Sustainability

Sustainability 

Bluestone was founded with a vision of mutual benefit for employees, environment and community. Our success has been, and continues to be, dependent on the people and nature of Pembrokeshire.

We acknowledge that our operations have environmental impacts, but we also know that our business is a positive force for social change and regenerating nature.

The four pillars of our sustainability approach:

• Decarbonise – Net Zero 2040 across energy, operations and supply chain
• Regenerate Nature – at Bluestone and beyond
• Circular Economy – transform our operations towards zero waste
• Community – create value for people across Pembrokeshire

Net Zero 2040 

Bluestone is committed to reaching Net Zero by 2040. We are working hard to decarbonise our operations, purchased energy and supply chain. Our emission reductions targets and measurements are verified and aligned with the Paris Agreement, aiming to restrict warming to less than 1.5°C.

Since 2018 we have reduced our market-based Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 96%. We are 97% fossil fuel free on operational purchased energy, and we aim to eliminate this in 2025.

Our on-site Solar Park generates enough electricity to meet around one third of annual demand. The rest of our electricity is purchased entirely from verified, zero-carbon, renewable sources within the UK.

Scope 3 emissions present the largest challenge; work is well underway to engage and support our suppliers to reduce their carbon emissions. Our commitment to improve data quality has led to us part funding Life Cycle Assessments on some of our highest emitting products.

Nature Regeneration 

Today biodiversity is thriving at Bluestone, but that wasn’t always the case. The resort was built on land that had low ecological value and had been farmed intensively for dairy and forestry.

Significant and long-term work to support natural systems has been underway since opening in 2008. A survey by the Kent Wildlife Trust found that the resort is on course to regenerate a 50% net gain in biodiversity (over 30 years).

Of the 500-acre site, approximately half is built environment and parkland. The other half is the Blackpool Nature Reserve, a mosaic of habitats and interlinking wildlife corridors maintained to support biodiversity recovery.

60 acres of broadleaf native woodland have been planted, diversifying areas which were previously monoculture. An additional 40 acres have been planted in areas surrounding our lodges.

Three meadows comprising 10 acres are maintained as habitats for priority species. These now support a wide range of butterflies, beetles, bees, and other pollinators, along with many seed and invertebrate-eating birds and small mammals

Two artificial ponds have been created. In addition, water outflows from the resort are monitored and tested to safeguard local waterways.

Heathland areas comprising 3½ acres are held as habitat for amphibians and reptiles.

Circular Economy  

Bluestone is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our operation. We are doing this by reducing material consumption, increasing reuse and building circular economy initiatives with our community partners.

• Since 2022, Bluestone’s annual waste to landfill has been less than 1% of total waste volume
• Since 2017, waste per guest has been reduced by 16%
• First business in the world to recycle nappies, and the first to use the recovered material as an additive for asphalt during construction. ~500,000 nappies equalling 72 tonnes of sanitary waste diverted for recycling annually.
• Kitchen and plated food waste was reduced by 40% in 2024.
• Sofas and other items which are due for replacement but still have life left in them are distributed to local community organisations.
• We worked with our linen suppliers to reduce 70,000 plastic bags each year
• Building water fountains and stopping the sale of bottled water eliminated 50,000 plastic bottles each year.

Community 

Benefit for Pembrokeshire communities was part of the founding vision for Bluestone. Today, this is delivered across several streams and programmes.

Supporting the Local and Regional Economy

• Bluestone employs 905 people (521 Full Time Equivalent) of whom 97% live within 30 miles.
• Employees own a 30% share of the business. We believe Bluestone to be the second-largest employee-owned business in Wales.
• Bluestone is locally owned and operated.
• Local and Regional Economy support. Bluestone spends approximately £5 million per year in the local economy (£10M+ in Wales).

The Bluestone Foundation

• The Bluestone Foundation redistributes profit directly to local community groups through two dedicated funds.
• Community Access: The Bluestone Community Event opens the Blue Lagoon swimming pool to the public for six events each year.
• Community Partners: Bluestone provides ongoing support to a select group of organisations through advice, resources, collaboration and funding.

Supporting Local Causes

• Blackpool Mill Restoration: A Grade II* listed building was saved from dereliction. It has been restored and reopened as a restaurant.
• Support for a shared use cycle path in Canaston Wood. Bluestone provided funding towards a public, multiuser path in the local area.
• Armed Forces Covenant Signatories and Bronze award, 5 members of senior management team are veterans (from all 4 services). We also offer the Armed Forces Discount alongside the Blue Light discount.

Supporting Education

• Each year around 20 schools and local groups visit Bluestone for a 'behind the scenes' sustainability-related walk and talk.
• The Bluestone Academy works in close collaboration with Pembrokeshire college to administer an apprenticeship scheme. 74 people have achieved vocational qualifications (level 2 –7). 41 people are currently studying.

The Living Lab Research Hub

Bluestone is frequently sought out for collaboration with academia, government and third sector bodies looking to further the body of evidence on sustainable development. At any one time several projects are in progress, we refer to this as the “Living Lab”.

Current projects include:

• Switch: A PHD research project, with Cardiff and Swansea Universities. Using Bluestone’s energy infrastructure as a model for mapping efficiency in energy management using AI and digital twinning.
• Solar Field Biodiversity: using the solar field (5 hectares) as a research site for Swansea University’s School of Biodiversity.
• Air quality: Working with Swansea University and Health and Wellbeing 360. Bluestone is a research partner and case study for air quality modelling.
• Circular Revolution: Bluestone were a case study partner as part of a research project lead by Exeter and Swansea Universities, exploring the development of a sale of service model for white goods.
• Circular Economy Innovation Community (CEIC): A partnership between Cardiff Met and Swansea University. Bluestone is a partner of CEIC and was a case study for their learning programme