Six Senses places the environment high on the operations agenda and has established a Social and Environment Conscience Department to manage these issues at the operational stage. The policy comprises four intervention programmes
Holistic Environmental Management Programme (HEMP) is a programme focusing on the improvement of our environmental management at the property levels. The principle of HEMP is to reassure that our operation is environmentally friendly and has lowered, as much as possible, negative impacts to the environment. The number of initiatives will be practically implemented through various tools such as policy and procedures, best practices, capacity development, etc. HEMP focuses its practices with the aim to achieve the environmental standard awarded by the GREEN GLOBE 21. In this regard, key sustainability indicators have been developed to measure and ensure environmental performance at each property.
There are four focal modus operandi points that HEMP focuses its works at the property level.
Environmental Benchmark System
Six Senses Benchmarking has developed a standard system in which environmental performance can be measured or judged through the key performance indicators. It is a quantitative process that can help to compare an organisation’s current performance against both industry and competitor standards, and to determine what needs to be improved. Six Senses Environmental Benchmark System is developed in accordance with the criteria set up by GREEN GLOBE 21 on the following environmental key performance areas.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Energy efficiency, conservation and management
Management of freshwater resources
Ecosystem conservation and management
Management of social and cultural issues
Land use planning and management
Air quality protection and noise control
Waste water management
Waste minimization, reuse and recycling
Eco Best Practices
Based on the Guide for Sustainable Tourism, Best Practices is seen as a guide in managing all resources, in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs may be met, while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support systems.
Making a reality of sustainable development entails adopting “Best Practices”, namely, corrective or improved measures implemented in every area of business management and operation. These actions are aimed at ensuring that the least possible impact is caused; that quality and image are improved; that business; development becomes more efficient; and therefore, social and economic development does as well.
Six Senses Eco and Sustainability Eco Best Practices focus the practices in three different aspects:
Environment
Socio-culture
Economic
Key Sustainability Indicators (KSIs)
Six Senses has initiated and developed Key Sustainability Indicators (KSIs) - as a part of Hit Parade - to measure social and environmental performance of the resort operations. Key Sustainability Indicators has been developed, as a part of an integrated Hit Parade database, in line with the framework provided by GREEN GLOBE 21 Company Standard for Travel and Tourism.
Following the GREEN LOBE 21 key performance areas, KSIs is the database on social and environmental indicators necessarily to achieve environmental sustainability, which is a prerequisite for GREEN GLOBE 21 Benchmarking and Certification.
There are six categories of environmental concerns representing as KSI being used in the Key Sustainability Indicators as follows:
KSI 1: Green House Gas Emissions and Energy Efficiency,
Conservation and Management
KSI 2: Waste Management
KSI 3: Water Management
KSI 4: Cleaning Chemicals
KSI 5: Land Use Planning
KSI 6: Resource Conservation
Eco Pilot Initiatives
The Eco Pilot Initiatives project defines as an individual self-initiated project with the objective to improve the environment at resort level. With the experimental effort in various initiatives for particular purposes, there are currently a number of efforts at different properties to test the eco initiatives.
The Eco Pilot Initiative project is initiated and developed by particular host and being responsible by individuals who initiate the project. Once the project is accomplished, it is expected that the result and lessons can be replicated to other properties as a part of Best Practices.
Following is the list of the existing Eco Pilot Projects;
XCO2 Project
Wetland and Botanical Waste Water Treatment System
Dragonfly Habitat Ecosystem
Eco Suite Project
Six Senses Earth Spa Project
Social and Environmental Responsibility Fund (SERF)
As a part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Six Senses has established a "Social & Environmental Responsibility Fund" in which all resorts contribute approximately 0.5 % of total revenues to social and environmental efforts in varying levels. The contribution will principally used for social and environmental activities projects as well as initiatives in ways of sustainable development. With many respects to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations, Six Senses S&E Fund has developed the programme to ensure environmental sustainability as well as develop a global partnership for development. Funds will be utilized in three different levels.
Local Level : Typically 60% of the contribution is spent at local level as we believe that the community is a key to sustainable achievement – 5% reserved as contingency. Together with a local employment policy the community is assisted through a variety of development activities, which in addition to the environment, promotes local initiatives that encourage culture and social preservation.
National Level : 25%,SERF also sets aside a substantial budget to support organizations, institutions, NGOs and other civic groups to develop good practices from the lessons learned at local levels.
