At COMO Parrot Cay, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We are actively working to preserve the natural beauty of the Turks and Caicos through the restoration and preservation of our native land and seascapes. We carefully monitor our environmental impacts, engage with neighbouring communities, and remain committed to continuous improvement year after year.
We were awarded silver certification by EarthCheck in December 2024, celebrating not only our current achievements, but our promise to keep striving for a greener and more sustainable world long into the future.
Sustainability is a feature in all our luxurious rooms, from sustainably produced items, to our water-conscious towel and linen policy.
Upon arrival, all guests are greeted with a card on their bedside table encouraging them to reuse towels and linens during their stay.
Unless otherwise arranged, linen is changed every other day instead of daily. Guests are asked to kindly reuse towels, which are only changed at the request of guests. This eco-friendly practice reduces the water and energy requirements of maintaining our rooms.
The rooms at COMO Parrot Cay feature many items made from sustainable materials: laundry baskets are made from handwoven straw, laundry bags are sewn from recycled linen, and complimentary beach bags are created from rattan and straw.
Our furniture is made from high quality wood and repaired as necessary to reduce waste. Plastic is kept to a minimum through disposable wooden cutlery, and aluminium and glass products in our in-room refrigerators.
Our food waste composting programme transforms restaurant and canteen waste into nutrient-rich compost for our island farms. This closed-loop system reduces waste and supports our goal of providing fresh, locally-grown food to guests and staff.
As part of our commitment to the environment, we have implemented a comprehensive food waste composting programme.
In 2024, we collected over 16,500 kilograms of food waste from our two restaurants, Terrace and Lotus, as well as our staff canteen. This waste was initially processed in our state-of-the-art compost machine, producing approximately 4,000 kilograms of nutrient-rich mulch. We mix this with garden clippings and landscaping waste collected across the property to produce large compost piles. The end result has been the production of approximately 15 tons of high quality compost material.
Our self-produced, nutrient-rich compost is used at our island farms, where we grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. These fresh, organic ingredients are returned to our kitchens, ensuring that our guests and staff enjoy the freshest, most sustainable meals possible.
Our composting initiative not only reduces waste but also enhances the quality of our produce. In 2024, the farms have produced over 1,100 kg of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs worth approximately US$15,000 if sourced externally.
At COMO Parrot Cay, most of our drinks are delivered in glass bottles. To combat the resultant glass waste, all used glass is crushed and sorted by size to be repurposed, including as a construction component in our resort’s walking stones.
Glass is common on island as a more sustainable alternative to plastic. After use, glass is crushed and recycled at our Sustainability Centre. The resultant material is repurposed as an alternative to sand in our concrete slabs, reducing the amount of natural sand required. In 2024, we crushed over 5 tons of glass – eliminating the need to mine and transport the equivalent quantity of sand.
In collaboration with Island Planning Commission, the landscaping department at COMO Parrot Cay are transitioning from non-native landscaping plants to native plants to better represent the Turks and Caicos.
Through our partnership with Island Planning Corporation, we are dedicated to creating and maintaining sustainable landscapes that reflect the natural beauty of the Turks and Caicos. Our approach prioritizes indigenous plant species, gradually replacing water-intensive lawns and managing invasive species. Native plants not only honour the region’s unique ecosystem but also thrive with less water, fewer fertilisers, and minimal pest control.
To date, we have transformed 20 per cent of the hotel's landscapes, with plans to expand this initiative in 2025. Supporting this effort, we have established a native plant nursery to cultivate and nurture seedlings, ensuring a consistent supply for future projects.
We are dedicating to supporting events and organisations that uplift our local community. Our COMO Approach Team is made up of dedicated employees who plan and execute staff fundraising events, supporting a different charity every year.
In 2024, COMO Parrot Cay’s COMO Approach Team raised money for FoodForThought TCI, a charity that provides free, healthy breakfasts to hundreds of children throughout the Turks and Caicos every school day.
Through various staff fundraising events, our team raised US$3,495, with an additional US$2,000 committed from the COMO Foundation through the COMO Challenge Grant, amassing a total of US$5,495 in donations.
As a private island destination, it is necessary for us to import goods and ingredients to order to provide a high quality of service for our guests. Because of this, we ensure that we pay special attention to our shipping practices to reduce waste and support the local economy as much as possible.
Our purchasing department has shared COMO Parrot Cay’s Sustainable Purchasing Policy with all our suppliers. This policy encourages suppliers to use less packaging and provide products with recycling labelling, among other sustainability criteria. Preference is given to suppliers who most closely follow these guidelines.
COMO Parrot Cay operates from a buy-local-first standpoint. Where possible, we buy locally instead of importing, helping to both support our local economy and to provide the freshest possible ingredients for our guests.
COMO Parrot Cay has curated several activities and areas that allow our guests and staff to interact with the abundant natural wonders our island has to offer. These include nature trails, a coconut and banana plantation, and multiple mangrove kayak excursions, all of which offer an authentic way to connect with the natural beauty of the Turks and Caicos.
The island is home to over two kilometres of nature trails, guiding you through several areas of the property. The trail begins in a pristine section of tropical dry forest, home to large trees including West-Indian mahogany, shortleaf fig and Lignum vitae. From here, the trail crosses through the coconut plantation and alongside a large mangrove wetland, passing several large buttonwood trees and through century-old sable palm groves. There is often a wide variety of birdlife, including many water birds like ducks, kingfishers and herons.
We have two kayak routes that take you through mangrove waterways, teeming with life both above and below the water surface. Juvenile green turtles, nurse and lemon sharks, and large great blue herons are among some of the sightings to be had. We encourage both guests and staff to engage in these activities and to foster a deeper appreciation and respect for the natural world around us.
For more information on our sustainability initiatives, please reach out to como.approach@comohotels.com.
