The Italian-based, family-run ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges has been committed to protecting the local environment for over 200 years, since opening its first resort in the Dolomite Mountains.
While this allegiance to nature has consistently been demonstrated through low-impact architecture and considerate zero-mile and short-supply-chain food sourcing, in January 2024, the ADLER Group – now managed by the seventh generation – launched its ADLER for Planet initiative.
ADLER for Planet is a company-wide sustainability strategy that places the United Nations’ seventeen Sustainable Development Goals at the heart of the hotelier’s operations. This progressive initiative led to the successful EarthCheck accreditation, awarded to ADLER Spa Resorts and Lodges at the end of 2024.
Continuing with its impressive sustainability directive, ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges is pushing boundaries while inspiring other accommodation providers to acknowledge their environmental footprint and the opportunities for improvement that come with greater awareness. ADLER strategically strives to create healthy, liveable environments for future generations
Zero waste in hospitality: Small steps make large-scale improvements
A waste-free hotel is an excellent concept, but is it truly feasible? ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges is demonstrating that meaningful progress lies not in eliminating waste entirely, but in managing resources more consciously. Its approach focuses on prevention rather than elimination — reducing potential waste by prioritising renewable resources and viewing disposal only as a last resort. Two small steps = a giant leap towards zero waste
Refillable toiletries
While ADLER teams acknowledge the delicate balancing act between logistical efficiency and hygiene regulations, the company is making significant inroads. Its own in-house ADLER Active Cosmetic courtesy line – including shampoo, conditioner and shower gel – has converted to a refillable concept. Now available in guest rooms and spas across all its resorts, this development has significantly reduced package waste from its earlier 95% bio-based plastic single-use bottles. ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges estimates a 60% reduction in transport volume and storage needs, along with a 73.5% reduction in bottle consumption, resulting in the saving of an impressive 60,600 cosmetic bottles each year.
Guest slippers
Until last year, guests were provided with disposable slippers by default, which amounted to approximately 70,000 pairs each year. Now, slippers are available only on request, and guests receive pre-arrival communications encouraging them to bring their own slippers from home. This small step has already halved the number of distributable slippers, resulting in a CO₂ emissions saving equivalent to 13 transatlantic flights each year.
These two actions alone have helped the hotelier avoid over 4 tonnes of plastic and more than 24 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year.
Rising energy demands: The solution is self-sufficiency
There’s a paradox when it comes to energy usage. Globally, energy demand has been rising, yet at the same time, we need meaningful climate action.
Compared with the rest of Europe, Italy has been making great strides and now generates 39% of its electricity from renewable sources. The hotel industry, which is particularly energy-intensive due to its need for a constant supply of hot water, heated pools, air conditioning, and lighting, has the potential to further support these efforts, and through innovative technologies, we are now seeing greater energy reduction.
ADLER’s properties are designed from the ground up with energy efficiency in mind. Beyond maximising natural daylight through large windows and integrating green roofs for additional insulation, each resort features intelligent building automation systems that regulate temperature, humidity, and ventilation according to occupancy and weather conditions.
Advanced natural climate-control technology replaces conventional air-conditioning systems, ensuring comfort with minimal energy demand. Heat recovery systems repurpose warmth from wellness areas and pools, while high-performance insulation and natural construction materials help maintain stable indoor climates. Even operational routines – from lighting systems equipped with motion sensors to staff training in energy-conscious practices – are part of ADLER’s holistic approach to reducing consumption and emissions.
In support of the EU’s ambitious 2030 carbon reduction goals, ADLER also revisited its energy management last year. The ADLER Group has now switched all its properties to 100% renewable energy sources by partnering with Alperia, one of South Tyrol’s leading providers of renewable energy, which uses both hydropower and photovoltaics.
By preserving valuable natural resources, ADLER has lowered operating costs and made a tangible contribution to climate protection, proving that modern tourism can thrive in harmony with responsible resource management.
Energy from the sun
The ADLER Group has significantly invested in producing its own electricity from renewable sources, and now has the goal of achieving complete energy self-sufficiency:
- On-site photovoltaic systems already cover 30% of the total energy consumption of ADLER Spa Resort Thermae in Tuscany and around 25% of the electricity required at AKI Family Resort PLOSE in South Tyrol.
- In 2026, a large photovoltaic installation is set to become operational at ADLER Spa Resort Sicilia, the first resort in the group to be powered entirely by green electricity, eliminating the need for a gas supply.
Hospitality is a water-thirsty industry
Water and wellbeing go hand in hand in the hospitality industry — from swimming pools and wellness areas to the upkeep of lush gardens and outdoor spaces. The ADLER Group is fully committed to ensuring that water remains part of the continuous natural cycle. This involves a comprehensive water management system that includes collecting rainwater for irrigation, using low-flow fixtures and smart monitoring systems to reduce consumption, and reusing water wherever possible — for example, through energy-efficient pool circulation and filtration technologies.
In Tuscany and Sicily, on-site water treatment facilities further support this cycle by purifying wastewater so it can safely return to the environment.
Refillable restaurants
Until 2023, ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges sourced all its drinking water in glass bottles from suppliers, which generated external CO₂ emissions.
Now, all properties offer complimentary still and sparkling water from local, purified spring sources. For example, at ADLER Spa Resort DOLOMITI, the oldest property of the ADLER group, pure mineral water is sourced from a flowing spring at the foot of the Sassolungo Mountain. Water is filtered and bottled on site in refillable, reusable glass bottles, saving an estimated 0.08 kg CO2 per bottle.
In just one year, there’s been a 90% reduction in glass, bottles, and transport volumes, saving an estimated 41 to 43 tonnes of CO₂.