Sustainable Luxury at Villa Monaco
In November 2025, at the Skyline Studios of Radio Frankfurt, two names from Monaco were honoured at the same ceremony with the Golden Planet Award. H.S.H. Prince Albert II received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of work in environmental conservation. Jessica Stockmann — owner of Villa Monaco — received the award for Sustainable Lifestyle & Entrepreneur of the Year. The citation read: "She proves that success only makes sense when it is shared — with heart, attitude, and humanity."
For us, the recognition was not a destination but a milestone. Villa Monaco has been built around a single conviction — that luxury and responsibility are not opposites, but partners. This article is about how that conviction shows up in practice: in the materials we choose, the suppliers we work with, the way the villa is run day to day, and the philanthropic work that runs alongside it.
The Recognition
The 2025 Golden Planet Award — and Who Else Received It
The Golden Planet Award is presented annually by the Voice Aid Association and Radio Group at the Skyline Studios in Frankfurt. Now in its fourth edition, the award recognises individuals, companies and regions whose work sets meaningful standards in sustainability, peace and humanity. For the 2025 edition, the laudation for Jessica Stockmann was delivered by Lady Dr. h.c. Astrid Arens — president of the Voice Aid Association — who described her as "a woman who unites luxury and responsibility, and who sets new standards for modern, sustainable living with both attitude and charm."
Sustainable Lifestyle & Entrepreneur of the Year
"She proves that success only makes sense when it is shared — with heart, attitude, and humanity."
The same evening, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco received the Golden Planet Award for Lifetime Achievement — recognising more than two decades of environmental work through the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Frank Schweikert of the German Ocean Foundation was honoured as Social Hero; the Iberian Orca Guardians Foundation, founded by singer Sarah Connor and conservationist Janek Andre, was recognised for marine protection.
A separate Villa Monaco blog post tells the full story of the award and the evening — read it here.
A Philosophy, Not a Trend
Stockmann³ — Modern Living with Soul
Villa Monaco sits within a larger body of work. Jessica Stockmann founded and runs Stockmann³ together with her daughter Nisha — a company that revitalises high-quality properties across Monaco and southern France with a focus on longevity, authenticity and circular building practice. The principle is straightforward: on every site, the intelligent reuse of materials is preferred over disposal. Vintage pieces, original design objects, and reclaimed materials are used not because they are fashionable, but because they last longer and waste less.
"Old things often have more charm than new ones — you just have to look closely. At Villa Monaco we've always tried to create an environment where guests can enjoy the finest things in life while knowing their stay is kind to the planet. Receiving the Golden Planet Award was a confirmation that this approach has a place in the conversation about modern luxury."
Six Practices
How Sustainability Shows Up Day to Day at the Villa
Below, the six practical areas in which Villa Monaco's sustainability philosophy is expressed — not as a checklist of certifications, but as the everyday choices that shape a guest's stay.
Treated as the resource it is
The Mediterranean climate makes water a precious commodity. The villa uses rainwater harvesting for the gardens, low-flow fixtures throughout, and greywater recycling for cleaning — so that the lush Mediterranean planting around the estate thrives without drawing on local supplies.
From the region, to the table
The villa's private-chef experience is built on short-supply sourcing: produce from nearby organic farms, sustainable seafood from MSC-certified suppliers, and plant-forward menus for guests who prefer them. The result is genuinely Riviera-rooted cooking — and a lighter footprint.
Vintage elegance, eco-consciousness
The interiors mix vintage and upcycled furniture, original design pieces, and natural materials including reclaimed wood and natural fibres. Choosing pieces with history reduces demand for new resources — and consistently produces rooms with more soul than a new-build replacement.
Efficient appliances, thoughtful use
Kitchen and laundry appliances are A-rated for energy efficiency; lighting is LED throughout. The heated infinity pool uses an efficient pump system rather than continuous high-energy heating, and the villa's gated grounds are illuminated only where genuinely needed.
Zero tolerance, zero plastic
Comprehensive recycling streams for glass, plastic, paper and metal; on-site composting for kitchen and garden organic waste; and a strict plastic-free policy with reusable and biodegradable alternatives throughout the property.
