Dedicated to Making a Lasting Difference

Monday 8th of March 2021

The well-established trend of purposeful travel encompasses the need to make a lasting difference in everything one relates to so that we sustain life as we know it today. Patina Maldives, Fari Islands as a brand reflects a global commitment to the pursuit of perpetuality. Advancing along these lines with a hands-on, data-led approach from addressing waste in its supply chain and boosting the health of its guests, neighbours and local environment to ensuring energy-positive operations - including becoming the first resort in the Maldives with 100 percent solar-powered kids’ club, recreation and dive centres – Patina Maldives will focus on positively impacting people and place.

Patina for Perpetuality

By empowering lasting change, Patina Hotels & Resorts believes that perpetuity can affect the way one accepts perpetuity, beginning from nurturing sustainable values in tomorrow’s travellers. Embodying this future-thinking approach, Patina Maldives’ pioneering kids centre, Footprints, is a place of discovery and inspiration, engaging programming and exceptional facilities – all powered entirely by Swimsol, a company specializing in marine offshore solar panels and also the leading solar panel provider in the Maldives.

Shark spotters and budding marine biologists can sign up for free diving lessons, while free PADI dive certifications are also offered for local Maldivian children - helping to raise next-generation awareness of the local ocean environment.

At the Fab Lab in Footprints, kids can turn recycled ocean plastic into models using 3D printing and laser cutting technology - echoing the energy saving prefabrication techniques used in the modular construction of the resort’s villas; while in its culinary studio, hungry young minds can discover the benefits of local, organic sourcing and enjoy the best of sustainable plant-based cuisine.

Marine plastic has very evidently become a silent killer for the environment and everyone dependent on the ecosystem. Patina Maldives, Fari Islands has set ambitious goals to tackle marine plastic pollution and implement a comprehensive coral propagation project, helping establish the Fari Islands as a new standard-bearer for marine conservation in the Maldives. In addition to these longerterm projects, Halevai Founder and longtime Parley for the Oceans crew member, Frank Heidinger, is collaborating with Fari Islands to bring a disruptive creativity to the environmental awareness of guest programming within the archipelago.

Not stopping there, the resort has also formed a strategic alliance with the Olive Ridley Project, a charitable organisation that provides rehabilitation to injured turtles from the Indian Ocean. Sea turtles are vulnerable to ghost nets and have a habit of consuming plastic waste, mistaking it for sustenance and leading to general ill-health and malnutrition. In addition to a donation effort earlier in the year, guests will also be encouraged to adopt a turtle during their stay at Patina Maldives, and dive deeper into understanding the threats to these peaceful ocean dwellers.

By creating a healthy, balanced, economic system, Patina Maldives believes that they can seed opportunities and empower change. 1% of their gross operating profits will be used to fund a range of charitable initiatives, focusing on supporting Maldivian women and children, and those local communities most heavily impacted by global climate change.

Purveyors of Conscious Cuisine

Advocating the benefits of a plant-based diet, the resort has rolled out the culinary concept of nose-to-tail, root-toleaf principle, not only minimising waste. Roots, the signature dining experience at Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, is the manifestation of the latter. It is a conscious and conscientious lifestyle and plant-based concept, created responsibly for curious foodies seeking nutritional food and drink without compromising flavour and quality, all in an environment that is ethically produced.

Fresh produce will be supplied to the kitchen straight from the on-island organic permaculture garden, reducing greenhouse gas emissions during the supply chain process; guests are encouraged to explore and forage the variety of vegetables and herbs available within the garden at their leisure. All off-island ingredients will be sustainability sourced and accredited by EarthCheck or the International Pole and Line Foundation, with local provenance a clear priority.

All drinking water on the island will also be produced and bottled inhouse with on-island water bottling plant, Nordaq. In addition, every cocktail and spirit served at Patina Maldives, including the Fari Beach Club, will eliminate 30 grams of carbon emissions in comparison to drinks crafted at beverage outlets with conventional labels. This is thanks to the world’s first low carbon, low waste spirits distribution technology –ecoSPIRITS, which nearly eradicates packaging and glass waste from the spirits supply chain.

Regenerative, Renewable, Reusable

By 2030, the resort plans to expand its Swimsol solar plant to provide 50 percent of the resort’s energy needs as part of their commitment towards reliance on renewable energy. The resort’s energy-positive ethos is further demonstrated by participation in global carbon sequester programmed that neutralize its carbon output. Future plans include investing in long-term Blue carbon partnerships and a solar-powered transportation fleet.

During construction of the Fari Islands, energy consumption was reduced by an estimated 12 percent through sustainable practices such as the use of prefabricated materials, which significantly reduced waste and carbon emissions versus conventional construction methods. Locally sourced, biodegradable and reusable materials were used wherever possible; all timber is FSC-certified and sourced from 100 percent transparent supply chains. All 1,600 workers were provided with reusable water bottles to ensure no plastic bottles were used on site from the outset.

Marco den Ouden, General Manager, Patina Maldives, Fari Islands comments on the resort being well aware of the global challenges that are affecting the worldwide carbon footprint. The archipelago at Fari Islands provides us with a scalable opportunity to positively impact our construction, supply chain, operational standards, marine biosphere, and most importantly, community, directly. This has been the driving intent and the main inspiration for Perpetuality, the brand’s ethos. It will continue to help the team identify targeted and innovative collaborations in the near- and long-term future.   

Photos: Patina Maldives, Fari Islands on social media