Ikos Dassia relaunches zero waste programme

The luxury all-inclusive resort Ikos Dassia, on Corfu, is to renew its zero-waste programme, which began in 2019 but was put on hold during the pandemic lockdown.

As a popular island destination, Corfu has limited landfill availability and other issues surrounding waste management, so the Ikos team launched its Green Zero-Waste Programme to take practical steps to mitigate this.

The programme has three core aims: to find the best solution for reducing and recycling all materials produced; to manage and biodegrade organic waste; and to train all staff to work to a zero-waste brief. From the outset of the scheme, all packaging materials and organic waste were immediately reduced and recycled.

With the hotel’s closure during the Covid-19 pandemic, further improvements to the scheme were developed and as Ikos Dassia reopened on May 17 it now plans to further reduce disposable plastics and enhance circular economy initiatives.

Eleni Andreadis, group director of sustainability, said: “The team at Ikos Dassia are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to minimise the resort’s environmental footprint.  We work hard with suppliers to create a purpose-led strategy, where we can set and measure year on year improvements. This year, for example, we are focusing on reducing food waste and examining the use of AI technology. Waste production is a key area of concern for hotels and hospitality groups and critical to make progress on.

“The ultimate aim of the zero-waste programme is to ensure visitors to Corfu leave the island as beautiful as when they found it, whilst positively impacting the local community.”