Cinnamon Lodge achieves Green Globe certification

The premier world-wide sustainability merit ‘Green Globe Certification’ was achieved by Cinnamon Lodge Habarana with a compliance of 78% of the 248 preset standards.

The five star resort located in the heart of the cultural triangle was constructed keeping the idea of ‘going green’ in mind.

The 27 acre property was an arid piece of land used for chena cultivation. Architects Ismeth Raheem and Pheroze Choksy transformed the landscape by planting over 100 trees root-balled from the Mahaveli project.

The Green Globe certification is awarded after an audit by a team of Green Globe assessors and upholds the highest standards of credibility and transparency.

The organisation follows an independent third party verification process and updates its criteria annually to ensure international compliance to the standards. Green Globe Certification supports the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC).  The GSTC is the agreed international standard for the sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. The Green Globe Standard meets and exceeds all the requirements of the GSTC.

Cinnamon Lodge Habarana implemented sustainability management systems, employee training, conserving resources with special emphasis on water consumption, energy consumption and greenhouse gas and reducing pollution through waste water and waste management.

The resort reuses and recycles over 50% of its waste and has its own composting facility, this compost is used to maintain the soon to be certified organic garden at Cinnamon Lodge.

The resort also supports its community by purchasing a large portion of the produce from the community of the farmers that are situated around the property.

Moreover 65% of the employees are also recruited from the community. Cinnamon Lodge Habarana constantly changes its processes and procedures to raise the bar and become green in its practices.

‘I will be Green’ is one of the pledges upheld by the John Keells Hotels Group, staying true to this; the largest hotels and resorts chain in Sri Lanka attempts to achieve the highest green standards and to reduce its carbon footprint.

The Green Globe Certification is a step taken in this direction that will begin a journey of conversion that emphasises on sustainable tourism.