World Earth Day: Resorts around the world dedicated to our planet.
In celebration of World Earth Day (22 April), we spotlight resorts around the world whose dedication to the planet is unrivalled; from recycling 90% of their waste on-site at Soneva Fushi, to conserving and expanding biodiversity at Bawah Reserve, the below six resorts are going above and beyond in an effort to make every day World Earth Day.
Soneva Fushi
The Soneva brand is an absolute visionary when it comes to plastic awareness. Ahead of its time, Soneva Fushi banned plastic straws in 1998 and in 2008, they banned imported water, saving approximately 1.5 million plastic bottles since this time. The Maldives is a nation with very few municipal waste facilities so creating a new approach to waste is a necessity. This suits the Soneva philosophy perfectly and Soneva Fushi recycles 90% of waste onsite through a robust waste management strategy combined with a focus on innovation.
Bawah Reserve
Bawah is an intimate, luxurious-sustainable resort whose design has been developed with preservation of the island’s natural beauty in mind. The collection of six previously uninhabited islands that make up Bawah Reserve is the first island group in Indonesia to be powered by a renewable microgram. No heavy machinery is allowed on the island so every mechanical process is done by hand; all water is sourced on the island to recycle as drinking water, and the entire design is built from sustainable bamboo and other recycled materials such as driftwood and copper.
Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Located near Yala National Park in the south of Sri Lanka, Wild Coast Tented Lodge is a series of dwellings designed to mimic rocky outcrops scattered across the local landscape with parts built with recycled teak shingles executed as a community project by 100 local fishermen. On property, all water used in the resort is recycled; food waste is transformed to cooking gas and organic manure in the gardens; hot water is driven by the exhaust in air conditioners with 50% of its energy is driven from a solar plant.
Nihi Sumba
A luxury resort with a conscience, Nihi Sumba centres its core values on sustainability. Initially, their contribution to sustainable ecotourism began through simple measures such as the implementation of compost and water recycling systems and sourcing majority of the resort’s culinary offerings from their organic gardens and local surroundings. Deciding that these practices were not enough to make the impact they were seeking, Nihi Sumba founded The Sumba Foundation in 2001 fuelled by their passion towards alleviating the poverty the locals were living under.
Amanyara
Amanyara, a pristine Caribbean oasis set between a marine national park and a nature reserve on the island of Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, is the ideal location for guests to gain an understanding of the destination’s eco-system and marine life. Since opening in 2006, conservation has been at the heart of Amanyara and preservation of the Providenciales’ natural beauty, protected parklands and West Indies wildlife remains a priority. Under the direction of Amanyara’s new resident Marine Biologist Clare Atkinson, who specialises in sea turtle conservation and has worked with a variety of non-governmental organizations in Greece, Costa Rica and Seychelles, guests can now delve deeper into learning about the island’s unique ecosystem.
Amankora
As the only country which focuses on the happiness of its citizens rather than its economic wealth, Bhutan’s tourism industry is founded on the principle of sustainability. Limiting its tourism and all but essential trade to preserve this contented national identity, otherwise known as its Gross National Happiness, Bhutan’s Tourism Industry also reflects the Bhutanese value system of protecting nature’s ecosystems and traditional culture.
