How Sustainability Guides the Wickaninnish Inn’s Success

At Vivreau, a core focus of our work is partnering with organizations to help them achieve their sustainability goals. We take the time to hear their stories, understand their processes, and learn about the challenges they face and creative solutions they discover.

As part of this journey, we also gather inspiring stories and learn about their unique playbooks for success as they share their insights. We love sharing these insights and stories with you, to spark ideas for change, and solutions to drive your own organization’s success forward.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Charles McDiarmid, Owner and Maître de Maison of the Wickaninnish Inn, for an inspiring conversation about the Inn’s early beginnings and current successes. He shared stories showing the depth of care in community and environment, and the impactful work his team is doing to integrate sustainability and social responsibility into operations while also contributing to business success.

Where Natural Beauty Meets a Sustainable Vision

Both elegant and dreamy, the Wickaninnish Inn and Resort is located in Tofino, Canada, an area rich in both history and natural beauty. The resort, perched between a wild ocean and ancient rainforest, holds a deep history for Charles. The footprint of the inn was once a forest in which he played as a little boy, and his family is deeply rooted in the tight-knit Tofino community.

Built in 1996, when the idea of the hotel took shape for Charles, sustainability and social responsibility was a core part of the organization’s ethos. Even during the design and construction process, thoughtful care was taken to position the hotel on the land to minimize the number of trees cut down to reduce environmental impact.

The Wickaninnish Inn’s team was ahead of their time, committed to sustainable practices before it was popularized. This was a guiding compass on which they built their business over the past 3 decades, and demonstrated in their processes.

The SPACE

It’s all the in the details. Throughout the Wickaninnish Inn are thoughtful details embodying their social and environmental commitment.

Reclaimed wood from historic buildings crafted into furnishings and woodwork. Beautiful wooden art carvings by local indigenous artisans on display. Handmade soap from female-led local soap makers. Locally crafted clay soap dishes by Tofino ceramicists. Elegant Vivreau water tap which take local Tofino water and dispense freshly filtered still and sparking water to guests and staff.

The COMMITMENT

Impactful change takes place when passionate people, innovative ideas, accountability, and ongoing commitment all come together.

The Wickaninnish Inn’s Sustainability Committee formed in 2004, bringing together a team of committed staff from across all departments to drive ongoing progress towards their social and environmental sustainability goals. From housekeeping, IT, to food service, and more, the committee offers a blend of perspectives with operational expertise in different areas, fostering a culture of collaboration with creative solutions.

A sustainability team brings together accountability and encourages ideas to transform into action. Ideas on their own are excellent, but action and execution of brilliant ideas is where true transformation takes place. The Wickaninnish Inn’s sustainability team meets monthly to provide updates on progress and explore new ways to further contributions, and this continuous commitment shows in the success of their initiatives.

The OPERATIONS

For organizations with complex operations such as the Wickaninnish Inn, having a cross-functional sustainability team with key insights into operations allows interesting solutions to emerge across departments. Also, by thoughtfully planning sourcing and waste management with sustainability in mind, organizations can effectively reduce the volume of waste produced.

Here are a small handful of the many successful initiatives currently established at the Wickaninnish Inn:

• Installing a Vivreau Vi Tap water dispenser in the hotel lobby to provide a luxurious microfiltered water amenity in both chilled still, and sparkling water.
• Providing an aluminum reusable water bottle in each guest room to reduce single-use plastic waste, and encourage refilling from the lobby Vivreau water stations.
• A commitment to source as much from local suppliers as possible including culinary vendors, artisans, and service partners.
• Reducing post-consumption waste and creating value through partnerships with innovative organizations such as Soap for Hope Canada, repurposing hotel hygiene products to serve those in need. In 2023 the Inn diverted 1,415 pounds of hotel hygiene products from the landfill, which instead were used to support vulnerable communities in need through this partnership.
• On-site commercial compositing, with a majority of fruit and vegetable waste from the restaurant and café composted on site.

The TALENT

As our culture shifts toward a greater emphasis on sustainability, people are increasingly looking for purpose in their work, not just a job. Charles shared a surprising discovery: many of the staff at the Wickaninnish Inn were drawn to the inn specifically because of its deep commitment to sustainability.

It wasn’t just an added benefit; it made a material impact on their decision to join. As values evolve, businesses that align with these priorities are more likely to become employers of choice. Embracing sustainability not only benefits the environment but also helps attract dedicated, like-minded talent.

The TRANSPARENCY

The Wickaninnish Inn goes beyond internal sustainability efforts by achieving multiple certifications, including a Biosphere Certification and membership in the Sustainable Tourism Program. These certifications, requiring dedication and rigorous audits, provide transparency and accountability, building trust with guests and stakeholders.

By meeting these strict standards, the inn ensures its actions are measurable, allowing for continuous improvement while connecting with other sustainability leaders. For other businesses, seeking out industry-specific certifications can be a powerful way to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, offering both transparency and a way to build trust with your audience.

As the Wickaninnish Inn shows, integrating sustainability into daily operations creates lasting impact. At Vivreau, we partner with businesses to achieve their sustainability goals by eliminating plastic waste at the source. Our microfiltered water systems, connected to the municipal supply, provide fresh still and sparkling water, delivering luxury while reducing environmental impact.