Sustainability at the core
“Blue Lagoon is a unique example of circular economy through the multi-use of renewable geothermal resources and sustainable development”
Sustainable operations
Sustainability is at the core and source of Blue Lagoon. The company’s guiding principle is to take full advantage of the flow of natural resource streams from the depths of the earth from the nearby geothermal power plant to create value that manifests itself in the experience of its guests, as well as in the creation of products. This ideology is reflected in the design of experience processes, products and buildings that are always developed in harmony with their environment.
Ecological cycle of geothermal seawater
The origin of the Blue Lagoon can be traced to the geothermal seawater that is extracted from bedrock about 2,000 meters below the surface of the lava field that surrounds the operation. The subterranean water is composed of 2/3 seawater and 1/3 freshwater and is about 240 ° C hot at extraction. The geothermal seawater is rich in minerals and salt, and its composition makes it unique in its own way. For example, it is the deposition of silica in the geothermal sea water that gives the lagoon its world-famous blue color. This liquid also forms a unique ecosystem where blue-green microalgae bloom in ideal conditions.
Years of scientific research into this microalgae, its interaction with silica and the properties of the geothermal seawater have revealed its amazing healing power, both in terms of treating psoriasis and its rejuvenating effect on the skin.
Raw materials
The geothermal seawater is diversely utilized in the company’s operations and is eventually returned to the bedrock and thus reentering the geothermal ecocycle. The steam is used to produce sea salt from the geothermal seawater and the carbon dioxide from a nearby geothermal plant is used to nourish blue-green microalgae that have been isolated from the lagoon’s unique ecosystem and cultivated in the company’s Research and Development Centre.
Bláa Lónið Heilsuvörur ehf., subsidiary of Blue Lagoon, produces high-quality raw materials for the Blue Lagoon’s skincare product lines by utilizing geothermal seawater and other natural resource streams from the geothermal plant. In this way, the company promotes the sustainable utilization of renewable resources and the sequestration of carbon dioxide through the cultivation of microalgae. All of the raw materials used in the company’s skincare products are COSMOS APPROVED and can therefore be used in COSMOS NATURAL certified products.
Energy
Blue Lagoon’s electrical and geothermal energy consumption all comes from a nearby geothermal plant and is completely renewable and sustainable. In the company’s procurement policy, energy-efficient hardware is systematically prioritized over others and LED lighting is chosen where possible. Constant endeavors are made in operations to find new ways of reducing waste and thereby minimize the company’s environmental footprint. The efficient use of energy is one aspect of that.
Energy consumption
Hot water consumption
| BLUE LAGOON BUSINESS UNITS | ENERGY CONSUMPTION* 2021 | HOT WATER CONSUMPTION** 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| R&D CENTER | 264,566 | 10,895 |
| SILICA HOTEL | 239,080 | 28,265 |
| BLUE LAGOON & RETREAT HOTEL | 3,172,356 | 230,951 |
| LAUNDRY HOUSE & STOREHOUSE | 830,113 | 4,568 |
| TOTAL | 4,509,743 | 274,679 |
*in kWh – ** in m3
Energy consumption has increased in recent years with the introduction of new business units: Retreat Hotels, Retreat Spa, Moss Restaurant, Spa Restaurant and a new laundry house. However, energy consumption decreased substantially during COVID-19 due to closures, since Blue Lagoon was only open in the second half of 2021.
Energy consumption per guest increased considerably in 2020, due to a sudden decrease in the number of guests and uncertainty in operations following Covid-19.
In 2021, it was possible to better manage operations despite closures, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption. Nevertheless, a minimum of energy consumption is always required to maintain buildings and operations despite closures. The company is constantly looking for new ways to maximize the efficiency of these energy flows every year.
Water
The full utilization of resource streams is what characterizes the operations and products of Blue Lagoon. It is part of the company’s strategy to maximize the utilization of geothermal seawater and other natural resource streams to create a unique experience and natural value. The use of geothermal seawater has not increased in recent years, despite the introduction of new operating units with new thermal baths. This is thanks to the company’s optimization of a new pumping station that came into use in 2016 to balance the flow and temperature control in the baths. The contraction in the consumption of geothermal seawater and other natural resource streams is directly linked to the contraction in operations due to the global pandemic. The optimization of operations and increase in the number of visitors in 2021 led to a lower water consumption per guest.
Cold water consumption
Geothermal sea water consumption