ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INITIATIVES
Environmental and Social Initiatives
- Community Education Programme
- Fair Trade Initiative
- Coral Reef Rehabilitation Project
Huvafen Fushi, Maldives - Maldives Virgin Coconut Oil
- Green Globe Accreditation
Community Education Programme
Dedicated to working with the local regions, Per AQUUM has aligned itself with VSO Maldives and Educational Development Centre Maldives who have developed a local community outreach programme. As part of this programme, Per AQUUM has sponsored an outreach advisor from overseas to work on a remote atoll in the Maldives. The teacher will work closely with local teachers and staff from the schools within that atoll to create professional capacity building, development and mentoring programmes.
The goal is to empower the teachers to more effectively meet children's learning needs and give the islanders strong educational training for future generations of learning.
Fair Trade Initiative
Per AQUUM is committed to offering a luxury experience that is founded upon ethical business practices. Its commitment to Fair Trade will contribute to sustainable development by ensuring that producers and workers in less developed countries are treated fairly and paid just prices for the work that they do. Per AQUUM has introduced Fair Trade coffee to its retreats, providing the highest quality product. A portion from the purchase of the coffee will be used by a Fair Trade Community Trust Fund to fund education and healthcare projects in developing countries.
Coral Reef Rehabilitation Project
Huvafen Fushi, Maldives
Fringed by an ecosystem of immeasurable beauty, Per AQUUM's Huvafen Fushi retreat is dedicated to expanding the protection and awareness of its House Reef. In 2006, Per AQUUM launched a project to enhance the House Reef and to speed the recovery from the 1998 Indian Ocean Bleaching Event, when unusually warm surface waters damaged countless reefs. Two marine biologists assisted the project, successfully restoring an ecosystem at the underwater spa through the development of a coral nursery and coral reef rehabilitation project.
Per AQUUM has expanded this project by appointing to the retreat a resident marine biologist, who monitors the House Reef and reef fish. Guests and members of the Per AQUUM community also have the invaluable opportunity to learn from the marine biologist about this vital ecosystem. Additionally, Per AQUUM has formed a 'Blue Team' to protect and enhance the local reef environment and to oversee the coral nursery and coral reef rehabilitation project.
Guests are able to participate in the team, growing coral at the coral nursery and transplanting it onto the reef.
Maldives Virgin Coconut Oil
For many Maldivian islands, the primary source of income is through tuna fishing. In its vision to diversify and support local Maldivian communities, Per AQUUM has sponsored a sustainable business to produce coconut oil, salt scrubs and handcrafted massage tools for use in LIME and AQUUM spas. The business employs fifteen people from the local community, including many women who were not previously employed.
Per AQUUM is excited to offer these traditional formulas to guests. The Maldivian people have been using virgin coconut oil for centuries, trusting its unique, sensuous formula, to protect against the sun's rays. The oil hydrates and nourishes the skin with its anti-aging, antibacterial and healing properties. Guests can savour the luxurious oil or delight in the treatments with locally-made salt scrubs and coconut wood massage tools.
For every bottle of coconut oil sold in its spa retail outlets, Per AQUUM will donate US$5 to its social responsibility programmes.
Green Globe Accreditation
Per AQUUM values environmental and social sustainability and is dedicated to improving the environmental performance of its business activities. Whilst it has a number of environmental and social programmes in place, including energy saving, waste management, water conservation, reef enhancement and local employment, Per AQUUM will take this one step further.
By appointing an environmental consultancy firm, Per AQUUM will work towards obtaining an internationally recognised 'Green Globe' certification. Per AQUUM is delighted to enter this venture to sustain the environment of its local communities and its impact on the global ecosystem.
