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Gunter Pauli: Visions of a blue economy

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By Shamman Zahir

The man nicknamed as the Steve Jobs of sustainable development, Gunter Pauli designs and implements businesses by using what is locally available. Best known for his book, The Blue Economy (published first in 2009 now translated in +50 languages), looks at this concept in which what is good for you and the environment should not have to cost more unlike what a green economy suggests.

Maldives Insider team had the opportunity to discuss with Gunter what this could mean for the Maldives as a country at the forefront of countries to be affected by rapid climate change.

He believes that with new insights you can correct the errors in your ways and it is never too late to do the right thing. The man truly believes in his work and ethics, that he does not have a car to this day since 1994. We are certainly not suggesting you change your way of life overnight, but simply hear out what Gunter has to say.

Maldives Insider: Tell us briefly how you started on this path you’re on now.

Gunter Pauli: I established the first ecological factory in history, correct. We had to have a factory that has no waste, emits no emissions, that should pay its staff to come on a bike instead of using a ride share service, it was a surprise to the world at the time. I launched the concept of Zero emissions. Any business should be a zero emissions business. Not net zero in 2030 or 2040. Now! This was in 1989. So, I built the first factory practicing what I had proposed. It was a major success.

MI: What interested you to focus your efforts into this line of work?

GP: It gives you dignity. How much dignity is it to have a chicken frozen in Brazil on your plate here? It satisfies your need to eat. It’s a very basic principle. I figure out what I have and go from there. I will give you an example close to home. You have the largest seaplane fleet in the world. Where does the fuel come from? It is imported. When fuel price increases, it directly effects the airfare at the same pace. This causes a huge drain on the cash available in the country. Do people realise that the algae growing in the sea, that they have the fuel you need to power the aircrafts? Give it a chance! You have it already; the raw materials are around us. It has no dignity to have to import fuel to have to fly people around the nation.

Here is an interesting story. A whale’s heart. It’s pumping thousand litres per pulse. How much electricity does it need to pump? You would imagine a lot. The reality is though, it’s only 6 volts. If you tell an engineer, I have a pump of 6 volts that can pump 1000 litres then the initial reaction would be, impossible. Although there are million whales in the ocean that already do this. So similarly, you have mangroves here. You bite into a leaf, it’s not salty. Yet its roots stand in salt water. This is due to reverse osmosis and capillary action. A mangrove does not use pumps, instead it uses thin tubes called capillaries for its function. So, at the end of the day, be innovative, be more creative.

Blue economy challenges people to start with what you have. Not for you to get filthy rich fast. It is to stamp out poverty and to have an abundance of drinking of water available to all. The mangroves are not suffering, why do you suffer?

MI: What are your thoughts on green energy and how it will benefit the Maldives, especially the tourism sector?

GP: It’s by doing a thousand little steps. We don’t need signed pledges of carbon emissions to be cut down by a certain date. What we need is owners and management that sets these goals with a clear objective in mind. Go to the root causes and figure it out. The same quality assurance imposed on marketing and customer satisfaction applied to sustainability is what we need. Risk analysis is common in business, new technology lets wait and see how it goes is the common script. We believe in the ideas as much to invest in them ourselves. The technology is here today.

Sustainable resorts are the future. With an increasing number of conscious consumers more people would be inclined to spend their money knowing that this stay offsets their carbon footprint.

First, set your goals clearly. Second, be impatient. Don’t push what needs to be done for later. The third thing is, with one initiative aim to meet multiple goals.

Gunter Pauli at LUX* South Ari Atoll resort in Maldives.

MI: What are the biggest challenges you’d predict moving forward with the ideas of a blue economy? There will be critics who’d rather have the convenience now than sustainability. What is your response to that?

GP: My response is, what do you want in life? Do you want convenience or do you want to have happiness and health? It is as simple as that. It’s your choice. Many people choose convenience and that is why we have 50 percent of the world now obese. Is that what we want to have or happiness and health? I am not saying you shouldn’t eat the frozen chicken. What I am saying is it is important to think out of the box in terms of how can I feed the people on my island with what is available to us. Particularly after Covid I believe more people would rather have happiness and health.

I will tell you of a real-life example from Las Gaviotas, Colombia. In 1984, we decided on a region where 70 percent of the people have diabetes and gastro intestinal issues. We decided to find out what was causing this. We asked ourselves, what do we need to take the root cause away? You have to have a good job, with good physical exercise, food without excessive sugar and water that is rich in the right minerals. Hm, that sounds like we have to regenerate a forest.

That requires a lot of manual labor, it creates shade and better water quality. I am happy to report to you 30 years after we started, we had to close the hospital due to lack of patients. It is a the only such case in the world. That is 8000 hectors of forest land and 12,000 people living without a hospital.

