Sustainability series: What great hotels do on environmental sustainability.
In this interview with Nora Feranecz, the resort manager of Six Senses Con Dao in Vietnam, we look at the sustainability actions taken by Six Senses Con Dao.
More and more of their customers care about sustainability, and many of the actions taken have little or no cost.
She talks about the need for a mindset changes and of the importance to set targets, take actions and monitor performance.
Our hope with this sustainability series is to inspire other hotels to conduct more sustainability actions.
What are the three sustainability actions that Six Senses does that you are most proud of?
At Six Senses Con Dao, we are very proud of:
Earth Lab
The Earth Lab is a space where we conduct experiments related to our environmental initiatives, before expanding it on a larger scale throughout the operation. Actions within the Earth Lab involves recycling, reinventing things that are beneficial to the environment and human wellness.
Resources management and conservation
We implement a wide variety of actions to properly use and save resources like water, energy, materials. This effort also includes the step-by-step action to tackle plastic pollution by such programs as take-back, recycling…
Community responsibility via Sustainability Fund
We have run an interactive program at the local Kindergarten, where we educate more than 300 youngsters on sustainability practices, which they, in turn, take to their families to share and implement what they have learned.
This also involves the supply of tools to assist the families in achieving the goals. For instance, we provide material tote bags, so that families can eliminate the use of plastic shopping bags.
What is the most impactful action currently being conducted at Six Senses Con Dao At Six Senses Con Dao?
Organic farming and recycling have been our focus and spotlight. Last 2018, we grew and harvested 4000kgs of vegetables and mushrooms in the resort.
We try to practice organic farming in every step whenever possible.
This process included composting, taking advantage of offcut and leftover food sources in the kitchen and restaurants as mineral sources for soil, making biological pesticides, etc.
Moreover, treated wastewater is used to water the garden which helps save 20,000m3 of water.
A total of 11,400kgs glass, metals, cardboard and plastic have been recycled in 2018 alone.
What are the costs and benefits for Six Senses of running those actions? Do customers care?
The two effective options that we are actively running at Six Senses Con Dao do not cost much. The main costs are labor.
On the other hand, we turn waste into wealth, even products to be sold in the Boutique.
Therefore, the benefit is to have a good reputation in sustainability which can only be obtained by doing things correctly and ethically.
Although there are still many people who don’t care about these efforts, we are glad to realize more and more people get impressed and hopefully start to care.
How do you communicate about your effort on environmental sustainability?
We showcase our achievements in the Earth Lab for guests to be exposed to our initiatives.
I have realised that guests are interested in hearing about statistics and stories from our own experiences. Therefore, the Sustainability Officer is always willing and very proud to share sustainability information in the resort, from the things that are strictly related to the guests’ stay like drinking water and organic vegetables to wildlife and conservation, depending on the guests’ interests.
More importantly, we always try our best to blend our motto and actions into things they can see every day in their rooms and in the resort.
Based on your long career in the hotel industry, what is the one action that all hotels should implement starting tomorrow?
As it is well-known that resolving environmental matters require the participation of many people, not only one individual. I would focus on training in both theory and practical application.
Raising awareness takes time and needs to be implemented consistently so that each employee is self-motivated to practice, think of new sustainability initiatives and be a sustainability ambassador to guests.
How can the hotel industry become greener?
Depending on the starting point, each hotel may have different strategies to be green. However, there should be guidelines relating to environmental aspects in operational activities to set targets, take actions and monitor performances in the field.