Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort just achieved the world’s first perfect score of 100 points from Green Globe, which represents the International Standard for Sustainability. Additionally, Bucuti & Tara just earned recertification as carbon neutral and remains the Caribbean’s first and only net-zero hotel.
Green Globe Platinum: World’s Only Perfect Score in the Hotel & Resort Category
Bucuti & Tara just earned its 20th annual Green Globe certification. The property has always been a scoring leader in its endless pursuit of providing the safest, most sustainable vacation setting and workplace to guests and staff, respectively. This year it reached Green Globe perfection with the world’s first and only perfect score of 100 in the Hotel & Resort Category.
The Green Globe certification is a structured assessment of the sustainability performance of travel and tourism businesses and their supply chain partners. Evolving from the pivotal United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, the first time when 182 heads of state acknowledged as a group that consumption of non-renewable resources was leading to environmental degradation. Today, Green Globe provides certification and training and education in 83 countries worldwide. The Green Globe International Standard for Sustainable Tourism, comprised of internationally accepted criteria, is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and Green Globe is an Affiliate Member of the UNWTO.
Until 2020, Bucuti & Tara’s highest score was near perfect at 97. Closing the gap to reach 100 this year included:
- Improving landscaping techniques such as using organic fertilizer, natural rodent control, and manual weeding instead of chemical herbicides
- Enlisting an energy audit of the facility
- Discontinuing placing phone books in accommodations
- Using PVC-free key cards – PET recycled material currently used
- Installing motion sensor urinals in the employee bathroom
Statements from Green Globe CEO, independent auditor
Green Globe released the following from its CEO Guido Bauer in recognition of Bucuti & Tara’s achievement: “It is with the greatest admiration that Green Globe can announce the first 100% certification score in the 25-year history of our sustainability program. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort has always been at the forefront of sustainable tourism and is the first to attain this perfect score, meeting and in some cases exceeding the requirements of all criteria. We acknowledge the dedication of all the staff and management, who have taken a personal interest in doing the very best they can when it comes to contributing to the protection of the environment, economic reward for community and celebration and preservation of local culture and heritage. A special accolade must also be sent to Bucuti & Tara Resort Owner/CEO, Ewald Biemans, whose understanding of the importance and value of sustainability has created a management culture that extends the hospitality conveyed to guests, to a mindfulness that cares for this precious destination on the island of Aruba.”
“Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is a beacon of sustainability throughout the Caribbean and now achieving Green Globe’s first perfect score, out of all tourism businesses worldwide,” shares. K. Denaye Hinds, LEED AP, and the Green Globe Accredited Auditor who conducted Bucuti & Tara’s annual recertification. “They continue to challenge themselves year over year to incorporate the guidelines set forth in the Green Globe program and other key certifications, so that the experience and care for their guests, workplace setting for staff and procedures for vendors are not compromised but showcase their great respect and responsibility for the environment.”
Caribbean’s first and only carbon-neutral hotel
In August 2018, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort achieved its long-term goal of becoming carbon neutral. That first year’s certification represented an offset of 853 tCO2 as measured the calendar year prior. Always moving forward, it immediately began its journey to carbon negative. Its 2019 recertification reflected this direction as only 822 tCO2 was offset. For the 2020 recertification, which measures the year prior and therefore does not include the COVID downtime, it is down to 719 tCO2. From measuring periods for 2017 to 2019, Bucuti & Tara has maintained its 97%+ year-round occupancy while quickly and steadily decreasing its offsets more than 15%.
“Achieving the first perfect score from Green Globe and becoming recertified as carbon-neutral while continuing to steadily reduce our carbon offsets reflects the shared commitment of every Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort associate, our vendors and our amazing guests,” shares Ewald Biemans, Owner/CEO of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. “These certifications are excellent best practices that every hotel can implement as guidelines in their own journey to responsible travel.”
To learn more, visit Bucuti.com.
