Saint Andrews Castle in Gramado launches its first Carbon Neutral program, an unprecedented project that addresses the fight against climate change, a topic of urgency and global notoriety. The development is the only Relais & Châteaux in Brazil, a group that brings together the best hotels in the world, to have this project. As a result of the initiative, Castle Saint Andrews now has complete ESG Management, based on the ISO international excellence model, which will allow the enterprise to permanently monitor ESG indicators and expand the generation of positive impact in the surrounding area.
The project aims to neutralize carbon emissions generated by Castelo's operations in Gramado, investing in sustainable practices such as reforestation projects in the region and climate environmental awareness for strategic audiences. This investment is aligned with the venture's mission to enhance wealth generation, implementing ESG in its end-to-end management, up to and including the environmental conservation and awareness stage.
It took around 10 months of development, and since the beginning of 2023 a group of specialists worked on the development of the 1st Saint Andrews Carbon Inventory, with the definition and monitoring of all greenhouse gas emission indicators, evaluating processes and logistics adopted in the operation of the castle. Based on this study, a broad impact mitigation plan was developed, adapting operational processes until complete carbon neutralization, which will result in the granting of the Prima Climate Conscientization Seal, on the opening night of the Gramado Tourism Festival (Festuris), in November 10th.
The program was built with the support of consultancies and technicians renewed in environmental issues, such as GESCAP – Management and High Performance Training and OSCIP Prima Mata Atlântica e Sustentabilidade, with the endorsement of GBV – Grupo Brasil Verde, IFEC – Instituto Interamericano de Fomento to Education, Culture and Science, Coalition Brazil – Climate, Forests and Agriculture, ACA – Alliance for Climate Action and REBIA – Brazilian Environmental Information Network.
The Carbon Neutral program involves the implementation of actions, some already completed and others to be implemented in the coming months:
- Local reforestation: planting of more than 200 native tree seedlings in the Castle garden, providing the development with a new natural attraction, which will allow the construction of a forest for the use of guests, with a privileged view of one of the natural heritage sites close to the hotel, the Belvedere of Vale do Quilombo. This initiative now allows carbon emissions to be offset.
- Climate environmental education: training for the project's team of employees for ESG management, as well as engagement with the local community so that students and surrounding residents can also participate in educational initiatives on environmental conservation from the new forest.
- Energy efficiency: implementation of technologies and practices to reduce the consumption of renewable energy in the Castle’s facilities.
- Sustainable partnerships: collaborate with local and regional organizations to inspire the adoption of ESG practices by other stakeholders in the region's service production chain.
Guilherme Paulus, owner of Saint Andrews, highlights that the Carbon Neutral program demonstrates the long-term and continuous commitment to environmental sustainability and the preservation of the local ecosystem: “I invite the private sector, businesspeople and other organizers of Serra Gaúcha, to join us. up to us, to build a greener and more sustainable future for everyone, for current and future generations. I want Saint Andrews to be remembered not only for its historical beauty and excellence in hospitality and luxury, but also for its commitment to sustainability in Brazil's most promising region.”
Saint Andrews' policy is to guarantee exclusivity, sophistication and refinement combined in a development with architecture inspired by Scottish castles, the quality of its experiences and customer satisfaction. And now, the Castle raises its model of excellence, being one of the first hotels in Rio Grande do Sul to plant a flag in this pioneering spirit.
Launch Event – On November 10th, the opening of Festuris, Saint Andrews will hold an event to celebrate this historic milestone, with the planting of the first seedling that symbolizes the beginning of its ESG management, duly certified with the granting of the Seal Prima Climatic Consciousness, awarded by international organizations, by OCRE – Association for the Valorization of the Environment, Culture, Heritage and Leisure, from Portugal, and by the Latin American movement SIMAAS – Municipal Integration System South America Area, awarded only to initiatives dedicated to revaluing the sociocultural identity of natural heritage in the Southern Cone territory, especially Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Bolivia.