EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA—Adding to their list of more than two dozen environmental awards and certifications, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts has been awarded the Highest Achievement Award as the top performing sustainable travel and tourism business in the Caribbean by Green Globe Certification. This recognition is the result of Bucuti earning the highest percentage of sustainability indicators under the Green Globe Standard for Travel & Tourism which includes criteria based on sustainable management, social economics, cultural heritage and environmental practices.
“We are honored by this recognition from Green Globe and will continue to find innovative ways of meeting and exceeding the criteria they’ve set forth,” commented Bucuti’s owner Ewald Biemans. “We recognize that our actions no matter how small or large have an impact on our environment and we’re always looking for ways to decrease that impact, whether it be through simply recycling or making significant investments in eco-technologies and systems.”
Since its inception at the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, the Green Globe Program has represented the best in environmental responsibility. For nearly 20 years Green Globe has provided a way for tourism organizations to not only measure their environmental impact, but develop and implement strategies to reduce them. Through Green Globe Certification tourism businesses are provided with training, education, certification and marketing services in 83 countries with assessments conducted by a global network of independent auditors who provide third party inspection and validation.
Community Involvement Examined
“We have carefully reviewed not only the level of achievement of each of the award winners, but also assessed the types of activities that our certified businesses have engaged in,” said Guido Bauer, CEO, Green Globe Certification. “In each case the business has moved beyond improving their environmental performance to engage with the local community to develop the quality of life within the destination and ensure that as commercial operations they are giving back to nurture social engagement.”
As a leader in the green movement in hospitality for the past 25 years, Bucuti has set the benchmark in sustainable tourism including being one of the first resorts in the Caribbean to be officially Green Globe certified and the first in the Americas and the Caribbean to be certified ISO 14001. The resort staff and guests strive to effectively reduce their environmental impact, through a number of environmental initiatives including:
• The installation of solar panels used to heat water for guestrooms and the laundry;
• Utilizing recycled paper only and limiting the use of paper wherever possible including electronically disseminating marketing messages and guest information;
• Utilizing recycled construction materials, natural organic materials, farmed woods and in some cases recycled wood and plastics;
• Extensive use of insulation, glazing, reflective coating and double pane windows to reduce cooling needs;
• Installation of LED and CFL lighting and automatic light switches in all low-traffic areas;
• Eco-rooms and suites equipped with automatic air conditioner sensors, dehumidifiers, HEPA air purifiers and in some cases ozone generators to help eliminate allergens, mold and mildew;
• Sourcing local suppliers and products such as locally grown foods and art made on Aruba in order to reduce carbon footprint;
• Monthly beach cleanups with guests and employees in addition to sponsoring island-wide coastal and reef cleanups;
• Using biodegradable containers for beverages and food;
• Gifting each guest with a refillable water canteen to discourage the purchase of bottled water (plastic);
• Serving as a field trip destination and example as a way of providing environmental education for associates, schools and the local university;
• Installation of water reducers and the recycling of shower, sink and laundry water used for irrigation; and
• Exclusively utilizing organic cleaning materials to practice green cleaning.
For more information about Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts, visit www.bucuti.com.
