Wanaka Springs Lodge is proud to have achieved Qualmark New Zealand's Enviro Silver accreditation having undertaken their Responsible Tourism assessment process.

Tourism New Zealand and the New Zealand Government have recognised the benefits and importance of positioning New Zealand's tourism businesses as being environmentally sustainable, and have set these benefits out in the Tourism Strategy 2015.

For Wanaka Springs Lodge to have achieved this accreditation and become a highly sustainable accommodation business, we have had to examine a number of business and personal practices. We identified measures to reduce water use and have also made significant energy reductions, resulting in a 9.9% decrease in energy usage per room per night - and all with no reduction to the experience enjoyed by guests.

Amongst other eco initiatives, we have a recycling and separation centre (which guests are encouraged to use), a Bokashi composting system for kitchen waste, purchase low-packaging products, have dual flush toilets in all ensuites, operate a virtually chemical free cleaning system, use biodegradable soap powders in the laundry, and have re-assessed the spa pool insulation.

Wanaka Springs Lodge offers regional wines for our evening drinks, New Zealand produced foods for breakfast, and as much as possible of our fresh produce is purchased through local suppliers.

We also contribute a NZ$1.00 donation for every booking we receive to a local initiative - Te Kokano Aotearoa Trust (The Seed). This trust was established in 2007 with the specific goal of developing a nursery of New Zealand native trees for community regeneration and reforestation projects. It's initial goal is to have 5000 native seedlings grown by the end of 2008 for planting around the local waterways - so far they have almost 10,000!

While these are small steps, sustainability issues are something the entire tourism industry needs to be mindful of. We have discussed environmental issues with many of our guests. The concerns they express regarding climate change, environmental sustainability and New Zealand's pristine environment, has encouraged us to pursue more than the minimum requirements of the Qualmark licence obligations.

Wanaka Springs Lodge's mission statement is:
To operate a luxury bed and breakfast lodge within tranquil natural surroundings, in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.

Applying for, and achieving this Enviro Silver accreditation, is a logical extension of the work we undertook in 2007 as participants of Lake Wanaka Tourism's sustainable tourism project. We are naturally motivated to care for our environment and to operate a sustainable Bed and Breakfast accommodation business, that treasures the stunning natural environment we live in at Lake Wanaka. To further this we will be striving to achieve the highest level of accreditation - Enviro Gold, when we undertake our next assessment during 2010.