Sun Island and Royal Island resorts have been awarded the Green Key ecolabel in recognition of the Villa properties’ commitment to sustainable and environment-friendly operations.
Tourism businesses with the Green Key international certification must adhere to strict criteria set by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education. The leading standard for excellence in environmental responsibility in the tourism industry since the early 1990s, the Green Key ecolabel was awarded to Sun Island on 18 March and to Royal Island on 22 March. They became the first resorts in the Maldives to earn the certification.
“To achieve the Green Key award, we maintained high environmental standards for our establishments through complex and rigorous documentation and frequent audits,” according to Villa Hotels and Resorts. “Further, responsible teams comprehensively worked through stringent certification criteria to assure the resorts adhered to them, considering various factors such as sustainability, behavioural changes in guests, staff, and suppliers, social and economic considerations, and environmental conservation.”
The two Villa resorts actively monitor water and energy use to minimise waste and annually calculate carbon footprints with targets to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. Environmental committees at the resorts work to raise awareness among guests and staff. Sun Island’s famed botanical gardens also produce a variety of tropical fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are served in the resort’s restaurants.
Future activities planned by Sun Island and Royal Island include a #StopPlasticPollution dive to clean up their house reefs as well as beach and snorkelling cleanup events for the resorts’ lagoons.
