Sustainability

Caring for our guests goes hand in hand with our commitment to caring for the environment. Our company-wide focus on sustainability impacts everything we do, beach clean-up days to our environmentally preferred operating and purchasing policies. Montage Hotels & Resorts continues to win awards, with Montage Beverly Hills earning Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's New Construction rating system. At Montage Laguna Beach, we fully understand that our beautiful, oceanfront location is a rare privilege that deserves vigilant care and respect.

Sustainable Achievements and Programs

Education

Communication channels that help coordinate and maximize our efforts in sustainability.

An Environmental Impact Committee that develops and monitors "green" internal programs
Director of Sustainability responsible for creating, integrating and managing all aspects of sustainability company wide
A company culture that promotes sustainable practices
Ongoing participation in the Adopt-A-Beach program
Staff meeting updates about sustainable goals and initiatives

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Management practices and technologies that minimize our impact to the environment while exceeding the expectations of our guests.

Comprehensive Waste Management Policy - Addresses proper disposal and recycling of materials and limits the amount of waste sent to the landfill. This policy addresses products such as recyclable materials, e-waste, light bulbs, batteries, grease and paint. Currently we have established a pilot wet-waste (food) recycling, partnering with Waste Management.
Paper Reduction Program - This program has resulted in a reduction of 14 cases (140,000 sheets) on average, per month.
- All in-house computers are defaulted to print double-sided
- Regularly scheduled reports are e-mailed out and printed only when necessary.
- Paperless, on-line access to Human Resources information, benefits, 401K and associate surveys. All applicants to Montage apply online.
Energy Reduction Program
- Conversion of employee-area and select public-area lighting from incandescent to fluorescent and other more efficient light sources.
- Specification of Energy Star appliances during renovation.
- Establishment of a monthly utility tool to measure costs and benchmark energy reduction over set time periods.

Upgraded select energy consuming equipment on property resulting in over a 100,000 kWh reduction in annual modeled electricity.
Bottled Water Reduction - We have installed a Natura water filtration system that utilizes reverse osmosis and ultra violet light to produce a high quality level of water. This system saves approximately 20,000 bottles of water per year, as well as the energy expended in shipment to our property.
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing (EPP) Plan - This procurement policy gives preferential treatment to products and services that meet benchmark environmental standards. One example is our choice of biodegradable plastic cups.

Environmentally Sensitive Landscaping

100% use of reclaimed water for landscape purposes
Integrated organic fertilizer and landscape program which limits the amounts and kinds of pesticides used on site and gives preferential treatment to organic fertilizers.
Native and adaptive landscape palette, which allows for a reduction in the amount of irrigation necessary.

Stormwater Runoff Filtration - All water runoff from Montage Laguna Beach is diverted to a filtration system before making contact with sewers.

Social Responsibility and Resource Protection - Montage associates commit to protecting the surrounding environment and local community.

Quarterly Beach Clean-Up events. Up to 90 Montage associates clean the beaches of Aliso Creek Beach, Victoria Beach, Goff Island and the coastal area in front of Montage.
Tide pool docent / guest education program
Partnerships with Ocean Institute, Boys & Girls Club, SchoolPower
An Environmental Impact Committee focused on establishing more sustainable operations in the day-to-day activities of Montage Laguna Beach.
No Styrofoam is used on the property substitute materials are either recyclable or biodegradable.

Comprehensive Rideshare Program - This program rewards associates who carpool or find alternative methods of transportation to the resort with monthly raffles, discounted bus vouchers and preferential parking spots.

Awards

World Savers Award, Condé Nast Traveler, 2008
GIFFTS, Award for Community Service, 2007
Grand Award from Planet News' Environmental Improvement Awards Program, 2007
ULI (Urban land Institute) Award for Excellence, The Americas, 2006