Gunter Pauli at LUX* South Ari Atoll resort in Maldives.

MI: Given that it is one of the hottest summers on record, the timing of this interview is ironic. Of all the possible course of action, what should be top priority right now?

GP: We cannot do a change of the global system overnight. It’s about small initiatives making an impact. That is why I am so interested in the Maldives. 100’s of islands with small populations. If the Maldives can show that it can be done, it is a lesson to the world. The Maldives is a humble and modest nation. You don’t say, we know. Instead have the attitude of can I learn from you?

I was able to 15 years ago to design the first large island that is a 100 percent fossil fuel free. In Spain called El Hierro. The island was at the end of its life. The younger generation wanted to live in the bigger cities such as Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid. The elders said, what can we do to reverse this? We offer subsidies, we offer free education but they aren’t coming. I said you have to offer the next generation a challenge. To become a 100 percent fossil fuel free island. They asked how? I asked what do you have around you? They have an elevation and old craters exist. We designed a system with 5 windmills and pumping of water up and down. We have the first 100 percent reverse osmosis desalination plant and pump the water to the highest crater (700m) and when there is no wind and the water comes down, we generate hydropower. Financially it didn’t work unless we integrated both the water and power production. What used to be an expense, now accounts for 15 percent of its income by supplying water to its people. When we first started on the island there was 5600 people on the island. Today they have 12800. People came back. Why? People thought it was a great idea to live in a self-sufficient island. With these concepts it opened up jobs and new engineers required to have gravity feed systems.

My message is, take those small steps. The small initiatives make a big impact over time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGHg5DIXCeo

MI: Maldives currently takes a green tax from the tourism sector, what would be the best way to use such funds in your opinion?

GP: Make your islands free of fuel. It is a big drain on your cash. Being a small country, solar is expensive and takes up a lot of space. The wind reserves and structure are not as feasible to have windmills nor would it be aesthetic. What is the most innovative but practical steps you can take to turn things around? I have made suggestions of how you can produce your fuel with very little space. If that can be accomplished it helps the brand image and convinces consumers to spend consciously.

The right leaders are very important. A leader is not necessarily a boss. It is one who gives an incredible example with performance and transparency striving towards your goals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwiXTye681M

MI: What is your message to those interested in contributing to this work?

GP: Start young! You want to be happy and healthy having the energy I have at this age, start young. Do what you believe in. Focus on what is giving you results. Sometimes, results can take a long time. Don’t always accept the easy way. Rome was not built in one day. Blue economy captures that philosophy and adds science. If you have science as the backbone and these philosophies as a foundation, you can do a lot in the world similar to this

(Gunter hands me a business card that looks like any other.)

What you have there is stone paper. It takes up no water. Traditional methods of paper from cutting down trees, to produce 1 ton of paper, takes approximately 6,000 tonnes of water. This novel paper uses up no water and no plants. It was a challenge to the engineers to scale up production. The first sheet, the proof of concept was easy to make. The proof of operation means you need machines that are running constantly. That took 17 years. Modern capital demands are more instant return of investments which should not always be the case. Walking on a coral beach I now say, you’re walking on paper. That is what we are currently doing in Morocco. Sixty-seven percent less carbon emissions and recyclable forever.

Wake up in the morning and look up at the sky. The sky is the limit. We bombard our youth with all the problems in the world.

If you set your goals clear, you can do it. Instead of it can’t be done have a mindset of how can it be done?

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Barceló Nasandhura celebrates World Chocolate Day with sweet surprises in Malé

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This July, Barceló Nasandhura is offering guests a taste of the sweeter side of life through a series of limited-time dessert experiences in the heart of Malé.

In celebration of World Chocolate Day, the hotel hosted a Chocolate Indulgence Station in the Nasandhura Lobby on 7th July. Held from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the event featured handcrafted chocolate desserts and tastings led by Head Pastry Chef Mohammed, a certified Continental Judge in Pastry Arts. The occasion attracted a delightful mix of in-house guests and walk-in visitors, who also enjoyed a specially curated photo setup and the opportunity to purchase exclusive, limited-edition treats.

Additionally, from 4th to 7th July, a dedicated Chocolate Dessert Station was presented at the Oivaru dinner buffet, located on the hotel’s third floor, offering a decadent addition to the evening dining experience.

To conclude the month’s celebrations, guests will be able to enjoy a 10% discount on all ice creams at Alimas Coffee Lounge from 20th to 26th July. Featuring house-made flavours, this offering provides the ideal way to cool off and indulge during the warm island afternoons.

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Dive into sustainable luxury at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, Baa Atoll

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Surrounded by flourishing reefs and pristine islands with the whitest of soft sands and crystal-clear waters, Coco Collection – a leading resort brand in the Maldives – invites guests to delve into the extraordinary underwater world of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu.

