PURE FOR THE FUTURE
Pure For The Future underpins The Datai Langkawi’s commitment to be a sustainable business. It is based on the tenets of a circular economy, which is a move away from the current linear model of take-make-waste through the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Our sustainability initiatives were the result of a rigorous assessment of the impact of our operations on the environment and are focused on reducing waste that would either end up in a landfill or the sea (thus ending up as pollution) by making it recyclable, upcyclable or returning it back into nature in an organic form.
In Partnership With Kansha Life
The Kansha Life Project aims to be a sustainable hotspot combining entrepreneurship, spirituality, sustainability, art and play in every state of beingness.
Their mission lies in being the vectors of change, learning holistically and growing together as an island community in developing new skill sets and gaining knowledge towards a purpose driven, sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. The Kansha Life Project also studies waste material, as they strive to embody the vision of becoming changemakers for a better world.
OBJECTIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
ZERO WASTE TO THE LANDFILL
We aim to achieve Zero Waste to the Landfill through increasing our recycling and upcycling initiatives at The Datai Langkawi, a sustainable hotel in Malaysia. These include wastewater management, in-house water bottling, banning the use of single-use plastics, transforming food waste into soil for cultivating plants and herbs, and upcycling materials like wax, plastic and glass. In 2023, we achieved an overall 96% of zero-waste to landfill efficiency, which equates to 48,140kg of waste diverted from going to the landfill. 100% of food waste was transformed into soil for cultivating plants and herbs or donated to the community for animal feed, while 92% of dry waste was processed through the banning of single-use plastics; and recycling and upcycling materials. A total of 88,241 glass bottles, 357kg of Styrofoam, 21 kg of plastic, 4kg slippers, were crushed for recycling, and 6,774kg of used oil was sold for recycling.
REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
To reduce our carbon footprint and waste, we work in many ways in partnership with the community. We have always believed that business should help lead positive change, and in 2022 we set out to become Carbon Neutral. In order to achieve this goal in a comprehensive way, we undertook the following: monitored our carbon emissions; measured our carbon sequestration (together with the Wildlife For The Future pillar) based on the Carbon Stock Assessment conducted with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; and teamed up with Pantas Climate Solutions to optimise our Carbon Footprint Management (CFM) and enhance decarbonisation efforts. In 2023, 263 tons CO2-e has been prevented from polluting our environment by not sending waste to the landfill through regenerative practices.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
New sustainability initiatives have been introduced within the community as well as support of local culture and heritage through the offering of traditional craft-making activities (e.g. batik workshops), and promoting natural well-being practices (e.g. propolis soap making). In partnership with local social enterprise, The Kansha Life Project in Langkawi, Geng Bersih Kampung and schools sponsored through the Eco-Schools Programme, we nurture micro-businesses and local entrepreneurship, especially with children, disadvantaged and marginalised members of our extended community.
GUEST AND STAFF EDUCATION PROGRAMMES
In partnership with the community, we have developed a range of recycling and upcycling activities and workshops for guests to promote ‘green living’. These include recycling candles and natural soap-making, as well as staff programmes to stimulate continuous innovation on our sustainability and conservation initiatives. In the year 2022: 17 workshops with local artisans on craft and sustainable practices were conducted, 3,021 candles were produced from used candles, 94 concrete bricks have been produced from upcycled glass, and more.
"I am very proud to be leading the Pure For The Future pillar with the support of a dedicated and passionate team. Our initiatives have developed well with some exciting achievements. Working on sustainability initiatives for the resort is a dream work experience for me. This, along with helping the community whilst minimising our impact on the surrounding environment, has been incredibly rewarding. I am looking forward to attaining more milestones for the programme."
- Remi Giromella, Pillar Leader, Pure For The Future, The Datai Pledge | Director of Quality Control and Improvement, The Datai Langkawi -