Soneva Fushi Inaugurates Eco Centro – Waste to Wealth Centre (Maldives)
|
Soneva Fushi Inaugurates Eco Centro – Waste to Wealth Centre (Maldives)
|
Category: Asia Pacific - Maldives - Industry economy -
Trends / Expert's advice
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-04-03
Soneva Fushi by Six Senses has officially inaugurated Eco Centro, a project that converts the waste generated by the resort operation, into wealth.
Eco Centro is an integrated waste management site, designed to use Permaculture principles to create a working environmental education model for recycling waste to wealth and the sustainable use of water, energy, land and localization. The concept of WELL (Water, Energy, Land, & Localization), is based on the principle that by localizing our water supply, energy production and land needs we can vastly reduce wastage, food miles and carbon pumped into the atmosphere.
Through Eco Centro, nearly 80% of waste generated from the operation is converted into good use. Presently, all woody waste (Bio Mass) is converted to charcoal for use in the kitchens, and Bio-char, a soil nutrient through a process known as Pyrolysis. A further upgrade of the system with the addition of a wood gasification unit planned for next year will generate enough electricity to provide power to the organic restaurant and Cinema Paradiso.
Organic kitchen waste is converted to Bio-gas and liquid fertilizer for use in the gardens through a sub-surface irrigation system. All cardboard and paper generated from the offices is used in making compost for the gardens, and are also shared with surrounding islands. Inorganic matters, such as glass bottles, are crushed and used in construction and making decorative furniture such as table tops.
Eco Centro also displays how food can be grown in small spaces. It is designed to maximize the output of food from the waste coming into Eco Centro. The Mandela Garden at Eco Centro is used to grow culinary, medicinal and insect- repellant herbs and plants that can be used in the resort operation. Bamboo is used as a biomass mop crop, as it is known for retaining nutrients and absorbing atmospheric carbon. An Environmental Green Garden is used to grow vegetables and farm fish by collecting rain water from the roofs in the garden.
Soneva Fushi leads with environmental commitment at the top of its agenda, while providing the highest level of luxury for guests. Eco Centro is yet another example of benchmarks created by Soneva Fushi in its mission to create innovative and enlightening experiences that rejuvenate our guests’ love of SLOW LIFE (Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wholesome Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experiences). It also contributes to achieving the resort’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2010.
|
|
