SIX SENSES ZIGHY BAY SELECTED AS GLOBAL SUCCESS STORY
FOR ZERO WASTE BEST PRACTICES AT UNITED NATIONS EVENT
- The resort was one of three finalists invited to virtually participate in a panel discussion by the United Nations Secretary Advisory Board, having been selected from 92 submissions globally
DUBAI, 7 May 2024: In light of World Earth Day, Six Senses Zighy Bay is reflecting on its participation in a recent United Nations panel discussion, having been nominated as a global success story for its exemplary use of zero waste best practices. The event took place in Nairobi on 27th March, 2024, coinciding with the International Day of Zero Waste, during which the resort’s Director of Sustainability, Armand Thieblemont, virtually showcased key initiatives practiced in line with the resort’s ‘from waste to wealth’ philosophy.
The United Nations Secretary Advisory Board received 92 submissions from around the globe, of which 16 were short-listed. The submissions were judged against 11 criteria and guidelines, including measurable impact, scalability, innovation, and adherence to zero-waste principles, resulting in three finalists including Six Senses Zighy Bay, Save the Med Foundation, a Balearic Island marine conservation organisation, and No Hunger Food Bank, who shared their programme aimed at increasing the income elderly Adeta Indigenous women working in the cassava industry through recycling.
During the collaborative forum jointly organised by UN-Habitat, UNEP, and the Türkiye Mission to Kenya, the team highlighted the success of the resort’s glass recycling project. This initiative efficiently repurposes 100% of the resort’s glass waste into pieces of art for guests, plates for the restaurants, or construction materials throughout the premises. Notably, in 2023, almost 5 tons of the resort’s glass waste was processed and upcycled onsite.
Armand, the Director of Sustainability, articulated this ethos by stating, "Waste is a resource that can be transformed into something new, and this is an idea that we want to share with our guests."
At Six Senses Zighy Bay, this philosophy is put into action through engaging activities that demonstrate the art of upcycling. These activities serve as invaluable educational tools, particularly for younger guests who may have theoretical knowledge of recycling but lack practical exposure.
Illustrating the success of this approach, Armand also shared a significant achievement: "Last year, more than 200 plates were created from melted glass bottles, with much of the remaining glass used for construction. Crushed glass possesses the same elements as sand, also known as silica, which can be used in construction by mixing it with cement and water."
Furthermore, Six Senses Zighy Bay remains dedicated to extending its environmental stewardship beyond its borders. Armand emphasised the resort's commitment to local communities, stating, "We want to share the knowledge and practices of zero waste with our local communities so that we can work together to tackle this issue."
Guided by the Six Senses brand’s overarching ‘zero waste’ philosophy, the glass upcycling programme is just one of the many sustainability initiatives that take place at the resort. Notably, a significant portion of the resort’s recycling efforts occur internally, encompassing various waste streams such as food, landscaping, paper, and cardboard, all meticulously sorted and repurposed within the premises.
Complementing these internal efforts, the resort’s industry-leading Earth Lab utilises state-of-the-art methods for recycling additional materials including candles and soap. Meanwhile, materials like cooking oil, metal, and electronic waste are responsibly recycled off-site by third parties. This comprehensive approach underscores the resort's commitment to minimising its environmental footprint while maximising resource efficiency.
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About Six Senses Zighy Bay
Six Senses Zighy Bay, located on Oman’s northern Musandam Peninsula, is the first Six Senses resort in the GCC, and remains committed to the environment, sustainability, and the community. Inspired by the indigenous Omani culture and its surroundings, the resort has 82 Omani style pool villas built of natural stone and timber, including a newly refurbished three-bedroom beachfront Retreat and four-bedroom beachfront Reserve, which all offer a sense of privacy and seclusion, each with its own infinity-edge pool and own Guest Experience Manager.
With a wide range of restaurants and destination dining experiences, fresh produce from the resort’s own Organic Farm and Organic Garden is used throughout. From a hilltop restaurant 293 meters above the azure waters of the bay, to an intimate wine cellar, regional cuisine in a Bedouin-style setting on the beach, the resort’s chefs work with local farmers and fishermen to curate seasonal menus that cherish local flavours and ingredients.
Many activities and excursions are available on land and in water, in addition to the Six Senses Spa, which has an extensive number of wellness packages and treatments led by the Wellness Director and visiting practitioners, the Dhahab, offering one- or two-night voyages at sea, and the Earth Lab, which clearly communicates the resort’s consumption data and supports with glass, soap and shampoo making.
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