At Carbonhalo, we know that many small businesses have a breakthrough or “aha moment” when it comes to emissions reduction or sustainability. For Mandalay Holiday Resort, a family business in Busselton, Western Australia, that moment came with theirpower and gas bills.

"Your power and gas bill gives you an aha moment every time you get one, right?" Rhys Johnson, General Manager told us with a chuckle. "We’re actually seeing changes on the positive side for the business, and that makes a big difference."

From Unstructured Efforts to Measurable Impact

Mandalay has been in the same family for 60 years, passing from generation to generation. Their commitment to taking care of their environment was always there, but it wasn’t formalised at first.

"We’d already started a little down the journey, but it was unstructured and largely unthought about," he explained. "We started with recycling and fundraising for the Starlight Foundation because we’re a family-oriented business."

Joining Carbonhalo’s program gave them a clearer framework for tracking their emissions reduction efforts.

‍"Being involved in the program has been really important for us—it gives us a way to show what we’ve been doing for a long time and explore what else we can do."

Smart Decisions, Real Savings

Their journey hasn’t just been about helping the environment—it’s also made financial sense.

“We’ve introduced solar panels and switched all our lights to LEDs. These changes reduce our energy usage and have a financial impact as well as an environmental one.”

Small Actions with Big Meaning

Some of Mandalay’s biggest wins came from listening to what the environment needed. "We noticed our peppermint trees were struggling under chemical fertilisers, so we switched to organic. Now the trees have come back to life, and with them, the Westernringtail possums, which are critically endangered."

Though only a small percentage of their guests actively notice the sustainability efforts, it still matters. "It’s probably only 5% of guests, but for those it does matter to, it makes a big impact. And if we pick up enough guests who care, it more than covers the cost of measurement our emissions."

Aiming for Carbon Neutrality by 2035

Mandalay has set an ambitious target: carbon neutrality by 2035. They’re already looking into local partnerships to offset their emissions through projects like tree planting. "We’re focused on finding the right option in the southwest to align with our goals."

Why It’s Worth It

Their advice for other businesses is straightforward: "It’s the right thing to do. This is how every business should operate—it’s better for the future and better for your guests."

Check out Mandalay Holiday Resort plan here.

At Carbonhalo, we’re proud to support businesses like Mandalay Holiday Resort. Their story shows that measuring emissions is about more than just compliance—it’s about finding value, building resilience, and creating a better future for everyone.

Are you ready for your own ‘aha moment’? Let’s start your journey today.

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