Lucart Group excels as an eco-sustainable business

Green Key partner Lucart Group presents its new Sustainability Report and proves its commitment to managing an eco-sustainable business Lucart Group rail transport doubled in two years, with over 7,500 tonnes less CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. 

Over the course of two years, rail transport has doubled, whereas the photovoltaic and business sectors focus on circular economy. The 2014 Sustainability Report by the Lucart Group, published for the tenth year, thus confirms the Group's commitment to managing an eco-sustainable business.

"For over 60 years, Lucart has focused on developing a sustainable business project throughout the supply chain, starting from raw material procurement up to finished product distribution, adopting a circular production model that limits the use of non-renewable resources as much as possible while maximising the efficiency of recycling." This is how Massimo Pasquini, Managing Director of Lucart Group, explains how, since its foundation, Lucart has strived to make the relationship between the company, people and the environment more well-balanced: every day, the company focuses on organising its production and logistics systems while ensuring protection for workers and the environment.

Here are some key steps included in the Sustainability Report, which is fully available for reference on the website www.lucartgroup.com:

- Rail transport: from 2012 to 2014, Lucart has almost doubled (from 385 to 657) the number of wagons used for transporting its goods, with a considerable reduction in traffic and in the emission of pollutants, which are typical of road transport, approximately equal to 292 tonnes less CO2 emitted into the atmosphere.

- In 2014, the use of alternative renewable energy sources prevented the emission of more than 1,200 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. Specifically, the two photovoltaic plants built in the area of Capannori (2011) and at the facility in Avigliano (active since 2013), have prevented the emission of 914 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.

- By increasing the amount of water recycled during the production process and by reducing the amounts required for the production process, in 2014, Lucart reduced by 9.6% (compared to 2013) the water consumption per tonne of paper produced.

- The cogeneration plants fuelled with methane gas in the facilities located in Porcari and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, which fully cover the energy demand and generate a surplus that is fed into the network, together with other measures aimed at reducing the use of methane gas and steam, have prevented the emission of 6,300 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.

All the above-mentioned measures, together with other initiatives, have prevented the emission into the atmosphere of over 7,500 tonnes of CO2.

In order to show the circular economy system adopted, the Sustainability Report also highlights the Fiberpack® project, which has prevented the emission of 28,715 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere and avoided cutting down 164,175 trees.

Fiberpack® is the innovative treatment process developed in 2011 by Lucart Group in collaboration with Tetra Pak®, which accurately separates the cellulose fibres from other materials, using clean technology with zero waste that ensures 100% recycling of beverage carton components. This technology has allowed 995 million beverage cartons (1 litre) to be recycled in one year, preventing the disposal of more than 68,356 cubic metres.

First Green Key hotel on The Palm in Dubai

On 21 September Fairmont The Palm was awarded with their first Green Key certification during an official ceremony at the hotel. On the occasion, Mr. Mark Sawkins, General Manager, received from EmiratesGBC the plaque informing guests of the hotel’s environmental performance and initiatives to reduce its ecological footprint.

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: ‘Green Key is a prestigious citation that underlines the sustainable energy, water and waste management commitment of hotels, serviced apartments and other accommodation facilities. The hospitality industry plays a key role in the UAE and it is important that the sector recognises their responsibility towards sustainability.’

'Fairmont The Palm has placed strong efforts towards sustainable operations and green awareness activities amongst staff and guests, so it is with great pleasure that we have awarded it Green Key certification, making it the first hotel of the FRHI Hotels and Resorts Group in UAE and also the first hotel on The Palm Jumeirah to be Green Key certified.' Marie-Helene Westholm-Knebel, Green Key National Operator United Arab Emirates.

World Vegetarian Day at Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti Helsinki in Finland

On 1 October 2015, Green Key awarded Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti celebrates World Vegetarian Day. Their Hotel Restaurant Sevilla offers a delicious lunch following the theme of the day and thus consisting of vegetarian dishes only. 

The restaurant is busy every lunchtime attracting customers from both the hotel and the surrounding neighbourhood. On World Vegetarian Day all customers will join the theme day celebration and enjoy a mouth watering lunch menu with seasonal vegetables. The menu includes dishes like cold smoked tofu, chipotle-sweet potato soup and picadillo sin carne with roasted eggplants. For a salad you can choose for example Manchego cheese or tofu. Additionally, a 100% vegan menu is available. So no meat dishes at all.

In general the restaurant uses various seasonal products all year round as part of their Environmental Action Plan. Today the dishes will include seasonal vegetables such as cauliflower and eggplant.

The Vegetarian Day Lunch is a great example how a delicious and versatile lunch is created using vegetables only. Additionally it is healthy and good for the environment. Way to go Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti!

Cronwell Inn Stremyannaya Hotel encourages its guests to have an environmentally friendly stay

The Green Key awarded Cronwell Inn Stremyannaya Hotel has produced an environmental booklet informing its guests about the environmental initiatives of the hotel encouraging the guests to join the movement. 

Cronwell Inn Stremyannaya Hotel is located in the heart of Saint-Petersburg in Russia. It has been awarded with the Green Key since 2010. Besides working on upgrading its environmental management through e.g. energy and water saving initiatives, the hotel has set a pride in informing its guests about the work with its environmental performance.

The hotel has produced an environmental booklet produced on recycled paper with the title “Read me – Save the Planet”. The booklet is placed in all guest rooms of the hotel. Besides informing about the participation in the Green Key certification scheme, the booklet has information about energy, water, towels, food products, waste and eco-education.

Cronwell Inn Stremyannaya Hotel is part of the “Cronwell Hotels & Resorts” Group in Russia having most of its hotels awarded with the Green Key. 

Riadh Palms Hotel in Tunisia brightens gardens with recycled waste

The Riadh Palms four star hotel located in the city of Sousse, Tunisia, has been a Green key hotel for almost one year and has developed a series of creative environmental actions.

During this year, the administration of the hotel as well as the environmental management team chose to work on green spaces of the hotel with an innovative and original method.

The garden has been decorated with items made of different types of recycled waste (plastic, glass ...) collected in the hotel. The decoration and design of the waste was done in a hotel’s workshop under the supervision of the General Director. Following this action the gardens have given the hotel a new view around the pool which was very much appreciated by guests.

Radisson Blu hotels in Kyiv dedicate Responsible Business Month to helping soldiers

During the 12h Annual Responsible Business Month by Radisson Hotel Group, Radisson Blu hotel Kyiv and the Radisson Blu hotel Kyiv Podil organise a blood donation to draw special attention to the social problems in Ukraine. 

In September each year – during Responsible Business Action Month (RBAM) – Radisson Hotel Group give extra focus to community activities. This year, for the first time ever, the two Radisson Blu hotels in Kyiv used the campaign to organise a blood donation for the central military hospital. An extraordinary event that gave citizens the opportunity to contribute and help the soldiers who are protecting them.

The blood donation itself took place inside the Radisson Blu hotel Kyviv where specially equipped compartments were set up under supervision of military personell. The new CEO of Radisson Blu Hotel Kyiv - Podil, Mr. Ferran Bruffau Pla, took part as a donor among dozens of other staff and invited guests. The event was also broadcasted on television.