Cape Grace Earns Green Key Certification: Leading in Sustainability
CAPE GRACE HOTEL CAPE TOWN EARNS GREEN KEY CERTIFICATION, SETTING A SUSTAINABILITY BENCHMARK FOR OTHER HOSPITALITY ESTABLISHMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Cape Grace Achieves Green Key Certification, Leading South Africa’s Sustainability Efforts
Cape Grace, a Fairmont-managed hotel in Cape Town, has earned the prestigious Green Key certification. This achievement makes it the only hotel in South Africa to currently hold this sustainability accolade. The hotel is part of Kasada’s investment portfolio, a private equity platform focused on sustainable hospitality in Africa.
Kasada’s co-CEOs, Olivier Granet and David Damiba, emphasized the importance of this certification. They highlighted that Cape Grace sets a benchmark for sustainability in South Africa’s hospitality industry. They also pledged to further improve the hotel’s environmental performance, enhancing its reputation as a leader in sustainability.
Green Key Certification Process
Green Key certification evaluates hotels across four pillars of sustainability: management, environmental, cultural, and socio-economic impacts. Cape Grace excelled in all categories, according to Green Key’s final summary. The evaluation process is rigorous, with an independent third-party audit confirming the hotel’s sustainable practices.
The hotel’s efforts align with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These goals include areas such as energy efficiency, water management, waste reduction, and sustainability education. Green Key praised Cape Grace’s commitment to these objectives, stating the hotel is well on its way to achieving long-term sustainability.
Key Elements of Cape Grace’s Sustainability Initiatives
Water and Energy Reduction: Cape Grace has installed low-flow showerheads, dual-flush toilets, and daily leak-checking protocols. The hotel also uses a Guest Room Management system, which automatically turns off electricity in vacant rooms. These efforts have significantly reduced water consumption and energy usage.
Sustainable Education and Training: The hotel encourages guests to reduce laundry loads, conserving water and energy. Staff receive comprehensive sustainability training, covering water conservation, waste reduction, and local sourcing. They also educate guests on eco-friendly practices during their stay, creating a collaborative environment for sustainability.
Plastic Reduction and Waste Management: Cape Grace is committed to reducing single-use plastic. A full-time worker from WastePlan, a hotel partner, separates and color-codes all waste to maximize reuse. The hotel even receives rebates from WastePlan, showcasing the tangible benefits of their sustainable practices.
Cape Grace’s Green Key certification: A Model for Sustainability in Hospitality
Cape Grace’s Green Key certification serves as a model for other hotels in South Africa. By excelling in sustainable management, the hotel demonstrates that luxury and environmental responsibility can coexist. Cape Grace’s initiatives are not only beneficial for the environment but also enhance its reputation as a sustainability leader in the region.
About Kasada
Kasada is a leading independent real estate private equity platform focused on Africa’s hospitality sector. Advised by Kasada Capital Management, the platform aims to create sustainable, positive impacts on African economies and communities while delivering attractive, risk-adjusted returns for investors. Established in 2018 with support from the Qatar Investment Authority and Accor, Kasada manages over $500 million in equity through its diversified portfolio of 20 hotels across seven African countries, ranging from budget to luxury. Accor operates each hotel, leveraging its international expertise to enhance performance.
About Green Key
Green Key is a globally recognized certification for excellence in environmental responsibility and sustainable practices in the tourism industry. Accredited by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and managed in South Africa by WESSA, Green Key ensures that certified establishments consistently meet high environmental standards through rigorous documentation and frequent audits, promoting continuous improvement in sustainability.