Global Level : 15%,There are a number of borderless international issues - both environmental and social - to which we contribute as our responsibility. These include climate change and global warming, protected areas and conservation, and environmental education.
Local Community Engagement
Six Senses typically commits to provide approximately 60% of SERF contribution to be spent for the efforts at the local level. Six Senses believes that local community is a key role to the achievement of sustainable development. Wherever possible, we support the local community not only through our local employment policy but also we strive to assist the local community through a variety of development activities with the attempt to protect local environment, and promote the local initiative that encourages culture and social preservation.
Soneva Fushi by Six Senses Spa
Soneva Gili by Six Senses Spa
Six Senses Hideaway Samui
Six Senses Hideaway Hua Hin
Six Senses Hideaway Ninh Van Bay
Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa
Evason Hua Hin & Six Senses Spa
Evason Ana Mandara & Six Senses Spa at Nha Trang
Evason Ana Mandara Villas & Six Senses Spa at Dalat
National Concerns
Despite our commitment to the development at local level, Six Senses also places high concern on the initiatives and efforts made at the country level. We believe in good practices and lessons learned, which play a significant part of sustainable environment. With this reason, our SERF programme also set aside a substantial budget to support organizations, institutions, NGOs, and other civic groups to develop the innovative good practice as well as replicate lesson learned at national levels.
Scope of Work
SERF provides support on grant basis to projects initiated by like-minded organisations which have an innovative and creative approach to environmental improvement at national levels. Initiative and innovation in the environmental field, with the purpose to promote awareness, as well as capacity development to general publics - such as environmental education, natural resource management, coastal management, wildlife conservation, energy conservation, waste management etc. are among Six Senses' concern at country level. SERF is currently applied to the projects in Thailand, Vietnam, and Maldives.
Size of the Grant
Grants under national SERF are available for the support of an individual project to the maximum of 20,000 US$ per year and can be applied up to three years. Support is considered through application or proposal for either core support or project-specific support. Purchasing of land, capital construction, profit-making businesses, debt reduction, endowment campaigns, fundraising drives/events, or scholarships, tuition assistance or other forms of personal or financial aid are not eligible.
Eligibility
Not-for-Profit organisations are eligible to apply for SERF national grants, such as national and international NGOs, Non-Profit Organisation, International Organisation, Community Organisation and Association, University, Academic and Research Institute, Public Organisation and Association, Charity Organisation and Civil Society.
How to Apply
Application form (94 KB). Completed application form together with project proposal can be submitted to the following address.
Social and Environment Conscience
Six Senses Resorts & Spas
19/F Two Pacific Place
142 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2631 9743 Fax: +66 (0) 2631 9799
Email: environment@sixsenses.com
Lists of National Concerns Projects
Teacher Plus Foundation, Community Library Support Project
International Support Group Foundation (ISGF), Support of HIV Orphans
SERF Global Initiative supports activities at the international level with significant local or regional initiatives offering the potential to leverage broader national or global impact. Priority is given to initiatives that help to improve the socio-economic and environmental issues at global level. Pre-requisition is made to activities that are relevant to most developing countries affecting the majority of the global communities, posing impediments to efforts towards attaining growth with equity and sustainable development, contribution to poverty eradication and inequity.
For more information, please contact
Social and Environment Conscience
Six Senses Resorts & Spas
19/F Two Pacific Place
142 Sukhumvit Road
Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2631 9743 Fax: +66 (0) 2631 9799
Email: environment@sixsenses.com
Environmental Awareness and Capacity Development Programme
As a part of the Six Senses social and environmental efforts, we also encourages our hosts to improve their ability in dealing with the environment through training under Capacity Development component as well as coach our hosts in an Environmental Awareness activity. This is the key elements in which our hosts are required to embrace the environmental standard.
It is our great belief that environmental awareness and ownership by our hosts is essential to exceed the environmental benchmark. We also focus on environmental awareness support from others, including our guests and the community, with various events such as World Environment Day.
We also welcome and encourage guests to play their role in contributing to a better environment.
Corporate Partnership Programme
This programme is initiated and developed for the purpose of extending our works with like-minded organizations such as government, university, not-for-profit organizations, NGOs and the private sector. Several projects that are currently in development or operation with different partners including:
Supporting Rajvithi Football Team (1.86 MB)
