Innovation

The products the company produces will make their business more sustainable, by reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the sea, triggering terrible events for marine and terrestrial life, and contributing to ensure life on land.

The bio-collection, made by 100% recyclable packaging, offers ecological amenities thanks to the advantages of oxo-biodegradable plastics. Packaging made with this technology has the capability to degrade thanks to the d2w additive. “Bio” refers to products that have not been treated with chemicals or pesticides, but have been manufactured naturally. In the case of these amenities, they are biodegradable and completely environmentally friendly products. What makes these amenities special is the fact that they maintain the same properties as conventional plastics until they are degraded. They are promoting mainly four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; and life on land. These products will make their business more sustainable, by reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the sea, triggering terrible events for marine and terrestrial life, and contributing to ensure life on land.

Nonetheless, it should be mentioned other actions that are currently going on, to protect the environment as much as possible. Plus Fariones continues to set an example of good practices to create environmental awareness among the island’s population, its workers and its guests. An important part in their policy of company is energy efficiency. Currently, they have reformed the machinery room in both the hotels, and have installed geothermal efficiency. Lanzarote has a very peculiar characteristic: the groundwater temperature is at 20 degrees Celsius. This characteristic allows them to take advantage of the geothermal energy, making some catchment wells by passing all that water through the air conditioned installation, providing cold air. In turn, the heat is used to heat hot water in all its uses. It is an innovative system with which they want to create a social and environmental impact. This desire of achieving energy efficiency, ensures the access of affordable, sustainable and modern energy (SDG 7), build a sustainable industrialization while fostering innovation (SDG 9), and make cities more sustainable (SDG 11). Besides, it tries to combat climate change and its impact on the society and the environment, appealing to SDG 13, and protect ecosystems in a sustainable manner (SDG 15).

Inspiration

The inspiration for creating the products comes from various reasons. The hotels are located in the island of Lanzarote, a declared Biosphere Reserve since 1993. Taking this into account, there is a strong commitment from many local businesses and inhabitants to maintain the landscape of the island. “Every day, our intention is to improve the environment of our island, or at least, we try to avoid harming it with our business”, stated Nélida Rosa, Manager Partner of Plus Fariones. Another reason that thrives Fariones to care for their environment is to ensure its sustainability through the years. As Nélida Rosa said, “we must point out that Lanzarote has a limited space. Therefore, among all of us who live on the island, we have the obligation to care about it and make it habitable for a long time”, ensuring the sustainable development goal defined as the promotion of sustainable cities and communities.

Overall impact

Since the launching of these products in 2018, Fariones has been able to reach thousands of visitants that stayed at the hotel for their vacation. This allowed the hotel and the environment to obtain a big benefit from it.

The fact that these products are 100% ecologic has to be taken into account, which clearly has enormous benefits for the environment, protecting and defending it. Furthermore, these are not only ecologic, but also biodegradable, facilitating its decomposition and reducing the impact on the environment once the product has been used. The creation of these products comes as an example of contributing to responsible consumption and production.

Business benefit

An important share of the total clients comes from Central European countries that are very sensitive to sustainable projects. They are aware of the hotel's contribution to the environment, which has clearly added value to the company. Plus Fariones has also received several Quality Certificates and Ecological Seals. Thus, both the clients and Fariones are very satisfied with the results, “our clients have congratulated us, through letters, through posts in social networks or even directly to our team. Our clients realize and admire the actions and commitments of our company and that gives them a sense of tranquility, adding value to the hotel”, ensured Nélida.

Social and environmental benefit

The social and environmental benefits from this initiative are clear. The fact that many locals and businesses from the island make efforts when maintaining and conserving their environment clearly benefits their landscape and ensures its sustainability. Every effort they make has the intention of making it a social benefit for all, and Nélida stated how important this is: “it is important to have a social commitment if one has a medium-long term business vision”.

Plus Fariones also collaborates with social actions that take place in the island; as Nélida said, “we want to improve the quality of the island. Therefore, we rely on NGOs, since we also care about the social part, and the environment of our workers and citizens. We collaborate with the Red Cross, with NGOs, the city council and we also give our support to athletes”.

Plus Fariones understands the necessity of urgent action that exists to combat climate change and reduce its effects, and is making efforts to promote it. It is clear that when an improvement wants to be made, actions such as the ones Plus Fariones is constantly developing are both a necessity and an essential requisite for change.

Interview

Nelida Rosa Martin, Manager Partner