About us
Sustainability
The genetic cornerstone of Blue Lagoon Iceland
An unexpected wonder
When the Svartsengi Resource Park came to life in the late 1970s, one of the unintended benefits of the plant’s geothermal energy production was an enchanting reservoir that formed in the lava field beside the facility. No one knew it at the time, but this humble expanse signalled the dawn of the Blue Lagoon and the birth of a wonder of the world. Today, sustainability echoes through every dimension of the company’s ongoing evolution. Named Icelandic Environmental Company of the Year for 2021 by the Confederation of Icelandic Employers, Blue Lagoon is a paragon of renewable energy, representing the fertile synthesis of eco-friendly health, hospitality, and wellbeing.
R&D and Blue Lagoon Skin Care
For more than four decades, research and development has been at the heart of Blue Lagoon’s quest for a world without waste, which is one of its aspirational mandates. Powered by geothermal energy, the R&D center is a thriving scientific establishment—a place where inspiration and intellect have unlocked groundbreaking ways to recycle CO2. Likewise, green production methods—pioneered at the R&D center—are used for isolating, cultivating, and harvesting the signature bioactive elements of Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater: silica, minerals, and algae. This trinity of natural wonders is the fulcrum of Blue Lagoon Skincare, which has evolved from a single product—the iconic Silica Mud Mask, released in 1995—into three distinct lines: Spa, Derma, and BL+. The Spa line enables you to experience the skin-nourishing marvels of the Blue Lagoon from the comfort of home. Derma brings therapeutic relief to chronically dry, irritated, and sensitive skin. And BL+ targets signs of skin aging and optimizes skin health through high-performance formulas born of cutting-edge biotechnology and groundbreaking ingredient powerhouse BL+ COMPLEX. Pure, potent, proven—BL+ culminates three decades of research into the healing properties of the Blue Lagoon.
In 2020, Blue Lagoon received a COSMOS certification. Issued by Ecocert—a pioneering organization in the codification of standards for natural and organic cosmetics—the COSMOS (COSMetic Organic and natural Standard) designation affirms and guarantees the purity, quality, and eco-friendly production of Blue Lagoon Skincare ingredients. Likewise, BL+ received the ELLE 2021 Green Beauty Stars award, an honor bestowed on innovative brands in the field of sustainable cosmetics.
Architecture and design
Architecture and design at Blue Lagoon Iceland aspires to bring forth balance and harmony between man and nature. Buildings merge with the volcanic vista, becoming one with the land. Construction materials are chosen for their durability, repairability, and green production standards. And design elements are inspired by the shapes, colors, textures, and patterns of the surrounding landscape, creating an esthetic framework that blurs the distinction between interior and exterior.
Electricity, heating, and hot water
Geothermal energy, harnessed and produced at the Svartsengi Resource Park, is the sole source of electricity, heating, and hot water at Blue Lagoon Iceland, providing 100% of the company's needs in these three arenas.
The volcanic landscape
Blue Lagoon’s surrounding landscape—the Svartsengi lava field—is a frozen-in-time expanse of moss-covered volcanic rock that erupted from the earth in 1226 AD. In order to protect the lava and the delicate, centuries-old greenery, paths were created, enabling visitors to wander through the enchanting environment without harming the exquisite floral and geological features.
Lighting
Lighting throughout Blue Lagoon Iceland is created through energy efficient LED and OLED technologies. Adhering to the ideals of a human centric approach, every source of illumination was designed to harmonize with the landscape, bringing radiance that is never intrusive yet always energizing, nourishing, and engaging.
Dining
From locally sourced seafood, to produce cultivated on organic farms and in geothermal greenhouses, to free-roaming lamb that draws sustenance from Iceland’s endless frontiers, culinary sustainability reverberates through every dimension of the Blue Lagoon Iceland dining experience.
Sustainability is manifest in respect for one another as much as it is manifest in respect for the environment.
The Geothermal Cycle
Blue Lagoon's sustainable utilization of multiple energy streams produced at the Svartsengi Resource Park is articulated by the geothermal ecocycle—a framework describing the circular flow of geothermal energy and its byproducts. From the geothermal seawater that fills the famous lagoon and enables Blue Lagoon Skincare, to the steam that generates heat and electricity, to the recycling of CO2, every vector of the plant's output, whether water, steam, or waste gas, empowers Blue Lagoon's operations. And when all energy has been harvested, the water itself sinks back into the subterranean aquifers from which it came, reentering the geothermal ecocycle. Perhaps the most innovative dimension of Blue Lagoon's all-encompassing conservationist ethos is its carbon capture method for transforming CO2—a greenhouse gas resulting from geothermal energy production—into sustenance for the microalgae cultivated at the R&D center for use in Blue Lagoon Skincare. Blue Lagoon is the only company in the world that uses CO2 in this manner.
Vakinn quality and environmental certification
Blue Lagoon has been certified by Vakinn since 2015. Vakinn is the official quality and environmental system for the Icelandic travel sector. The certification is awarded to tourism companies that maintain high standards in all aspects of their business practices, meeting Vakinn's comprehensive assessment criteria and thus earning the right to display the coveted Vakinn label.
A sustainable humanity
Another key vector in Blue Lagoon’s all-encompassing approach to sustainability is societal uplift. Sustainability is manifest in respect for one another as much as it is manifest in respect for the environment. It can be found in simple human dignity as much as it can be found in innovative, energy-saving technology. It is brought to life when we recycle just as much as when we respect—We Respect being one of Blue Lagoon’s brand pillars. Blue Lagoon also funds a broad spectrum of philanthropic causes in the areas of youth sports, the arts, health, and wellness—contributing to the wellbeing of the communities on the Reykjanes Peninsula and throughout the country. The Blue Lagoon Policy is the ethical and philosophical cornerstone of the company's operational and corporate governance. It is a distillation of the five constituent policies covering the environment, health & safety, human resources, quality, and corporate social responsibility.
Harmony with nature
Ultimately, sustainability at Blue Lagoon Iceland is embodied not only through Blue Lagoon Water—the heart and soul of the entire experience—but also through renewable electricity and heating, sustainable design, human centric lighting, locally sourced culinary ingredients, research and development, environmental preservation, and an acknowledgement that living in harmony with one another is a fundamental element of living in harmony with nature. The Blue Lagoon Environmental Policy is a concise summation of Blue Lagoon’s planet- and people-friendly approach to sustainability.