The experiences of San Severino Park Hotel and ETIKÉ Manifatture illustrate how small, coordinated steps can aggregate into substantial impacts, offering replicable models for other tourism companies. By embracing circular economy principles, SMEs can enhance their resilience, reduce their environmental footprint, and serve as leaders in sustainable innovation.
Nestled in the rural village of Mercato San Severino in Salerno province, the San Severino Park Hotel is a shining example of how circular economy principles can seamlessly integrate into daily operations. Through a well-crafted internal policy, the hotel has embraced a commitment to sustainability, inspiring both staff and guests to contribute to a greener future.
At the heart of its approach are initiatives designed to minimize environmental impact. Staff are encouraged to adopt sustainable practices, such as conserving energy and efficiently managing waste. In the kitchen, the focus is on zero-kilometer, seasonal menus that reduce food miles while guaranteeing freshness. Leftover food is creatively reused or repurposed, aligning with the hotel’s zero-waste philosophy. Plastic and disposable products have been entirely phased out, replaced with eco-friendly alternatives, while guest amenities feature organic cosmetics crafted from natural, sustainable ingredients. To further enhance energy efficiency, the hotel has installed photovoltaic panels, embodying its dedication to resource conservation.
By weaving environmental priorities into its operational fabric, the San Severino Park Hotel demonstrates how even small, incremental steps can collectively lead to significant sustainability achievements.
A few kilometers away, in the town of Baronissi, remarkable example of sustainable innovation can be found. ETIKÉ Manifatture, an innovative start-up in the ceramics sector, exemplifies the transformative power of circular economy principles when paired with strategic financial support. With funding from the national “Smart & Start Italia” scheme, the company developed an ingenious sustainable production line centered around a groundbreaking material: LAVIC.
This innovation repurposes leftover ceramic materials from workshops, recreating the look and functionality of natural lava stone without the need to extract volcanic resources. By doing so, ETIKÉ not only addresses environmental erosion but also slashes production costs, enabling access to a niche market with minimal competition. Their methods significantly reduce energy and material waste, making the company a beacon of sustainable manufacturing in the ceramics industry.
The experiences of San Severino Park Hotel and ETIKÉ Manifatture underline the importance of integrating diverse measures to achieve tangible environmental and economic impacts, and they highlight valuable lessons for businesses looking to transition toward sustainability:
- Step-by-Step Transition Pathways: Incremental adoption of sustainability measures, such as reducing energy and water consumption, reusing materials, and managing waste, can generate significant cumulative effects.
- Internal Sustainability Policies: Engaging both staff and leadership in sustainability initiatives fosters a culture of responsibility and innovation.
- Technological and Financial Support: Access to funding and expertise is critical for overcoming initial barriers and enabling the implementation of circular economy practices.
- Community and Local Impact: Prioritizing local supply chains and zero-kilometer products benefits not only the environment but also the local economy.
