This sustainability approach is evident through the company’s many impactful initiatives such as renewable energy infrastructure and water-saving technology across resorts. Along with company-wide projects, individual resorts are also looking at innovative pilot projects such as a vertical hydroponic garden at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO or the in-house biogas setup at OBLU SELECT Sangeli.
Sustainability isn’t an option; it’s our ethos. We look at reusing, reducing, and recycling. All our resorts use a paperless app-based booking and check-in system. At our spas, we serve handmade candied orange peels, and all our resort teams maintain kitchen gardens with a constant effort to improve every year. The cumulative impact of these eco-friendly choices can have a lasting positive change. From conscious development to conserving resources and curating culturally connected experiences for our guests, every decision we make is rooted in preserving the natural beauty that surrounds us in the enchanting islands of Maldives, comments Shrikant Dash, the Deputy Managing Director for Corporate at Atmosphere Core.
Atmosphere Core on Driving Positive Community Impact
Atmosphere Core has been supporting charities and driving impact through a non-profit, non-governmental organisation – Atmosphere Foundation. In the span of two years, the foundation has achieved significant milestones. It has built a high-quality training kitchen for support needs students and runs reading programs for 7,196 youngsters. On top of this, they also supported health screening programs for 590 older citizens on local islands.
Atmosphere Foundation is at the forefront of bringing responsible hospitality and climate protection programs together. The foundation has introduced bamboo plantation and cultivation not just in the group’s resorts, but also in local community outreach programs. Bamboo plants exhibit an exceptional carbon absorption rate. With this, the foundation is able to contribute to the goal of making the Maldives a carbon-free destination. Atmosphere Foundation has donated over 4,000 germinated seedlings and introduced saplings to 27 islands, collaborating with local councils on 9 initiatives. The Bamboo for Climate Change Mitigation project facilitates this process. This project has covered all but 5 atolls in Maldives. Over 1,000 seedlings have also been planted in resorts operated by Atmosphere Core.
How the Sun Powers Atmosphere Core’s Resorts
Atmosphere Core is driving a solar revolution in the Maldives. They do this by maximising every opportunity to power resorts with clean energy from the sun. In 2019, Atmosphere set up a marine and rooftop solar system at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO. Since then, the solar setup has expanded across resorts, leading to a year-over-year increase in solar energy production. With a 40% increase in 2022 followed by a 14% rise in 2023.
As of May 2024, there are 8,890 solar panels installed across seven resorts. The solar panels have produced a cumulative of 16,500 MWh of clean energy from 85 roof installations. Additionally, the resorts also have 12 floating platforms. With this, Atmosphere Core has saved 4,459,459 litres of diesel by using solar energy. This has resulted in a cumulative reduction of 11,951 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Commitment to Coral Conservation and Sustainability
At the resorts within the Atmosphere Core portfolio, environmental care takes centre stage, with a special focus on coral conservation. Within the portfolio of nine resorts, seven have an actively managed coral conservation program and four resorts have a dedicated marine biologist. In 2023, a total of 279 coral frames were installed in Atmosphere Core waters with about 13,436 coral fragments. In Q1 2024, 21 new frames were installed across the resorts. Through continuous monitoring and maintenance, the coral fragments have encrusted onto the frames and started to grow new branches. Over the years, through coral propagation, these conservation gardens have flourished with live corals attracting marine life including Parrot Fish, Snappers, Eagle Rays, Sharks, and other invertebrates.
Green Globe Certification
All of Atmosphere Core’s resorts have received Green Globe Certification for environmental sustainability, with OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI and OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO receiving gold certifications. With a 10% global market share, Green Globe is one of the most preferred sustainability certifications for resorts and involves successfully being audited on 44 key environmental criteria and up to 380 compliance indicators depending on the destination.
