Shanez Wijesinghe, Vice President for Quality Assurance, Sustainability, Health & Safety, and Data Privacy at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, shares insights into how sustainability remains a cornerstone of the group’s operations, from energy efficiency and biodiversity conservation to ethical sourcing and community empowerment. She discusses the initiatives that secured their recognition at the ACCA Sustainability Awards, the frameworks used to measure and refine sustainability performance, and the ambitious goals Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has set for the future.
What sustainability initiatives or innovations led to your win at the ACCA Sustainability Awards?
Sustainability is deeply ingrained in the ethos of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, shaping our long-term commitment to responsible tourism and environmental stewardship. Our multi-faceted sustainability approach encompasses energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, biodiversity conservation, and community empowerment.
We have significantly reduced resource consumption by investing in solar energy, LED lighting, and rainwater harvesting while implementing wastewater recycling. Single-use plastics are being phased out across our properties and replaced by more sustainable alternatives. The introduction of NORDAQ, a world-renowned water filtration system, along with the adoption of glass bottles, reflects our dedication to minimizing plastic waste and enhancing operational sustainability.
Our focus on biodiversity extends to marine conservation, with the Coral Cube Adaptation project at Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon actively restoring and regenerating coral ecosystems. The Cinnamon Rainforest Restoration Project in Sri Lanka rehabilitates degraded wet-zone forest lands, reinforcing our role in climate action and ecosystem preservation.
Beyond environmental efforts, we nurture social and economic sustainability through local partnerships and ethical sourcing. We empower small-scale enterprises, support women-led businesses, and promote fair trade supply chains. Furthermore, our child protection initiatives reflect our deep commitment to safeguarding the future of our society.
Winning the ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards for three consecutive years demonstrates our commitment to integrating sustainability into our core operations that benefit the environment, our guests, and our communities.
How do you measure sustainability performance?
At Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, sustainability performance is meticulously tracked through structured ESG monitoring frameworks. These frameworks assess energy consumption, water usage, waste management, carbon emissions, and community impact, providing a data-driven approach to sustainability.
We leverage an internal online reporting system for real-time data collection across our Sri Lanka and Maldives properties. This enables proactive decision-making and continuous refinement of our sustainability strategies. To ensure compliance with best practices, we conduct quarterly sustainability assessments that evaluate key performance indicators, allowing us to identify areas for improvement and implement targeted interventions. Additionally, annual third-party verifications, such as ISO 14064 carbon footprint assessments, provide transparency and ensure adherence to international sustainability standards.
Our EarthCheck certifications further reinforce our commitment to responsible tourism by providing an external benchmarking framework to measure our progress against global industry standards.
Beyond environmental metrics, we assess social impact by tracking workforce diversity, colleague well-being, and community engagement. Our sustainability strategy is continuously refined to align with global trends based on the materiality matrix, ensuring that we meet industry standards and remain ahead of the curve in implementing effective sustainability practices.
What are your sustainability goals for the future?
By 2030, we aim to significantly reduce our energy and water footprint by integrating innovative technologies while enhancing efficiency across our operations. Eliminating single-use plastics remains a priority, and we are accelerating the transition to sustainable alternatives that align with our long-term environmental goals.
Our commitment to biodiversity conservation extends to expanding reforestation efforts, with greater investment in the Cinnamon Rainforest Restoration Project to support ecosystem regeneration and carbon offsetting. At the same time, we are deepening our focus on renewable energy by exploring solar and other clean energy solutions to improve overall efficiency.
Sustainable sourcing remains at the heart of our strategy as we continue strengthening partnerships with local farmers, artisans, and ethical suppliers to foster economic resilience within our communities. Beyond environmental impact, we are committed to fostering inclusivity and diversity within our workforce, ensuring equitable opportunities through leadership development programmes. Through responsible tourism initiatives, we aim to create more meaningful guest experiences that inspire travellers to be environmentally conscious, reinforcing sustainability as a fundamental pillar of our operations.