Six Senses Con Dao

Six Senses has set ambitious goals to mitigate climate change through its "Zero Waste" initiative, aiming to eliminate waste sent to landfills and incinerators, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

At Six Senses Con Dao, circularity practices are implemented to manage waste sustainably. Organic waste is composted in the organic garden, while used glass is crushed and upcycled into terrazzo tiles for villas and public areas. Old bed linens are transformed into small bags for housekeeping operations and hand towels for staff. Fabric offcuts are repurposed into beautiful tote bags sold to guests in the boutique, and used cooking oils are converted into handmade soaps. Additionally, the resort is committed to a "Plastic Free" operation, eliminating single-use plastics to combat climate change by reducing fossil fuel-based plastic usage.

In 2023, Six Senses sourced 81% of its food from Vietnam, and in 2024, new guidelines were issued for a sustainable purchasing program. These guidelines require sourcing 80% of food products within 160 kilometres, with the remaining 20% being sustainably certified products. This initiative aims to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation by sourcing as locally as possible.

To further reduce carbon emissions, Six Senses Con Dao has introduced an electric Audi vehicle and is in the process of contracting for 600 kWh of solar panels to generate renewable energy on-site from Q1 2025. Once installed, these solar panels will provide more than half of the resort's energy needs.

In addition to waste management and renewable energy initiatives, Six Senses Con Dao has implemented a grey water recycling system through a Sewage Treatment Plant, using treated water for irrigation in the organic garden. The resort also uses a solar hot water system to reduce the energy required for heating water.

In 2023, Six Senses Con Dao harvested 4,858 kilograms of fresh vegetables from its organic gardens

Six Senses Con Dao has made significant strides in promoting water efficiency and conservation. 

They have installed water-efficient nozzles on all taps at the back of the house. Additionally, grey water is recycled using a Sewage Treatment Plant, and the treated water is used for irrigation in their organic garden. 

To ensure water quality, they conduct daily on-site checkups of drinking water and monthly checkups at a third-party laboratory in Ho Chi Minh City. 

They also maintain a small lake that functions as a water reservoir, with collected rainwater utilized for garden irrigation. All grey water is treated by the Sewage Treatment Plant before being discharged.

Their commitment extends beyond their immediate operations to include various community initiatives. 

One such initiative is the provision of water filter machines to local schools in Con Dao. The Crystal Water Plant, launched in 2010, is an ongoing project aimed at eliminating single-use plastic bottles by providing reusable water bottles and their own drinking water. This initiative successfully eliminated 71,744 single-use plastic bottles in 2023. 

Another key project, the Water For All initiative, resumed in 2024 and focuses on donating water filter machines to local schools. By the end of 2024, all 7 schools in Con Dao will have received these donations increasing access to clean water for 2,822 individuals. To date, their efforts have provided 600 community members with access to clean drinking water.

Since 2018, Six Senses Con Dao has partnered with Con Dao National Park to run an Endangered Green Sea Turtles Conservation Program. 

This project includes the restoration of their beach to optimize egg-laying conditions for green turtles and reduce hatchling mortality rates. This project features a safe incubation enclosure to protect eggs from threats like poaching. 

This initiative has seen remarkable success, achieving a 90% hatching rate over the past three years and releasing 7,511 turtles in 2023 alone. Before Con Dao National Park started the conservation program more than three decades ago, the hatching rate in Con Dao was only 28%. Increasing the hatching rate to 90% has had a significantly positive impact, considering the natural survival rate of baby turtles is just 1 in 1,000. In 2023, mother turtles laid a total of 655 eggs on the resort's beach, a testament to the improved, turtle-friendly environment the resort has cultivated.

Guests are invited to participate in ethical hatchling releases, and occasionally, they may witness a mother sea turtle laying her eggs on the resort premises. Guests are educated on how the resort minimizes noise and light pollution at night to create a turtle-friendly environment.

Furthermore, Six Senses Con Dao conducts training programs on sea turtle conservation for staff and the local community. They aim to involve more marine scientists in research projects to ensure the future protection and conservation of turtles around Con Dao.

The resort's commitment to marine conservation is further demonstrated through ongoing beach and community cleanups, which began in 2010. Since the opening of Six Senses Con Dao, a total of 34,412 kilograms of waste has been collected. 

In alignment with their conservation efforts, Six Senses Con Dao adheres to a strict policy on seafood sourcing, and prioritizing local sources in Con Dao. The resort also enforces a no single-use plastic policy and prohibits outside food and drinks, which are typically packaged in plastic.