The Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental has been crowned a global leader in environmental sustainability, securing the top spot in the prestigious Green Destination Award for Environment and Climate.
The recognition was presented during the Green Destinations Top 100 Story Awards at ITB Berlin 2025 on the evening of March 4, solidifying NVR’s position as a champion of eco-conscious tourism.
The city of Bago also landed third in the same category, highlighting the region’s commitment to sustainability.
Against the backdrop of the majestic Mt. Marapara, the Nature’s Village Resort has transcended its reputation as a scenic retreat, becoming a beacon of sustainable hospitality. The resort’s triumph is rooted in its pioneering “Pollution to Solution” program, launched in 2009 to combat the growing environmental challenges of rapid urbanization.
Central to its success is its rigorous 5Rs strategy: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Repurpose. This philosophy is brought to life through a series of impactful initiatives:
- Eco-Brick Program: Diverting over 5,376 kilograms of single-use plastic annually, transforming waste into durable garden beds and reducing plastic pollution.
- Vermiculture: Utilizing food waste to create nutrient-rich compost, enriching the resort’s organic garden and closing the loop on waste.
- Waste Reduction: Diverting 1,000 bins of food waste to local pig farmers, effectively reducing carbon emissions by an impressive 104,000 kilograms.
- Sewage Treatment Plant (STP): Purifying wastewater for irrigation, conserving 480,000 liters of freshwater monthly and minimizing water scarcity.
- Plastic Reduction: Replacing single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives, achieving a 57% reduction in plastic consumption.
- Solar Energy: Implementing solar panels, leading to significant energy savings and a 7-ton annual reduction in carbon emissions.
- Repurposing: Collaborating with local artists to create unique, eco-friendly decor, promoting circular economy principles.
- Community Engagement: Prioritizing local hiring and partnerships, fostering community-driven sustainability and collaboration with city initiatives.
These initiatives have yielded significant economic, social, and environmental dividends. Economically, it has realized substantial financial savings through reduced operational costs in energy and waste management. Socially, the resort has become a regional sustainability leader, inspiring other businesses and empowering its employees as environmental stewards. Environmentally, the resort has achieved remarkable reductions in waste, pollution, and carbon emissions, setting a benchmark for responsible tourism.
“We have proven that sustainable practices in hotel operations are not only good for the environment but also help to reduce operational costs thereby increasing revenues,” stated a representative from Nature’s Village Resort.
Its dedication to sustainability has been recognized through numerous accolades, including being selected as a case study by the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Development, Inc. and the United Nations Environment Programme. Further recognition includes the Gold Seal of Environmental Governance from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, the Healthy Eating Place Hall of Fame Award from the City of Talisay, and the ASEAN Green Hotel Award.
