All Five Sun Siyam Maldives Resorts Achieve Green Globe Certification

All five Sun Siyam resorts in the Maldives have achieved Green Globe Certification, bringing the hospitality group’s entire Maldives portfolio under the independently audited sustainability standard.

The certification covers Siyam World, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Sun Siyam Olhuveli, Sun Siyam Iru Veli and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.

Green Globe assesses hotels and resorts against 44 core criteria supported by more than 400 compliance indicators. These cover sustainable management, social and economic responsibility, cultural heritage and environmental protection. Certification is renewed annually, requiring properties to demonstrate continued improvement.

Sun Siyam’s sustainability work is organised through Sun Siyam Cares, a group-wide programme addressing energy and water consumption, plastic and food waste, biodiversity protection, local employment, community participation and the preservation of Maldivian culture.

At Siyam World, the programme includes what the company describes as the Maldives’ first resort-based Plastic Upcycling Center of its scale. Developed with CLEAN Maldives, the facility converts discarded materials, including used containers and plastic drums, into products such as outdoor furniture and planters.

Marine conservation projects across the resorts are led by dedicated marine biologists and include coral restoration and reef protection. Guests can participate through coral planting and adoption initiatives.

Siyam World has also introduced Wreck to Reef, a long-term conservation project centred on a 66.36-metre former Maldivian tuna freighter resting beneath the waters of Noonu Atoll. The project aims to develop the wreck into a living reef through natural coral growth and restoration work, while allowing guests to plant coral fragments on the structure.

Renewable energy investments include large-scale hybrid solar systems at Siyam World and Sun Siyam Olhuveli. The installations combine solar generation, battery storage and real-time energy monitoring.

According to Sun Siyam, the systems have a combined capacity of 4,110 kWh and are expected to generate more than six million kWh of clean energy annually. The company estimates that this will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 4,458 tonnes each year while lowering reliance on diesel-generated power.

Other measures include in-house water bottling, the removal of single-use plastics, waste segregation, composting and the PLEDGE food-waste prevention programme. The group is also investing in local employment, apprenticeships and training opportunities while working with island communities and women’s development committees to support income generation and local supply chains.

“Achieving Green Globe Certification across all five of our Maldives resorts is something we are incredibly proud of, but for us this is not the finish line. Sustainability has to be part of how we operate every day, from the energy we use and the waste we produce to how we protect our reefs, support our communities and create opportunities for the next generation of Maldivians. This recognition belongs to our teams across the islands, whose commitment has made this milestone possible,” said Chaminda Upul Kumara, Group Sustainability Manager at Sun Siyam.

Guests may also make a voluntary contribution of USD 10 per villa, per stay through Sun Siyam Cares. The funds support sustainability projects across the portfolio, alongside guest participation in coral restoration, tree planting and other conservation activities.