Singita - placing One Planet Living at the heart of luxury tourism

In committing to its One Planet Action Plan in 2016 Singita is aiming to create a benchmark for sustainable tourism for the 21st century – demonstrating how conservation, local economic development and high-quality tourism can reinforce each other. Singita have identified outcomes against each of the ten One Planet Principles: Health and happiness - Improvement in staff health and engagement - Improve local education and teaching levels Equity and local economy - Maximise local recruitment - Support development of local businesses Culture and community - 25% of guests to participate in a community activity - Promote a culture of sustainability - Maximise contribution to Singita Trust Funds Land and nature - Maximise area under management - Maximise anti-poaching and conservation efforts - Encourage environmental care within local communities Sustainable water - Reduce losses through leaks to 5% - Reduce extraction of water from boreholes Local and sustainable food - Increase local expenditure - All fish to be sustainable harvested - Improvement in staff diet Travel and transport - 20% reduction in fuel - Reduction in business flights Materials and products - Only sustainable cleaning products - Prioritising sustainable construction and fit-out materials Zero waste - 90% reduction in plastic waste - more than 90% recycling rate Zero carbon energy - 30% reduction in energy use - 100% renewable energy Singita have developed a detailed One Planet Action Plan identifying how these outcomes can be delivered. Headline strategies include: Health and happiness: - Annual survey of staff welfare and act upon the results - Support ongoing education programmes with the local communities Equity and local economy: - Training and enterprise development with local community - Build the capacity of local entrepreneurs to be able to supply Singita Culture and community: - Promotion and improvement of community visits - Staff training and engagement - Singita contributions and guest engagement Land and nature: - Develop new projects in other regions in need oc conservation - Develop direct projects and partner cooperation - Environmental training for children and teachers Sustainable water - Install meters and monitor - Installation of rain water harvesting and water efficient equipment Local and sustainable food - Local capacity building with producers - Suppliers to ensure all seafood from sustainable sources - Staff engagement over healthy eating Travel and transport - Review of logistics and promoting alternative to the game drive - Monitor and review flights Materials and products - Supplier review and engagement - Engagement with design and construction teams Zero waste - Elimination of plastic bottled water - Onsite sorting and monitoring and engagement with contractor Zero Carbon: - Energy efficient upgrade of all buildings - Onsite solar power in non-grid connected locations, and purchase of renewable electricity Headline achievments in 2017 include: Health and happiness: • 15 One Planet events held • Significant upgrades to staff accommodation at all sites Equity and local economy: • Grow to Read programme ongoing – reached 20 schools and 141 teachers • Local employment remained above 75% • R8.8mi spend in the local economy at SSS and SKNP Culture and community: • All staff received a basic One Planet Living induction • ‘Train the trainer’ sessions run with Heads of departments. OP Staff engagement programme established • Donations (Lodge & Guests) average approximately 6 bednights a month Land and nature: • Additional 10,000 Ha brought under management in 2017 • 19% of total Lodge operating spend is on conservation efforts • 175 teachers completed enviro awareness module in SA, and 440 children received enviro education in Zimbabwe region. Sustainable water • Meters being installed • 10% reduction at one lodge Local and sustainable food • Local food sourced where possible • Ongoing engagement with suppliers • Meat free Mondays; increased vegetable options Travel and transport • Flights logged and offset options to be reviewed Materials and products • Supplier review and engagement in all location • Major refurbishment reutilised sanitary-wear and timber. Zero waste • 95% less plastic bottled water waste • 13.6 tonnes recycled at SKNP/SSS Zero Carbon: • 3% reduction in primary energy use • 17% reduction in carbon emissions with 20% of electricity being supplied by PV