34 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2007

SPECIAL FEATURE!"§«“¡æ‘‡»…

Improving the ecological and carbon footprint of spas

& wellness centres is essential not only for the health of the

planet but also for the business.

If everyone in the world were to continue to consume

natural resources and generate carbon dioxide at the rate

we do, we would need many more planets to supports us.

The problem is, we have only one liveable planet and we

are using thenatural resourcesfaster than nature can

replenish them. As the dominant species in just a few

millennia we have swallowed up more than a third of the

planet‘s land for our cities, farmland and pastures. It is

estimated, we now commandeer 40 percent of all its

productivity. And we‘re leaving quite a mess behind. The

looming spectre of climate change for example.

If they could, the other species would surely vote us off

the planet. While it is obvious that in order to live we

consume what nature offers but every action of ours

impacts the ecosystem. This would not be of concern

ifhuman use of resources did not exceed what the earth

(bio capacity) could renew. But that is clearly not the case.

However, there is a way in which we can work, live and

travel within this ’bio capacity‘and still enjoy an increased

quality of life. It is called ‘One Planet Living’, ‘One Planet

Ecological Economics’ and ‘One Planet Business’.

For One Planet Living (or living within the earth‘s

natural capacity) it is essential that we limit the overall

ecological impact and reduce the size of our carbon

footprint and begin the process of restoring, replenishing

and protecting our only ecosystem.

‘Ecological Footprint‘ is the new science of

sustainability being promoted by leading conservation

organisations. It is a resource management tool that

quantitatively measures and describes how much land and

water a human population requires to produce the

resources it consumes and to absorb its waste under

prevailing technology in order to determine how much of

the regenerative capacity of the planet is occupied by

human activities. It also measures how intensely the

ecosystems are being used (and abused)? In addition, the

Ecological Footprint recognises the crucial role of natural

capital and natural income in economic development.

ARE WE EXCEEDING OUR LIMITS?

At present the Ecological (including Carbon) Footprint

methodology is not yet being used by the spa and wellness

sector (‘ecological footprint‘ is mostly used as a generic

terms). But there is a growing realisation that tourism

(especially ‘local travel and tourism’) needs to be redefined

in the context of reducing our overall ecological and

carbon footprinton destinations and its connection to

reducing poverty. In addition, there is an increasing

recognition of redefining ‘sustainability’ (socio/cultural,

economic, wellbeing and nature; also referred to asthenew

‘Quadruple Bottom Line’) and without tradeoffs.

Redefining the Spa

Spa comes from the term ‘Sanitas per Aqua’ (health

through water) and historically spas rely on nature -

especially water to heal. In essence this makes the spa

sector symbolic guardians of water. It is about respect and

viewing water as an endangered species. Thus the spa

industry is in a natural leadership position to rise to the

challenge and reduce the overall footprint of water. It has

been given stewardship of the sacred sites throughout the

world where these waters flow.

Considerthis: a single Vichy shower treatment can use

in the excess of 200 gallons of water. Or the fact that a

guest roughly uses eight towels per visit - plus robe and

linens - all of which require laundering.

Of course, while no one advocates eliminating water

from the spa experience, we still need to act responsibly

and create a ‘back to basics eco luxury experience’.

However, in order to truly begin reducing the overall

ecological and carbon footprintof spas and wellness

centres and reach the eventual point of balance (i.e.

sustainability) the following need to be included:

Step 1: Responsible planning and development of the

site and structure.

Step 2: Bio mimicry design (using nature as a model and

nature as a mentor) and indigenous architecture (exterior

and interior).

Step 3: Sustainable construction (where possible using

eco/clean technology, locally produced and earth-friendly

materials).

Step 4: Sustainability Management (including sustain-

ability benchmarking, ecological foot printing and

developing a responsible purchasing policy and sustain-

ability financial statement) throughout the entire spa /

wellness centre operation.

Step 5: ‘Making sustainability sexy’. Alternative image

building, branding and marketing strategies targeted at

the LOHAS and GLOHAS, (Lifestyles of Heath and

Sustainability) or ‘conscious consumer‘ / ‘conscious

traveller’.

Spas and wellness centres should serve as eco

custodians. They should create a ‘feel good’ factor about

doing something healthy forthe spa, the guest, the local

community and the planet and thus save the planet while

enjoying its resources.

Spas, the custodian of natureBy Motti Essakow

34-35TSM15W1 10/26/07 9:48 AM Page 34

35NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2007

SPECIAL FEATURE!"§«“¡æ‘‡»…

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!ª“°—""#"“#°“$¥Ÿ·%&$$¡™“µ‘‡!"ËÕß‚¥¬ Motti Essakow

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