July the 13th, 2023 – In an era in which the words “sustainable” and “responsible” keep on cropping up in business, it’s refreshing to know that for some companies, they aren’t mere buzzwords. An impressive 78% of Valamar food and drinks come from local sources.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the very well known domestic hotel company Valamar Riviera invested an enormous 13 million euros in the destinations where it operates in 2022. The primary aim of this massive investment was to place a firm focus on education, investments in tourist infrastructure such as walkways, bike paths, playgrounds and beaches, as well as various cultural and sports events, the company reported.
Solar power and reduced greenhouse gas emissions
It isn’t just Valamar food and drinks being sourced responsibly. Photovoltaic power plants installed in Valamar’s hotels and resorts produced 6% of the company’s total electricity needs, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 67% since 2015, and by continuing to invest in decarbonisation, this company intends to achieve carbon neutrality in the first and second scope by 2025.
Recycling, compost and tree planting
Last year within Valamar, 47% of accumulated waste was separated and sorted for reuse/recycling, while an additional 80 tonnes of biowaste was composted. On top of that thousands of new trees were planted, and a significantly high proportion of local food and beverages, as much as 78 percent of it, was retained through deepened cooperation with numerous local suppliers and OPGs (family farms).
Wage harmonisation with EU standards
Valamar has also initiated the process of harmonising the wages it pays out in tourism according to EU standards. It has launched various programmes to encourage a better balance between private and work life, with quality accommodation and meals supplied for seasonal workers. At the same time, they point out that in 2022, Croatian workers made up 87% of the total number of employees, for whom they are constantly improving working conditions.
