{"id":59497,"date":"2025-01-31T11:08:13","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T11:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/?p=59497"},"modified":"2025-06-24T22:28:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T21:28:52","slug":"soneva-making-waves-experientialist-awards-trophies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/soneva-making-waves-experientialist-awards-trophies\/","title":{"rendered":"Soneva:
Making waves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We are honoured to welcome back Soneva \u2013 the revered pioneers of sustainably-driven, barefoot luxury resorts and yachts in the Maldives and Thailand \u2013 as our award sponsors and makers of our iconic trophies for the 2025 edition of the Experientialist\u00ae Awards<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As part of its three-decade commitment to the ‘SLOW LIFE’ philosophy, offering a holistic approach to luxury tourism where environmental sustainability, social responsibility and personal well-being come together, Soneva Fushi<\/a><\/strong>, the iconic luxury castaway retreat in the Maldives, unveiled a ground-breaking initiative in 2023: a fully carbon-neutral island studio where waste is reimagined as art, functional items and even building materials. This innovative project represents a bold step in addressing environmental challenges while championing creativity and community engagement, not to mention engaging travellers and hospitality workers alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soneva Fushi\u2019s Makers\u2019 Place aims to tackle two of the most pressing waste issues, plastic pollution and discarded aluminium, by transforming them into new creations with lasting purpose. In its first three days of operation alone, the studio processed a staggering 15,000 aluminium cans, diverting waste from the fragile ecosystem of the Baa Atoll and giving it a second life. Central to this effort is a highly efficient system that captures harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon emissions during the recycling process, ensuring only clean air leaves the facility. Even the exhaust filters are eventually transformed into waterproof concrete blocks, further underscoring the closed-loop ethos of the initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspired by this visionary endeavour, we asked them to craft our inaugural Experientialist\u00ae Awards trophies that same year \u2013 transforming discarded aluminium cans found floating in the sea on neighbouring islands and atolls \u2013 into an OutThere symbol of excellence and purpose in tourism. A year on, we are delighted to continue this meaningful collaboration with Soneva again designing and producing the trophies. We think of this partnership not just as a celebration, but as a shared commitment to creativity, sustainability and the power of transformative travel. It’s a fusion of artistic ingenuity, environmental stewardship, and cutting-edge technology… everything we love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Soneva Fushi’s Makers’ Place is producing OutThere’s Experientialist\u00ae Awards trophies again in 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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At its heart, Makers\u2019 Place is about more than just recycling \u2013 it\u2019s a hub for collaboration, creativity and education. Developed by British artist Alexander James Hamilton and his team, the facility is equipped with custom-made machinery tailored to its island setting. It invites both professional artists and resort guests to explore their creativity while learning about the importance of sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The studio is also deeply integrated into Soneva\u2019s broader environmental efforts. The Soneva Namoona initiative works in partnership with neighbouring islands to eliminate ocean plastics, improve waste management and promote sustainable practices across the Maldives. Makers\u2019 Place complements Soneva\u2019s existing sustainability framework, which includes organic gardens irrigated with greywater, composting systems and the pioneering Waste-to-Wealth Centres found at each resort. Since the brand\u2019s conception in 1995, Soneva has been trailblazing in sustainability, banning single-use plastics across all resorts, ensuring that bioplastics have all the conditions they need to decompose in their Eco Centro waste centres, and launching The Soneva Foundation, which supports a range of environmental and social projects that have improved the lives of over 400,000 people.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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