Nestled within the crown jewel of the Maldives, the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is renowned for its commitment to everyday sustainability. Setting the standard for sustainable luxury, the resort has once again been recognised as the Maldives’ Leading Green Resort 2025, marking its third consecutive win at the prestigious World Travel Awards.

While the resort continues its efforts to protect and preserve a thriving marine ecosystem, it also encourages guests to immerse themselves in a range of signature marine experiences, all guided by resident Marine Educator Rosalie Bailie and supported by its long-standing partnership with the Olive Ridley Project.

The signature marine experiences include:

  • Guided Snorkelling – Guests may explore the house reef or venture to nearby coral gardens with expert guides. These excursions cater to all skill levels and often include sightings of green sea turtles, parrotfish, and, depending on the season, manta rays and eagle rays. Guests may also encounter hawksbill turtles grazing on coral at nearby turtle points.
  • Coral Planting & Restoration Workshop – Conscious travellers are invited to participate in meaningful conservation work through coral planting. With the guidance of the Marine Educator, guests can affix coral fragments onto reef frames which are then placed on the seabed, helping to regenerate damaged reefs and enhance marine biodiversity.
  • Discover Scuba Diving – From beginners to advanced divers, the island provides access to over 30 dive sites across the region, led by certified PADI instructors. Guests may dive among coral pinnacles, explore historic wrecks, and visit iconic spots such as Hanifaru Bay, famous for sightings of manta rays and whale sharks.
  • ORP Marine Turtle Rescue Centre Tour – Home to the Maldives’ first fully equipped, veterinary-run sea turtle rescue centre, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu offers guests the chance to engage with rescued turtles recovering from injuries or entanglements. Through this partnership with the Olive Ridley Project, guests can feed turtles, learn about conservation challenges, adopt a turtle, and contribute to protecting this endangered species.
  • Night Snorkelling – For a truly unique underwater adventure, the resort offers night snorkelling excursions led by the Marine Educator. As the reef transforms after sunset, guests will discover a different side of marine life, spotting lionfish, resting parrotfish, and other nocturnal sea creatures illuminated by torchlight.

Located in one of the world’s most spectacular hubs of marine biodiversity, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu promises an unforgettable escape. With the Discover Coco offers, travellers can enjoy 35% savings on their villa stay, making it the perfect time to plan an extraordinary Maldivian getaway.

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Timeless romance awaits at award-winning Coco Bodu Hithi

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Nestled in the heart of the Malé Atoll, the Maldivian-owned resort Coco Bodu Hithi warmly welcomes couples to embrace romance and tranquillity this summer in one of the world’s most idyllic island getaways.

Far removed from the bustle of city life, Coco Bodu Hithi serves as a sanctuary where intimacy, nature, and luxury coexist in perfect harmony. Designed for couples in search of meaningful moments, the island offers a captivating escape – from peaceful barefoot strolls and shared experiences to thrilling adventures.

Recently named the Indian Ocean’s Most Romantic Resort at the 2025 World Travel Awards for the third consecutive year, Coco Bodu Hithi artfully blends modern comforts with traditional Maldivian charm. The resort boasts 98 expansive villas, each offering direct access to either the beach or lagoon. Thoughtfully designed to ensure privacy and relaxation, every villa promises a sense of seclusion and serenity.

Amongst the resort’s most celebrated accommodations are the Beach Villa with Pool and the iconic Coco Residence, both of which offer sweeping, uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean. These settings provide a picture-perfect backdrop for couples to reconnect, with each moment shaped by a spirit of warm island hospitality that is both personal and unmistakably Maldivian.

Honoured as the Best Service Resort at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2025, Coco Bodu Hithi presents a carefully curated selection of personalised romantic experiences. Guests may begin the day with a floating breakfast in their private pool, enjoy a five-course candlelit dinner beneath the stars at Pergola, or embark on a serene sunset cruise – each moment tailored to celebrate connection in the most memorable ways.

Celebrated by Weddings & Honeymoons magazine as one of the Top 50 Honeymoon Resorts in the World, Coco Bodu Hithi offers an exquisite backdrop for couples to honour their love. The thoughtfully designed Forever Yours Package delivers a romantic destination wedding experience in the Maldives, with a dedicated team attending to every detail. The package seamlessly blends the island’s natural beauty with traditional elements, all personalised to reflect the couple’s unique story, style, and preferences.

With its heartfelt hospitality, refined elegance, and awe-inspiring surroundings, Coco Bodu Hithi offers the ideal setting to begin a new chapter of togetherness – a private Maldivian paradise where timeless romance truly comes to life.

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