Every day the world is becoming a smaller place. Pollution and other environmental concerns can negatively impact local environments and local economic engines, including tourism. Alila Jabal Akhdar’s commitment to treading lightly on the planet is evident in its discreet architecture, built from local stone in accordance with LEED environmental design principles. The hotel is also making great strides towards achieving its next environmental target – zero waste.
As part of its commitment to sustainability and to ensure that it is as efficient and eco-friendly as possible, the hotel has initiated four R’s of zero waste – reduce, reuse, recycle and repurpose (compost). Its zero-waste drive is more than just a noble aspiration; Alila Jabal Akhdar has signed a waste management contract with Oman Recycling Services LLC and is now processing all waste on a weekly basis.
As part of the larger plan, the hotel has successfully diverted more than 81,880 kg of food waste, removed 53,728 kg of solid waste and roughly 3,645 litres of chemicals, partial soaps and amenities collected from rooms over the year in 2017-18.
While the hotel’s restaurant is implementing single-stream recycling to make recycling easier for both staff and its operations, all food waste produced by the hotel is composted and provides vegetable waste oil back to the hotel’s organic farm. In addition, the restaurant has built its menu entirely around sustainable practices, farm-to-table meals, as well as waste and plastic reduction.
On top of its efforts to minimise plastic usage in the property, Alila Jabal Akhdar uses its own refillable glass water bottles and VOSS water in the guestrooms and meeting venues. To keep joggers and its little Butterfly Trail adventurers hydrated during their activities outside, water is stored and dispensed in traditional Omani jahlas (clay pots). Other green initiatives include solar power to heat the hotel’s hot water supply, which in turn is recycled to irrigate the grounds.
Perched 2,000 metres above sea level in the western Al Hajar Mountain range, Alila Jabal Akhdar is the perfect destination for those who love nature, providing a haven of serenity amidst one of Oman’s most breathtaking mountain landscapes and fresh, clean, unpolluted air. If ever inspiration were needed along the journey towards becoming zero waste in an effort to protect the earth, one need only look to these pristine surroundings.
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