Fairmont Southampton and its team is making positive contributions to the environment, while also providing benefits to guests and the community.Through its actions, and as members of Planet 21 — the Accor-wide sustainability programme, the hotel has achieved the Planet 21 Gold Level. The programme challenges everyone, from guests to hotel colleagues, partners and property developers, to take actions to minimise every hotel’s impact on the planet. Accor has announced a commitment to the global elimination of single-use plastics in the guest experience by 2022.“Taken together, small actions can make a big impact in every part of our business. All our initiatives firstly involve engagement and training, with our colleagues trained on eco-friendly actions specific to their jobs such as reducing paper waste and being proud ambassadors of Planet 21,” Kiaran MacDonald, regional vice-president and general manager Fairmont Southampton, said.The hotel offers guests options by recommending re-use of bedding and towels for stays longer than one night. “Last year, through Accor’s Plant for the Planet programme, Fairmont Southampton was able to donate $8,300 from this guest initiative to reduce unnecessary washing of linens in the hotel. These savings were then donated to planting 7,300 trees at a Colombian coffee plantation thus assisting international communities as well.” Actions in the past year included the annual railway trail cleanup with KBB and volunteers; Earth Day cedar tree planting, support of community causes such as Beyond Rugby, Family Centre, education sessions with guests and a class from Heron Bay Primary School; and participation in Earth Hour with Greenrock. Last year, the resort introduced a moveable sheep pasture in partnership with Wild Island Farm for the sustainable land management of Turtle Hill.Executive chef Harris Sakalis and his team, working with local partners, have implemented food waste-reduction programmes and vegetable scraps being collected weekly by a local farm to be composted. Safe-to-eat food is donated to The Salvation Army’s food programme. The culinary teams have worked to ban the use of threatened fish species, creating low-waste menus, and reusing vegetable and fruit cuttings for decoration and vinegar production. More vegetarian and vegan options have been added to menus of all the hotel’s restaurants. Fairmont Southampton is also able to supply honey from its six beehives and offer a variety of vegetarian food options for catering events. David Packer, director of facility operations, said: “Working towards more sustainable facilities, we understand that our buildings have an effect on the environment. “Therefore, it’s important to do what we can to lessen the impact while still providing our guests with an exemplary travel experience. “To do this the resort regularly measures and analyses water and energy consumption, comply with standard flow rates for showers and taps. Water is recycled on the resort for non-potable uses and also helps irrigate the golf course. LEDs or energy-efficient light bulbs are in wide use across the property.” To learn more about Planet 21 and their other social responsibility initiatives, visit fairmont.com/planet21