- Turismo de Portugal-awarded seal recognises the resort’s commitment to sustainability
- New Vale do Lobo ESG Report reveals key achievements, from 20% water consumption reduction to 37% drop in fossil fuel use
- Future sustainability focus will see The Residences Vale do Lobo built to BREEAM standards
The Portuguese Tourism Board – Turismo de Portugal – has awarded its coveted “ESG Engaged” seal of approval to the Algarve’s iconic Vale do Lobo resort. Awarded in December 2025, the seal recognises Vale do Lobo’s significant commitment to monitoring and reducing its environmental impact.
The ESG Engaged seal highlights companies’ commitment to integrating environmental, social, and governance measures across their operations. It is part of the Tourism Companies 360° Program (PET 360°), which assesses businesses through ESG questionnaires, reports on emissions, biodiversity and climate risks, and the Organizational and Sustainability Reporting Tool for Tourism (FOREST). To gain recognition, companies must disclose their ESG policies, practices and initiatives across the environmental, social and governance pillars via the FOREST platform and showcase both engagement and transparent reporting.
Spread over 450 hectares of stunning natural landscape, including a 2 km stretch of pristine beachfront, Vale do Lobo has long treasured its local environment. Now, its work to preserve that environment has been formally recognised for the first time.
The achievement of the ESG Engaged seal aligns with the publication of the 2024-5 Vale do Lobo ESG Report. The robust report examines Vale do Lobo’s performance across a range of areas, from environmental considerations to community initiatives, working with a recognised and reputable global sustainability and environmental reporting framework. Since 2023, under the management of Kronos Homes, Vale do Lobo achieved a 20% reduction in water consumption by its two 18-hole golf courses (in 2024) and a 37% reduction in fossil fuel consumption across the resort.
Alda Filipe, Partner at Kronos Homes and Vale do Lobo Board member, comments: “We are incredibly proud to have been awarded the ESG Engaged seal. This recognition validates our consistent work in the area of sustainability. We are focused on preserving Vale do Lobo’s unique identity, ensuring responsible development aligned with the current and future expectations of the community, residents, and the local natural environment.”
Environmental initiatives at Vale do Lobo are wide-ranging, encompassing optimizing water usage, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, enhancing energy efficiency and improving waste management practices. A key element of this has been the work of Infralobo, which manages operational services, maintenance, cleaning and more at the resort. Its smart waste system, which includes the transformation of organic waste into green electricity or natural organic compost, achieved a remarkable milestone in 2023, with over 99% of waste successfully diverted from landfill. Infralobo’s smart irrigation system has also delivered significant gains, with registered savings of 36% in irrigation water between January and August 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. That represents a saving of 65,000m3 of water saved across Vale do Lobo’s landscaped public spaces.
Other areas of focus have included the electrification of landscaping equipment and Vale do Lobo’s vehicle fleet to reduce fossil fuel consumption. The resort is also turning increasingly to solar power for centralised service buildings, such as its renovated Resort Control, which houses housekeeping services, an on-site laundry facility and an IT data centre, as well as providing charging for electric vehicles.
In relation to the social pillar of its ESG work, Vale do Lobo has delivered a wide range of community initiatives and fundraisers. Charity golf tournaments, fun runs and cycle rides have all proven popular ways for the community to come together to raise funds, as have Vale do Lobo’s spring and Christmas markets. The resort also contributes annually to a university scholarship, emphasising its support for future generations.
Vale do Lobo is passionate about its people and their role in making the resort such a special place to live, work and enjoy leisure time. Its diverse team includes employees of all ages with Vale do Lobo investing 3,810 hours of training for its team, equating to an average of over 15 hours of training per individual – an increase of 265% compared to 2023.
On the real estate front, Vale do Lobo is committed to working within internationally recognised BREEAM guidelines for new projects, adopting sustainable management practices in the design, construction, commissioning, handover and aftercare of its properties. The Residences Vale do Lobo, the first new homes to be built by the resort in 20 years, is a prime example of this, showcasing whole life value, responsible construction practices and responsible material sourcing.
