Madeleine Olsson Nikitopoulos, senior director of spa, Middle East & Africa, Four Seasons Doha, is passionate about sustainabilituy and a key proponent of the idea that as consumers now expect a more proactive approach from spas in addressing environmental concerns, there is also a business case for doing well by doing good, as she explained in a workshop packed full of spa managers eager to learn how to operate in a more eco-friendly manner.
Minimise waste:
• Invest in products that are returnable, reusable, or refillable. Plastic packaging with the PET-1 label is more environmentally friendly.
• Use products with the least amount of packaging – buy in bulk to avoid individually wrapped products.
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• Focus on products designed with the environment in mind – organic clothing, sustainable furnishings made from reclaimed materials, products made in solar powered or wind powered factories are just a few examples.
• Reduce waste of cleaning products, detergents, batteries – recycle wherever possible.
Maximise resources:
• Use solar panels wherever possible, make use of daylight hours in spas by having windows in treatment rooms.
• Use sensors in water taps to reduce wastage; water aerators also help reduce consumption.
• Use sensors for air conditioning as well to increase temperatures or switch off the AC when guests are not in their rooms. The ideal temperature setting for in-room air conditioning is 23°C.
• Reuse paper before recycling, print on both sides of the page or use the blank side to make notes. Use recycled paper wherever possible, or paper made from other materials apart from trees. Encourage the use of emails, iPads and other technology wherever possible.
• Train staff not to overuse products during treatments and other therapies.
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