Initiators of Change
Six Companies Driving Sustainabiltiy
August 10, 2016
Earlier this year, Matanivusi was named amongst the elite of the surf and skate industry companies that are leading the charge in sustainability. Transworld Business included Matanivusi in their article “Initiators of Change: Six Companies Driving Sustainability”. We were excited and honored to be recognized amongst such respected and innovative companies. These companies include Vissla, Patagonia, Firewire, Volcom and Buero Skateboards.
We were also interviewed for a separate article in Transworld Business " Matanivusi | Fiji’s Sustainable Surf Resort on Becoming STOKE Certified". You can check that article out by following this link to the article.
Since the creation of our resort, Matanivusi, we have been single-minded about incorporating sustainability in all our practices and operations. We designed the resort with the philosophy of "if you're not part of the solution you are part of the problem". We built, using plantation timbers, around trees and in a way that maintained the natural beauty of the area with raised platforms connect buildings, thereby minimising our footpriints. All buildings incorporate passive solar design concepts that negates the need for energy hungry air conditioning. We use a Biolytix waste water treatment system that uses no chemicals and minimal energy. Composting worms (red tigers) break down solids into useable compost and liquids seep through filtration layers and are finally pumped out into drip irrigation watering the gardens. We collect all the water from our roofs and store this is tanks around the resort for use in the rooms and restaurant. We have installed a solar system with battery back up that has reduced our use of a generator to 3-4 hours per day compared to 24/7. Basically we are in a remote location, but only 10 minutes off the main highway, with no grid services available so we had to set the resort up and incorporate all our own infrastructure services as sustainably as we could.
In 2014, we were the world’s first surf resort to be certified by STOKE Certified. After our first audit of 142 criteria as developed by STOKE, we were certified as “Sustainable” with a score of 84% out of 100. STOKE bases their sustainability criteria on universally agreed best practice standards represented by the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) and then tailors the criteria to the unique context of the surf and snow industries. STOKE Certified is a non-profit organization.
In 2016, we were again audited. This is a prerequisite for maintaining STOKE certification. It is mandatory to have an audit every two years. Between the first and second audit, our major sustainable initiative was the installation of our solar power system. This system cut our emissions by 69%. On our most recent audit earlier this year, we received a compliance score of 86%. This recertified our score as “Sustainable" again. .
Our goal going forward is to work toward becoming the world’s first surf resort to reach STOKE’s highest level of certification, “Best Practices”. Wouldnt that be a great award to have... "Matanivusi...the world's first "Best Practice" surf resort" and get more regognition as a leader and initiator in sustainability.In order to meet our goal. We are constantly devising strategies that increase our commitment to sustainability. Over the last two months, we have had an intern from San Diego State University come and help devise action plans to be implemented before the next audit. Some of the plans include:
- Conversion of all lighting to LED
- Liaison with the village to adopt sustainable practices
- Establishment of surf club for the local youth
- Conservation of water
- Reduction of landfill waste
- Staff training programs in sustainability
