As sustainability is not anymore an option for many businesses, resorts in the Maldives are also striving to deliver eco-responsible initiatives and experiences that have a positive impact on the planet and the communities they operate in.
Here is our selection of the top sustainable resorts in the Maldives and their best practices.
Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
Surrounded by a stunning house reef in the scenic Raa Atoll, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives is a private island retreat set in inspiring settings.
From protecting the environment to advancing the local community, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives aims to drive positive impact through its initiatives.
In line with their goal to achieve EarthCheck certification, the world’s leading environmental certification and benchmarking programme for the travel and tourism industry, green initiatives have been implemented, starting with a thoughtful architecture, conserving up to 70% of the existing vegetation and maximizing the protection of native trees.
Hyatt’s ‘Food. Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served.’ philosophy guides the resort in how they select ingredients that are better for people, communities and the planet.
The resort is also using sustainable water consumption practices, widening its energy mix to include recyclable energy with a solar power system, and strengthening its house reef by replanting coral fragments grown in their coral nursery.
Alila Kothaifaru is committed to reducing waste going to the landfill to zero by using a glass crusher, compactor, incinerator, organic shredder and food composter to produce fertiliser.
The resort also supports the development of the local community through internship, employment and partnership opportunities.
Gili Lankanfushi
Perched on the eastern edge of North Male Atoll, the resort is situated on the stunning private island of Lankanfushi, a sanctuary offering serenity by design, with a collection of authentically-styled villas.
Built with the sensitivity of their surroundings in mind, the villas are constructed out of responsibly sourced local materials that were harvested during the island’s rehabilitation process.
Rooms feature organic toiletries in refillable containers and a dedicated desalination plant is the source of still and sparkling water for all guests.
In 2019, it became one of the first resorts to pledge to protect the seagrass as part of the Protect Maldives Seagrass movement.
By sourcing ingredients locally, including vegetables from the organic garden, the resort reduces its footprint and serve the freshest fare.
Gili Lankanfushi has partnered with EarthCheck and conducts yearly assessments to uphold the most up-to-date sustainability standards, reduce their impact on the environment, and achieve international best practices.
The resort also invites guests to travel with purpose, with dedicated activities and a series of plant and nature based offerings.
Responsible travellers can take part in coral cleaning adventures, collect underwater data leading scientific organizations like Manta Trust, seagrass discovery sessions and other environmental initiatives.
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island by Hurawalhi sets new standards of sustainable luxury hospitality in the magnificent surrounds of Lhaviyani Atoll.
Together with the architectural mastermind, Yuji Yamazaki, Kudadoo is the winner of the prestigious 2019 Hospitality Design Award in the ‘Sustainable Resort’ category.
Sustainability of natural resources as well as social responsibility are at the forefront of everything they do, from environmentally conscious activities, to amenities and food, at every touchpoint they aim to minimise their impact on the environment.
The Retreat’s roof incorporates 984 solar panels that span an area of 1643m2, making it the Maldives’ only fully solar-powered private island.
The resort’s eco-consciousness and sleek design extend to the island’s 15 over-water residences primarily built with sustainable materials.
Working together with Olive Ridley Project, the resort is committed to the protection of sea turtles and gives guests a unique opportunity to witness them in their natural habitat while contributing to research, identifying individuals, learning more about the population and ways they can protect them.
Kudadoo is also supporting sustainable diving and snorkelling practices and educating residents and team members about the magnificent manta rays, guided by a marine biologist.
The resort has partnered with Healing Earth, a recognized leader adept at green amenities, in the creation of two bespoke collections of biodegradable lifestyle amenities that contain bio-identical active ingredients, organic essential oils and fair-trade botanicals.
Six Senses Laamu
The only resort on the remote Laamu Atoll in the southern Maldives, Six Senses Laamu is an idyllic palm-fringed paradise.
Sustainability is at the heart of the resort’s decisions and actions, ensuring that the unique environments, cultures and experiences shared with guests will have a positive impact on generations to come.
Committed to the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI), the resort’s team pursues marine conservation goals, through research, guest education and community outreach, with the overarching aim of protecting Laamu’s natural resources.
Committed to a plastic free atoll, water filters sponsored by the resort eliminate the need for approximately 6 million plastic water bottles in Laamu atoll each year.
The Sea Hub of Environmental Learning in Laamu (SHELL) is a multi-use space, designed for education and immersive marine conservation experiences with a central exhibition space to explore the local marine life during out-of-the-ordinary encounters, a marine laboratory, a LED display floor and five educational viewing booths.
They also support L. Maamendhoo’s Women Development Committee which employs local tailors to produce reusable cotton bags for all households on their island, thus reducing plastic waste and creating new jobs in the community.
Soneva Fushi
Soneva Fushi is a natural treasure nestled in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and one of the largest islands in the Maldives. In 2008, Soneva has introduced a 2% environmental levy on all stays.
This goes towards the Soneva Foundation, which invests in a variety of projects that have a positive environmental, social and economic impact, offsetting direct and indirect carbon emissions, such as resort activities and guests’ flights.
In collaboration with Coralive.org and the Soneva Fushi SCIE:NCE team, the Soneva Foundation has set up one of the biggest coral nurseries in the world using Mineral Accretion Technology (MAT).
In 2022, the core MAT tables have been filled with 50,000 coral fragments alongside the rescuing of 20,000 and planting of 8,000 coral colonies.
Soneva Namoona, a Maldivian NGO, is another initiative funded by the Soneva Foundation, working to empower zero waste communities.
The resort also recycles 90% of solid waste but wants to go further with the Soneva Maker Programme.
This programme sees Soneva join the grass-roots Precious Plastic global initiative to become the first company in the Maldives to recycle plastic into new products, using open source machines made from locally available, low cost materials.
The programme also encourages guests and hosts to participate in recycling initiatives, to educate younger guests about how things are made and to emphasise the ‘Waste-to-Wealth’ concept.
