Eco Sustainability and circular economy

By an energy point of view, the current design will allow to have all the air conditioning system in all the structures fed by solar panels. On top, the on-grid solar panel design will allow already a 65%+ coverage with renewable energy solutions like photovoltaic solar panels on the roofs and high efficiency solar thermal solutions for the water heating. Ycona has the ambition to become the first carbon neutral eco-resort in East Africa in the next decade. 

Ycona branded solar air conditioning systems and solar thermal were directly designed by the Ycona engineers and this unique quality service can be requested for design and implementation in other hotels. 

All of the beach front villas and tropical lake villas partially use renewable energy solutions, a first great step towards carbon neutrality. On top, energy efficient electric bulbs and solar lamps will be installed along the various pathways. Not only that. Further expansions towards carbon neutrality and a full renewable energy eco-resort are under evaluation for implementation in future phases of expansion, in a dedicated area. With such approach, Ycona is committed to ESG goals 7 (clean energy), 9 (energy efficiency) and 11 (sustainable communities).

Ycona is strongly committed towards local content valorisation and development and has selected goals 4 (education) and 5 (gender discrimination) to start with. This will be achieved with the Ycona ESG fund activities, that will enable to build the “Ycona Training Center” where the new generation of Ycona employees of the next decade will be formed and developed. They will not only excel in the Hospitality sector, but also understand the importance of a sustainable mindset. 

The support to the nearby Marumbi local schools will be the first step awaiting the construction and set-up of the training center. Fighting diversity and gender discriminations will be achieved with a balanced workforce that promotes meritocracy and treats all genders and all diversities in the same manner. 

On top, Ycona will meet ESG goal 8 (decent work and economic growth) supporting its best employees with special social support packages.

Ycona wishes to reach carbon neutrality in the next decade, by reducing to zero the CO2 emissions via several initiatives. Already utilising a large amount of renewable energy sources from inception, will strongly contribute to the environment. 

On top, a cooperation with selected suppliers who utilise recycled material and recycled plastic, was decided from day one of the design, to minimise its footprint on the environment. Another aspect is that Ycona, over a large area of 60000sqm that could have hosted 300 hotel rooms, decided to respect to the maximum level the local nature and vegetation and only 40 villas have been built minimising the footprint and environmental impact (ESG goals 12,13,15). 

The amount of trees and plants planted in the resort and generated by our botanic garden is enormous and has been a large portion of the Ycona investment. The privacy of all our 40 independent villas is granted by a luxuriant tropical vegetation that strongly contributes to the CO2 sequestration targets. 

Ycona strongly supports biological healthy foods and farm-to-table initiatives. We love to offer our Guests local, biological foods. We start with our Ycona Botanic Garden where the Guests can see directly the vegetables and fruits that they will find in their meals, all handled by local gardeners. 

Ycona will not use pesticides but will promote only biological products. Moreover, the spices in your dishes will come directly from the perfumed Ycona Spice Garden. 

The poultry, ducks and eggs will come directly from our Ycona Farm, that our Guests will have the possibility to visit. This, along with the promotion of healthy menus and a conscious responsible eating by maximising the use of seasonal fruits and veggies, will be compliant with the ESG goal 3. We will also have “healthy corners” in some of our restaurants to allow our clients to cherry pick directly their preferences before they are cooked or prepared. 

On top we will respect ESG goals 15 by preserving the local ecosystem at our bests and the ESG 14 by respecting one of the wonders of our planet, the ocean with all its sources and values. 

Mama Africa, ideally located in the Ycona Botanic Garden and circular area, will promote farm-to-table food and will amaze your palates.