　wt%　(Si/Zr　12.5)　were　obtained.　The　materials　have　excellent　catalytic　activity　for　Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley　reductions　with　much　higher　water　tolerance　compared　to　Zr-Beta　prepared　by　the　post-synthesis　method.　The　hydrophobic　nature　of　the　MCLA-synthesized　zeolites　makes　them　particularly　useful　as　catalysts　for　organic　reactions.　©　2024　Elsevier　Inc.