Key ways to achieve sustainability goals in your spa

Onno and Alexa Poortier founded It Must Be NOW to help companies working in hospitality and tourism achieve Climate Positive and accelerate change for a sustainable future.

With an ever-growing urgency for the wellness sector to intensify its efforts to fight climate change, European Spa asked Onno and Alexa to create an exclusive sustainability checklist for spas.

Their advice can help your business identify what really needs to happen to make a significant move forwards towards your sustainability goals.

“While more spa and wellness companies are environmentally aware, not nearly enough have committed to sustainability with accountability and transparency as a core value,” says Alexa Poortier. “Short-term gain is still prioritised over long-term thinking.

“While the industry says that sustainability is a vital message and ‘talks the talk’, business-as-usual prevails. More spas must champion a climate-positive future to limit global warming to 1.5ºC.”

What really needs to happen for a significant move forward?

“There must be greater scrutiny and governance from government regulators, banks and insurance companies,” continues Poortier.

“A significant move forward will require a change in values, attitudes, behaviours and stakeholder demand.”

“More country governments need to adopt laws for stricter sustainability reporting directives, governance, incentives and penalties for non-compliance.

“Countries must establish a cap on carbon emissions for big companies and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).”

How to do sustainability better

• Prepare better – be knowledgeable and prioritise accountability and transparency.
• Understand what leading global scientists have been saying and the urgency – there are just over 6 years left before our carbon budget runs out
• NET Zero by 2050 is ‘too little too late’ to limit global warming to 2ºC
• The difference between 1.5ºC and 2ºC is a big deal
• Global temperatures will only stabilise when carbon dioxide emissions reach Net Zero or better
• Establish strategic alliances and obtain robust support from companies providing funding support
• Get the basics right – you need the support and commitment of your entire team
• Form a Green Team with representatives from all departments
• Draft a sustainability policy and have it available to all stakeholders
• Build knowledge and capacity – train the sustainability coordinator to undertake day-to-day programme implementation
• Collaborate and share knowledge with other properties that are ‘forces for good’.

“Spa and wellness tourism worldwide is positioned to benefit profitably from the fast-growing wellness and tourism economy,” concludes Poortier.

“But when more than 80% of consumers want a more sustainable experience (booking.com and Google 2021 Survey), spas must take responsibility for their total impacts.

“This means no greenwashing. Commit to sustainability with accountability and transparency as a core value and practice.”