ShanghaiJune 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On World Environment Day, as people ponder how to protect the planet while enjoying life, Club Med, the global pioneer of premium all-inclusive vacations under Fosun Tourism Group, has long integrated this question into its daily practices. With “Happy to Care” as one of its five strategic pillars, Club Med embeds sustainability into the operations and management of its global resorts through three core initiatives: “Operating and building greener resorts,” “Providing guests with more eco-conscious accommodation experiences,” and “Generating a positive social impact.”
From participating in the reconstruction of Morocco after the 1960 earthquake to Club Med La Rosière, France becoming the first resort in the Alps to achieve BREEAM “Outstanding” certification in 2024, the “Happy to Care” strategy ensures that environmental protection is reflected in every detail of a vacation. When guests refill their own water bottles, savor vegetables grown by local farmers, and listen to cheerful G.Os share stories about protecting trees, these details not only make the vacation more meaningful but also turn “sustainability” into a “joyful action” everyone can take part in.
01. Green Actions Ahead of Their Time
In 1950, founder Gérard Blitz pitched a tent on a beach in Mallorca and established a non-profit association, giving birth to Club Med. The brand has always pursued a vacation experience of “living in harmony with others and nature.” Its non-profit origins at the time quietly laid the foundation for Club Med’s sustainability DNA. Looking back to 1965, Agadir, Morocco, had just struggled for five years from the ruins of a devastating earthquake. While most companies remained on the sidelines, Club Med chose to build its first permanent resort there at that very moment, creating jobs and bringing hope to the wounded city. In 1978, Club Med installed what was then Europe’s largest solar panel field in Martinique, pioneering the use of renewable energy to power vacations long before most people even knew the term “photovoltaic.” In 1979, the Club Med Foundation was established, becoming one of the earliest corporate foundations in France. From post-disaster reconstruction to children’s education, from biodiversity protection to supporting local communities, this sense of responsibility has never wavered.
For over seventy years, Club Med’s pursuit of a sustainable future has never stopped. This commitment is like a growing “Tree of Happiness,” with roots in “post-war reconstruction,” branches of “renewable energy,” and fruits of “community integration,” each annual ring etched with responsibility towards nature and people.
02. Three Initiatives Building a Full-Chain Ecosystem of “Sustainable Happiness”
Operating and building greener resorts – The “physical foundation” for carbon-neutral vacations
As the载体 of the vacation experience, green buildings are the first cornerstone of Club Med’s sustainable development. Over the past six years, 72% of newly built or renovated resorts have obtained BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ecological building certification. In 2024, 89% of resorts achieved Green Globe certification, covering over ten sustainability indicators including energy use, waste management, and water conservation.
Regarding the “net-zero” goal, Club Med has set a clear timeline: compared to 2023, building carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by 50% by 2030 and by 80% by 2050. To achieve this, Club Med adopts a “low footprint, high greenery” principle in architectural design – the building footprint averages less than 10% of the total site area, with over 90% of the resort area dedicated to natural greenery and landscaped zones, protecting local biodiversity while providing guests with an “immersive natural experience.”
In China, five Club Med resorts have all received Green Globe certification. Among them, Club Med Lijiang Resort meets part of its energy needs through solar panels, reduces landfill waste through waste sorting and recycling, and supports Naxi farmers through local sourcing. These initiatives not only protect the ecology of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain but also allow guests to feel the warmth of “sustainability” during their stay.
Providing eco-friendly vacation experiences – The “code for sustainable happiness”
In 2018, Club Med launched the “Bye Bye Plastic” initiative, comprehensively replacing single-use plastic items in bars, restaurants, and guest rooms with biodegradable materials. By 2024, plastic bottle usage across global resorts had decreased by 35% compared to 2019. On the dining front, smart weighing systems have been gradually deployed since 2017. At Club Med Bali Resort, for example, kitchen food waste has been reduced by 56% – equivalent to saving over 68,000 meals. The brand is steadily progressing towards its 2030 target of reducing food waste by 30% compared to 2024. In terms of local sourcing, in 2024, fresh products (fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, and dairy) sourced from the resort’s host country accounted for over 60%, not only reducing carbon emissions from long-distance transportation but also boosting the local agricultural economy. At Lijiang Resort, locally sourced specialty agricultural products allow guests to taste the “freshest local flavors” from their plates.
Creating a positive social impact – Happiness beyond the vacation
Behind sustainability are stories about people: farmers working in the fields, smiling employees, cheerful G.Os from around the world, and every guest arriving with anticipation.
Since 2008, Club Med has partnered with the NGO Agrisud to launch the “Green Farmers” project, training local smallholder farmers to grow seasonal fruits and vegetables ecologically, which are then delivered directly to resort tables. In 2024, the project covered over 650 farmers, supplying nearly 230 tons of fresh produce annually, with a target of 400 tons per year by 2026.
As of 2023, nearly 73% of Club Med’s positions were held by local employees, making the resorts centers for local employment and skills training. The global G.O team comprises nearly 110 nationalities, with 90% of resort teams consisting of eight or more nationalities, fostering cross-cultural integration. In 2024, 2,000 G.Os participated in fundraising and solidarity actions through the Club Med Foundation. Adding a touch of warmth, Club Med integrates “nature education” into the vacation experience: Green G.Os explain local ecosystems, and children’s nature activities allow kids to learn about protecting nature through play. In 2024, over 3,000 children participated in various nature-themed activities, and nearly 1,000 received free vacation opportunities – the brand is passing on “happiness” and “responsibility” to the next generation.
03. When Green Actions Blend into Every Vacation Moment
At Club Med, sustainability is not just a commitment the brand consistently upholds but also quietly integrates into every relaxing moment for guests. At Club Med Kani, Maldives, guest room drinking water has been upgraded to glass bottles, reducing approximately 1,000 straws daily. One guest recalled: “There were no plastic water bottles in my room, just a beautiful glass bottle, and there was a water dispenser at the restaurant entrance, encouraging everyone to refill freely.” At Club Med Miches, Dominican Republic, during dinner, the chef walked up to the guests’ table and shared with a smile: “These ingredients come from our partner smallholder farmers, delivered fresh this morning from the local ecological farm.” Guests exclaimed with delight: “The fresh ingredients bring a superior local flavor to Club Med’s cuisine.”
Behind these real experiences, the G.Os, serving as guides, coaches, and playmates for guests, are also practitioners of “Happy to Care.” One G.O once said: “We hope guests will notice something different – like why we use glass bottles or why we insist on beach cleanups. When they ask proactively and say, ‘I want to do something like this back home,’ I know this green happiness has been passed on.”
04. “Forever Young” Long-Term Strategy, Ushering in a New Era of Sustainable Growth
At the end of 2023, Club Med launched the “Scale up Happy to Care” project, accelerating the implementation of the “Happy to Care” sustainability strategy across six streams, covering green operational efficiency, low-carbon resort construction, low-carbon travel, employee empowerment, customer co-creation, and ESG compliance upgrades.
More groundbreaking for the industry, starting in 2026, Club Med will become the first resort brand to integrate flight carbon footprint information into its B2C and B2B booking systems. This is a key outcome of Club Med’s partnership with the sustainable tourism coalition Travalyst and a crucial measure within the Forever Young strategy to “guide customers towards more environmentally friendly choices.”
Looking ahead, Club Med will continue to use “Happy to Care” as its strategic cornerstone, exploring the infinite possibilities of sustainable development in every resort, every guest interaction, and every detail. We aspire to be a pioneer in the industry and a long-term guardian of the planet, steadfastly driving the tourism industry towards a greener and warmer future.