Electric transfers, e-bikes, footpaths
Guest transfers are arranged on electric vehicles where possible. Complimentary e-bike rentals make Cap-d'Ail and the corniche accessible without a car — and the Monaco border is reachable on foot from the gate in roughly twenty minutes along one of the most beautiful coastal walks of the Riviera.
"Old things often have more charm than new ones — you just have to look closely."
Beyond the Estate
Philanthropy & the Wider Commitment
Jessica Stockmann's environmental work sits alongside a long-standing philanthropic commitment that pre-dates the Golden Planet Award by many years. She is a longstanding board member of the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung — Germany's leading foundation for HIV/AIDS research, prevention and patient care — and has been an ambassador for UNICEF for many years. She was also previously honoured with the Blaues Herz (Blue Heart) Philanthropic Award for her social commitment, particularly her work with children's causes.
From a recent interview with Business Voice Magazin:
"Social commitment is very important to me. I have been on the Board of Trustees of the German AIDS Foundation for years, and I have long been an ambassador for UNICEF. Every ten seconds, a child starves to death in our world. That has to change — and that is what we stand for. Yes, there is a lot to change on this planet. But you can also do a great deal on a small scale, in your own environment."
Why It Matters in Monaco
A Principality Built Around the Mediterranean
Monaco is a country of contrasts: a global capital of wealth, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea — which the Principality has spent two decades protecting more seriously than almost any other coastal nation. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, founded in 2006, supports environmental projects in more than fifty countries. Monaco Ocean Week, held each March, gathers scientists, policymakers, philanthropists and artists for one of the most respected ocean-conservation events in Europe.
For travellers, this matters. Choosing where to stay on the Riviera is a vote — for the kind of luxury you want to support and the values you want it to reflect. The Golden Planet Award shared between Villa Monaco and Prince Albert II is not a coincidence. It is a recognition that the same principles can apply at the scale of a small country and at the scale of a single private estate.
Frequently Asked
Sustainable Luxury at Villa Monaco — FAQ
What is the Golden Planet Award?
The Golden Planet Award is presented annually by the Voice Aid Association and the Radio Group in Frankfurt. It recognises individuals, companies and regions whose work sets standards for sustainability, peace and humanity. The 2025 edition — the award's fourth year — was held on 7 November 2025 at the Skyline Studios of Radio Frankfurt.
Which category did Villa Monaco win?
Jessica Stockmann was honoured in the category Sustainable Lifestyle & Entrepreneur of the Year, with the citation: "She proves that success only makes sense when it is shared — with heart, attitude, and humanity." H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco received the same year's Lifetime Achievement Award.
What makes Villa Monaco a sustainable luxury villa?
The villa combines high-end amenities with eco-conscious practices across six areas: water (rainwater harvesting, low-flow fixtures, greywater recycling), food (local-organic sourcing, MSC-certified seafood), design (vintage and upcycled interiors), energy (A-rated appliances, LED lighting), waste (plastic-free, composting, comprehensive recycling) and mobility (electric vehicle transfers, e-bike rentals).
How does this fit with Monaco's wider sustainability work?
Monaco has been a serious actor in environmental and marine conservation for two decades, through the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Monaco Ocean Week. Villa Monaco's approach reflects the same conviction at a private-estate scale — that luxury and environmental responsibility can be aligned rather than opposed.
Can I still enjoy luxury amenities at Villa Monaco?
Yes. The sustainability ethos shapes the choices behind the scenes — the materials, the suppliers, the mobility, the waste streams — but the guest experience remains entirely uncompromised: heated infinity pool, six private suites, private chef, concierge, gym, cinema, wine cellar.
Is Jessica Stockmann involved in other philanthropic causes?
Yes. Jessica is a longstanding board member of the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung (German AIDS Foundation), a long-time UNICEF ambassador, and was previously honoured with the Blaues Herz (Blue Heart) Philanthropic Award for her social commitment.
Where can I read more about the Golden Planet Award?
Press coverage of the 2025 award is available from Business Voice Magazin, DEAL Magazin, and the official Golden Planet Award press release. Villa Monaco's dedicated article on the award is available here.