Green Is the New Luxe: Club Med’s Journey to Sustainability
- Valerie Mayer
- May 7
- 4 min read
Imagine sipping a fresh coconut under swaying palm trees, your toes curled in sun-warmed sand—and knowing your vacation isn’t just good for you, but for the planet too. That’s the Club Med way.
For nearly 70 years, the all-inclusive Club Med has been delivering moments of joy in some of the world’s most breathtaking locations. But here’s what sets them apart: those moments are never at the expense of the people, cultures, or natural environments that make the Club Med resorts so magical. It’s all part of their “Happy to Care” program—a bold and beautiful commitment to sustainable tourism.
Let’s dive into five real-world examples of how the all-inclusive Club Med is not just talking the talk but walking the eco-walk, creating unforgettable vacation experiences with a lighter footprint and a whole lot of heart.
Club Med Finolhu Villas, Maldives – The Solar-Powered Island Paradise
Say hello to the James Bond of eco-resorts. The all-inclusive Club Med’s Finolhu Villas in the Maldives is the world’s first 100% solar-powered five-star resort, and it’s just as stylish as it is sustainable.
From the moment you step onto the island’s solar-panel-clad welcome jetty, you’ll know you’re in for something extraordinary. Designed by Yuji Yamazaki Architecture PLLC, the overwater villas curve out into the sea like vertebrae in a spine, each crowned with shingle roofs and lofty, wave-like ceilings.
But it’s not just about looks. Nearly 6,500 square meters of solar panels produce up to 1,100 kilowatts at peak load—almost double what the island needs. That extra power is stored away for rainy days. There’s also a desalination system for fresh water, an eco-friendly waste management, and native landscaping to minimize erosion.
Luxury and sustainability don’t just coexist here—they dance together under the tropical sun.
Club Med La Rosière, French Alps – Where Wild Gardens Bloom Again
High in the French Alps, the all-inclusive Club Med La Rosière has given an abandoned alpine airstrip a second life—as a vibrant, living canvas of biodiversity.
Enter Philippe Somm, a landscape designer with 25 years of passion for nature. He and his team didn’t just plant a few trees; they engineered an ecological renaissance. Nearly 180 large mature trees, 300 shrubs, 3,000 perennials, and 2,000 grasses now thrive across the resort grounds.
And it’s not random. This green wonderland includes white gardens, texture gardens, and even aromatic and medicinal herb patches (yes, the chefs snip their own mint and parsley!).
All of this sits within “green corridors” and refuge zones for local flora and fauna, encouraging guests to explore the area with garden maps and educational signs. The goal? That in ten years, no one can tell where the landscaping ends and the wild begins.
Stepping in the all-inclusive Club Med La Rosière is like stepping into a postcard drawn by Mother Nature herself.
Club Med Guilin, China – The Natural Pool That’s Making Waves
Pools are a staple of resort luxury—but what if your pool was also a miniature ecosystem? At the all-inclusive Club Med Guilin, guests can take a dip in China’s first natural swimming pool, complete with plant-based filtration systems.
Here’s how it works: the water flows through a regeneration zone filled with aquatic plants that naturally purify it—no chemicals needed. The result is a pool that’s not only better for your skin but better for the environment.
Set against the iconic karst mountains of Guilin, the pool looks like it belongs in a fairytale. And for those seeking tranquility, the adults-only Zen Pool offers lake views and quiet serenity.
It’s not just swimming—it’s floating in a living, breathing habitat.
Coral Conservation at Club Med Kani, Maldives – Reef Restoration, One Guest at a Time
At the all-inclusive Club Med Kani resort, your vacation can help save an underwater world.
In addition to a complete ban on single-use plastic products–-glass bottles are actually available in all guest rooms—the resort offers an immersive coral reef preservation program that lets guests build their own coral frames. Yep, you read that right—vacationers become reef-builders, giving marine life a fighting chance.
The process is as elegant as it is effective:
Coral fragments are collected and nurtured in underwater nurseries.
When mature, they’re transplanted onto degraded reef zones.
Trained divers monitor and maintain the coral, removing algae and checking health.
It’s not just a cool activity, it’s vital. Coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine life, and they’re under massive threat from climate change and pollution. By involving guests directly, the all-inclusive Club Med creates a deeper connection between people and planet.
Even better? The initiative has expanded to other al-inclusive Club Med resorts like Club Med Columbus in the Bahamas, showing that ocean conservation knows no borders.
Turtle Sanctuary at Club Med Cherating Beach, Malaysia – A Nesting Ground for Hope
Now, let’s take a walk on the wild side—literally. At Club Med Cherating Beach, you might just witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring events: sea turtle hatchlings racing toward the ocean under the stars.
Club Med supports a nearby turtle sanctuary, where guests can visit pools with young turtles, learn about their life cycles, and, if the timing’s right, even help monitor nesting sites on the beach.
Malaysia is a global hub for turtle conservation, and Cherating is right at the heart of the action. Six out of seven sea turtle species nest in this region. The all-inclusive Club Med helps protect these gentle, ancient mariners—some of whom have been around since the time of the dinosaurs!
Turtle hatchings typically happen at dusk or late at night, and the GO (Gentils Organisateurs | Gentle organizers) sometimes arrange moonlit searches for nesting females. No ticket required—just a bit of luck and a sense of wonder.
More Than a Vacation – A Movement
All of these stories are powered by Club Med’s “Happy to Care” initiative—a framework that goes beyond buzzwords. It includes:
Green Globe Certification for all operational Club Med resorts
BREEAM Certification for new construction
Ban on single-use plastics in all Club Med resorts
Food waste prevention and animal welfare
Environmental education for kids and adults alike
From the snowy slopes of the Alps to the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives, every all-inclusive Club Med resort is built and operated with deep respect for its surroundings and a forward-looking eco-spirit.
In a world where sustainable travel is more important than ever, Club Med is not just keeping pace—they’re setting the bar. They’re proving that luxury and responsibility can—and should—go hand in hand.
Reach out when you're ready and Happy to relax. Happy to explore. Happy to Care.
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