Recycling, Sustainable Food, Environmental Impact
RECYCLING
Biodegradable Gloves
The Aquarium uses a large number of gloves every day for food preparation, animal habitat maintenance, and cleaning. To further reduce our environmental impact, the Aquarium now uses biodegradable gloves. This change ensures that gloves decompose naturally, minimizing the waste sent to landfills and reducing our ecological footprint. Thanks to the generous support of Industrial Supply, which donates gloves to the Aquarium, we’re able to sustain this commitment to environmentally friendly practices.
How it works
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium team members use the biodegradable gloves as needed. After use, instead of being collected for recycling, these gloves break down over time, returning to the environment without leaving harmful residues. This shift supports a more sustainable approach to waste management.
Water Filtration
As an Aquarium in a landlocked state – among the driest in the nation – water is an extremely precious resource. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium makes every effort to recycle and reuse as much water as possible while maintaining high water quality standards in our habitats. To do this, every system has its own recirculating system. Additionally, water is reused and shared between exhibits, starting with the more sensitive invertebrates like jellies, sea stars, coral, and sea urchins, then on to a variety of fish and shark habitats, and finally on to the gentoo penguins.
When the Aquarium exchanges water between systems, there is a dedicated recovery system to filter and sterilize the water before it enters a new habitat. This process allows the sustainable reuse of water while ensuring the lowest water and salt usage possible.
Solar Panels
The Aquarium installed solar panel arrays on the roof of our current facility to help offset electrical needs. As we expand, so will the number of solar panels and our ability to produce more solar energy for our operations.
Thanks to Rocky Mountain Power and their Blue Sky Program
Sustainable Food
Vermilion Hospitality Group
We believe all food should be sourced in a sustainable manner and our catering partner, Vermilion Hospitality Group, upholds this standard in their daily operations. They source sustainable seafood, take steps to limit waste in the Living Planet Café and catering services, utilize reusable or easily recyclable plating options whenever possible.
Next time you visit the Café, you may notice the aeroponic towers. These towers allow us to grow plants without soil when weather allows. The benefits include improved nutrient control, faster growth, reduced disease and pests, water conservation, and space efficiency.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch® Program
This program helps consumers and businesses choose seafood that’s fished or farmed in ways that support a healthy ocean now and for future generations. The recommendations found at SeafoodWatch.org indicate which seafood items are Best Choices or Good Alternatives, and which ones you should Avoid.
Fish are a primary food source for many animal species in the wild. The ocean is a great provider for ecosystems around the world. Like their cousins in the wild, many of the animals at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium rely on fish for their food. We support the efforts of Seafood Watch, which makes recommendations to help you choose seafood that’s fished or farmed in ways that have less impact on the environment.
Environmental Impact
EECO – Ecosystem Exploration Craft & Observatory
After traveling the globe as U2’s stage during the band’s record-breaking 360° Tour, EECO crowns our Science Learning Campus and is sustainably repurposed as a permanent Utah landmark and majestic symbol of science exploration, learning, and conservation. By acquiring this stage, the Aquarium is recycling 200 tons of steel.
You can help promote the sustainable reuse of this iconic sculpture and create the Science Learning Campus by making a donation or buying a brick or plaque to be displayed in front of or on top of the stage beneath the famous structure.
Event Network Gift Shop
In our gift shop run by Event Network, we promote a sustainable and eco-friendly shopping experience. We provide reusable products and items made from upcycled or recycled materials to encourage a greener lifestyle.
We also work with our suppliers to minimize single-use plastic in our products and packaging. Instead of single-use plastic bags, we offer reusable bags made from recycled plastic bottles at the register. Stop in to pick one up today and help preserve and protect our oceans.