Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa achieves carbon-neutral status five years running (Australia)
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Australia’s luxury conservation-based resort, has reaffirmed its position as a global leader in sustainable tourism by successfully achieving carbon-neutral status for the fifth year in a row with a carboNZeroCert recertification. |
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Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa achieves carbon-neutral status five years running (Australia)
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Australia’s luxury conservation-based resort, has reaffirmed its position as a global leader in sustainable tourism by successfully achieving carbon-neutral status for the fifth year in a row with a carboNZeroCert recertification. |
Category: Asia Pacific - Australia - Events -
Communication/Marketing
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2014-05-27
The rigorous carboNZero certification validates that the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the resort’s operations have been independently measured and verified in accordance with international standards. It also recognises the resort’s commitment to the ongoing management and reduction of emissions.
This latest recertification was made possible through a combination of initiatives carried out over the last year including a strict tree-planting program, the implementation of a dedicated internal ‘green team’ that acts on sustainable issues, and the newly launched Conservation Hour activity which offers guests the opportunity to assist the resort’s Field Guides with a variety of conservation activities such as tree planting, surveying wildlife, or constructing nesting boxes for birds and possums.
“Achieving internationally accredited carbon-neutral status from the outset, and maintaining it for five years now, proves that luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand. We are immensely proud of this achievement which reinforces our long-term commitment to sustainability, and we certainly won’t be resting on our laurels,” said Joost Heymeijer, General Manager, Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa.
“We will continue to raise the bar through a range of new initiatives this year including a complete transformation of the way we manage our waste as well as the rehydration of peat bogs underneath our wetlands to activate carbon that is locked up in the soil.
“As a result of our conservation work we are able to offer guests a variety of very special experiences – complete with thousands of kangaroos, hundreds of wombats and even rare albino wallaroos, plus countless species of native birds, reptiles and frogs,” concluded Joost Heymeijer.
Guests are exposed to the resort’s conservation work through the many nature based activities on offer, including wildlife safari tours, nature walks, mountain biking, horse trail rides, and Conservation Hour.
Located 2.5 hours’ drive from Sydney in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the resort is set on 4,000 acres of conservation and wildlife reserve and nestled between two national parks.
The resort has earned its green credentials through being fully integrated into its environment, supporting wide-ranging conservation practices which focus on protecting endangered native species, as well as through ecologically sustainable design principles. So far, more than 200,000 trees and shrubs have been planted across the property alone, aiming to restore the native vegetation, prevent erosion and enhance biodiversity.
Wherever possible, the resort aims to source the majority of its produce and ingredients from within a 100 mile radius, which not only supports the growth of the local economy, but also significantly reduces the resort’s food miles and carbon footprint.
Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa has received many accolades for its sustainability practices including the internationally acclaimed Travel + Leisure 2013 Global Vision Award in Sustainability and the internationally recognised World Saver Award by Condé Nast Traveller in both 2012 and 2011.
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