Dunton Destinations, the iconic collection of intimate properties located in some of Colorado’s most pristine locations, has announced a partnership with the National Forest Foundation (NFF) to plant 25,000 trees in Colorado. The initiative will aid reforestation efforts in the neighboring Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests and will assist in sequestering approximately 12,500 tons of CO2 in the trees’ lifetimes. The partnership — which will offset five years’ worth of guest and staff travel to Dunton Hot Springs, Dunton Town House, and Dunton River Camp — underscores Dunton Destinations’ commitment to fighting climate change, conserving wildlife habitats, and championing environmental sustainability.
“Dunton’s decision to support the National Forest Foundation reaffirms our sustainability ethos and collective obligation to preserve and protect the natural environments our properties call home. This latest initiative is a piece of our ongoing efforts to protect our geographic community while still delivering the high level of hospitality and authenticity that has become synonymous with the Dunton Destinations brand,” announced Edoardo Rossi, Executive Vice President, Dunton Destinations.
Dunton’s partnership with the National Forest Foundation is part of that organization’s 50 Million for Our Forest initiative, the largest campaign in support of reforesting publicly-owned National Forests. The tree-planting campaign will restore the damage caused by severe wildfires, insects, disease, and other natural disasters.
At the property level, Dunton’s Director of Operations, Seth O’Donovan takes a personal and hands-on approach to manifest responsible luxury, sustainable hospitality, and closed-loop systems. From operating on 100% renewable energy to selecting local purveyors with light carbon footprints and sustainable soil management, every aspect of the Dunton operation is monitored for maximum efficiency and fidelity to its sustainability ethos. All candles are made in-house using therapeutic essential oil blends and sustainably sourced vegetable wax. Additionally, paper waste is used for fire starting and composted, currently saving six cubic feet of paper from the garbage each week.
In its kitchens, Dunton continues its commitment to sustainable practices and welcomes the challenge and complexity of cooking based on Colorado’s short-yet-abundant growing seasons. The Dunton Culinary team is dedicated to inventing and implementing creative ways to harvest each season’s bounty, experimenting with various methods of preservation and fermentation that not only prolong the life of the ingredients but often elevate them with new textures and flavors. Each menu features seasonal and local ingredients, and each day, the award-winning menus include yogurt, cottage cheese, and cream cheese all crafted in-house, cutting down the intake of #5 plastics to the properties by an estimated 70%. Dunton is also committed to implementing and improving a closed-loop kitchen system to ensure minimal waste at all levels, including the composting of organic waste on-property, or providing it as food for chickens at Bountiful Ridge Farm, one of the property’s local purveyors.
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