Our Impact – Sustainability Projects

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND PROTECTING THE PLANET

Various sustainability initiatives are rolled out at each Mantis property. This includes Accor Sustainable Development Programme, Positive Hospitality Guide with quantified goals to achieve.

Growing our own veggies and herbs

Project name: Kitchen gardens project
Property involvement: Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, Kivu Marina Bay Hotel, EPIC Hotel & Suites, Soanambo Hotel & Spa, Founders Lodge and No 5 Boutique Art Hotel by Mantis
Strategic Partner: Ziyoleseni Farming
Location: South Africa and Rwanda

Challenge:

Sustainability in all its forms has become essential to maintain an ecological balance. The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere (our carbon footprint) is increased substantially during the transportation of food to venues, including hotels.

Solution:

Several Mantis properties have on-site kitchen gardens where organic, fresh vegetables and herbs are grown. This is one of the ways in which we honour our commitment to sustainability. Choosing a Mantis hotel where the food on the menu is grown on site, not only ensures that you are eating organic, seasonal produce but also that the carbon footprint of your meal transport is zero.

Impact:

Mantis No5 Boutique Art Hotel, South Africa: An unused parking space was repurposed into a vegetable and herb garden, providing the Hotel with organic produce while saving money and reducing the carbon footprint.

Founders Lodge, South Africa: Thobela Nontshinga, formerly employed at Mantis Founders Lodge, realised her passion was for cultivating plants. She started her own vegetable farm in neighbouring Paterson, the township in which she lives. Thobela now consults to the Lodge and supplies seedlings for the organic vegetable garden. The garden not only supplies the kitchen with fresh produce but has created employment opportunities.

Mantis Akagera Game Lodge and Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel, Rwanda: Both have organic kitchen gardens to supply their restaurants with delicious ‘farm to table’ produce.

Mantis EPIC Hotel and Suites, Rwanda: Has plans in place to initiate a community market garden, which aims to encourage local farmers to provide certain produce, especially salad ingredients and herbs, to the hotel. In addition, the hotel has assisted the local school with cultivating vegetables on the school grounds.

Sewing a sustainable future

Project name: Kylemore Sewing Project
Property involvement: The Mantis Collection supporting properties
Strategic Partner: Baby Cuddles
Location: South Africa (Kylemore, Western Cape)

Challenge:

Women in Kylemore are struggling to survive in this poverty-stricken community with little or no employment opportunities.

Solution:

Generating a demand for sustainable bespoke products, creating employment opportunities for six women at Baby Cuddles, who design and sew various wildlife mascots that are sold at Mantis properties.

Impact:

Job and financial security for this small group of women and their dependents who were previously unable to even afford a daily meal. The project also highlights Africa’s endangered species through the creation of these soft toy mascots that consist of a ‘gang’ of rhinos, elephants, gorillas, turtles and bongos. They are ambassadors for the wildlife in our country. Profits from the sale of these mascots are channelled into our impact projects.

Planting a sustainable future

Project name: Tree planting
Property involvement: Founders Lodge & EPIC Hotel
Strategic Partner: Local Government/CCFA
Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa, Rwanda

Challenge:

There aren’t enough trees in the world to offset society’s carbon emissions – and there never will be. It is absolutely imperative for us to plant trees to ensure that our planet survives.

The importance of trees cannot be underestimated. They help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink and provide natural habitats for over 80% of the world’s animal and plant life. Trees also contribute to our environment by conserving water, controlling erosion and fighting climate change, they replenish the oxygen we need and absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.

Forests provide jobs for over 1.6 billion people and supply important ingredients in a quarter of all medicines manufactured.

The planting of trees remains a priority for our planet.

Solution:

An important aspect of planting trees is rewilding areas with species that originate from the area. Indigenous trees are perfectly adapted to their environment, living in harmony with other species. They don’t use too much water, aren’t invasive, are good for soil ecology and contribute towards building and restoring relationships organisms and their environment.

Indigenous trees also play an essential role in the environment for both animals and plants by attracting pollinators which encourage wildlife species to inhabit the area.

Impact:

Founders Lodge in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, is planting an endemic arboretum. Guests are invited to plant their own trees in this mini forest of indigenous trees including the protected White Milkwood.

Guests’ tree-planting donations support our foundation, the CCFA (Community Conservation Fund Africa) towards projects aimed at preserving wildlife and wilderness through meaningful community partnerships.