Sun International has received a Net Zero Waste rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa – the first of its kind in the country.

The rating comes as a result of the group’s recycling efforts at its Wild Coast Sun property – with certification through a year-long verification process – for sending zero waste to landfill, a process that the property had already put in place by the end of 2016.

The efforts play a role in helping to protect the Wild Coast environment, which offers tourists a variety of attractions and activities, from beautiful beaches to deep-sea fishing and scuba diving.

To be considered for the award, Wild Coast Sun had to submit regular audits on its operational waste and material management plan, and be effective in the long-term education workshops and seminars used to create awareness among staff.

The project sustains two permanent enterprise development projects – Gayo Enterprises, which collects and separates food waste, cartridges, paper, cardboard and batteries; and Vuka Uzenzele Trading, which produces compost from food waste and garden cuttings, and plants and manages the new organic vegetable gardens.

Vegetables grown organically in the gardens are used in the resort’s restaurant and hotel, bringing the freshest produce to guests’ plates, and supporting sustainable travel.

Sonja Stroud, Safety, Health and Environmental Officer at Wild Coast Sun, said: “Our approach to sustainability is holistic. It is based on the need to protect our natural environment and to save our natural resources, so eliminating the waste we send to landfill is a natural progression of this strategy. To achieve our zero waste goal we had to scrutinise every element of our operation at the Wild Coast. The first step was to get rid of skips and compactors and to sort the waste on site. Now, recycling and repurposing waste lessens our environmental footprint and also assists people living in the communities we do business in through donations of physical products, excess food from our gardens and the creation of new business and employment opportunities.”