5 minute read
SUSTAINABLE TRAVELLER
Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai installs on-site bottling plant
The Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai has installed an on-site glass bottling plant operated by Swedish rm Nordaq. e hotel said that the decision to include a bottling plant on its premises will help shrink its carbon footprint by eliminating the need to burn fossil fuels to transport bottled water from external sources.
Nordaq’s patented water ltration system reportedly puri es tap water into drinkable water that retains the natural salts and minerals. All bottles will be cleaned and re lled at the onsite plant, with more than 2,350 reusable glass bottles distributed across the hotel.
All single-use water bottles in the hotel’s rooms and suites have been replaced with reusable glass bottles. ere will be instances where plastic bottles will be used at the resort – but these too will be reusable. All bottles by the pool and at the beach that total almost 3,300 have been replaced by Tritan reusables – plastic bottles that are free from all bisphenols and made from up to 50 per cent of recyclable materials. 300 MILLION TONNES The approximate quantity of plastic produced each year
8.8
MILLION TONNES
The estimated amount of plastic dumped in the oceans each year
MANDARIN ORIENTAL DUBAI EYES SUSTAINABILITY GOALS WITH FARM-TO-GOURMET-TABLE INITIATIVE
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is attempting to reduce the environmental impact of transporting food by either growing produce on their premises itself or by supporting local farms. While progress on this front has been made at its Marrakech and Bodrum outposts, closer home, the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, too has built its own hydroponics farm. Fresh and sustainable ingredients are being used in the hotel’s menus across its restaurants with the majority of them harvested directly from this farm.
“Growing a hyper-local hydroponics farm on the premises of our hotel is our way of supporting true sustainability in an age of increasingly scarce natural resources,” said David Nicholls, group director of F&B at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. “The farm is tended to by a dedicated team of growers. Only the freshest produce is harvested.” That produce includes gourmet lettuce and rockets, kale, pak choi, tatsoi, salanova, Swiss chard, basil, mushrooms, edible flowers and microgreens.
Also, the hotel adds that all the fish and seafood on its menus are sustainably sourced, using responsible fishing practices. SINGAPORE AIRLINES UNVEILS COLLECTION RECYCLED FROM BUSINESS CLASS LEATHER SEATS
Singapore Airlines has teamed up with leather and paper gift retail concept Bynd Artisan to create a range of upscaled items made using leather from retired business class seats. According to the Singaporebased Bynd Artisan, the collection includes products such as a key holder with strap wristlet (featuring the words “Pull for life vest”), a crossbody pouch sling, a watch and valet tray stand, and a phone and name card stand too. The last three items are also emblazoned with the airline’s batik motif. They range from S$98 for the key holder, up to S$315 for the watch and valet tray stand, and can be purchased from the airline’s Krisshop website, Bynd Artisan’s ION Experience Store in Singapore and its website too.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH We cannot ignore the livability and environmental crises facing our world’s cities, and Neom is at the forefront of delivering new and imaginative solutions to address these issues. Neom remains one of the most important projects of Saudi Vision 2030”
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Neom Board of Directors, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz
Etihad Airways has partnered with Junk Kouture, the world’s largest sustainable youth fashion competition. Junk Kouture challenges young individuals to make striking and imaginative outfits out of 100 per cent recyclable materials. Participants often design creations using materials such as orange peels, coffee capsules, Pampas grass and single-use plastic bags. Locally, Etihad will donate obsolete aircraft items such as old seat covers, carpets, cabin crew uniforms and life vests to UAE schools participating in Junk Kouture for upcycling and use in their students’ designs. The first-ever World Final of Junk Kouture will be held at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on January 11, 2023. Sixty designs, including ten from the UAE, and their teams from New York, London, Milan, Paris and Dublin will be flown to Abu Dhabi by Etihad.
EMIRATES FLIGHT CATERING OPENS WORLD’S LARGEST VERTICAL FARM
Bustanica has opened the world’s largest hydroponic farm in Dubai, backed by a US$40 million investment. The facility is the first vertical farm for Emirates Crop One, the joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) and Crop One. Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the 330,000 sqft facility is designed to produce over 1,000,000kg of high-quality leafy greens annually, while requiring 95 per cent less water (15 litres are required to grow 1kg of produce) compared to conventional agriculture. At any point, the facility grows in excess of one million cultivars (plants), which will provide an output of 3,000kg per day. Apart from catering to Emirates passengers, Bustanica also plans to sell to supermarkets within the UAE. The facility currently grows kale, spinach, arugula and mixed greens and plans to grow fruits and vegetables in the future too.
250
MILLION LITRES
The amount of water saved annually by the new facility compared to traditional outdoor farming
1,000
MEGAWATT
The energy saved annually in the production of water at this vertical farm
86%
of businesses across AsiaPacific say their companies are actively considering sustainability when managing corporate travel
56%
say senior leadership is driving the sustainability agenda for corporate travel
55%
have specific human resources on their teams championing sustainability as an agenda
