Environmental and Sustainability Statement
In this time of heightened awareness about climate crisis, biodiversity loss and human impact on our environment there are many organisations that are jumping on the bandwagon. They are using environmental policies as greenwash to assuage their conscience and minimise the guilt they and their clients feel about their relatively affluent (please note the word relatively) lives and the impact these lives have on the planet. And don’t get me wrong I have not opted out of this system and I am acutely aware of the footprint I have and the toll it takes.
However, I do not want to greenwash. I do not not wish to provide lip service to the green movement. I do not want to assuage my guilt or yours. I want to make a difference. The difference I make will be small because Henllys Estate is a small organisation that will not reach millions, but if you chose to stay at Henllys then perhaps you will be inspired to make a difference. As such we are committed to making your stay as luxurious and comfortable as possible while also being committed to reducing our environmental impact.
At Henllys we have an ambitious long term plan of becoming zero waste, if that is even possible in the hospitality industry and if it is we will achieve it. We are also aiming to become carbon neutral and perhaps someday carbon negative. Here are some of the things we are have already done, and why we have done them, as steps along that journey:
-We bank with Nationwide an ethically conscious bank who do not fund the climate crisis or invest in the arms trade!
-We have phased out single use toiletries. No more tiny plastic bottles going to landfill. Instead you will see we use products from Myddfai Traders, a local social enterprise with sustainability at their heart. We use glass refillable pump bottles and refill 5 litre containers directly with the company who are based in Llangadog only 8 miles away, significantly reducing transport carbon costs. https://myddfai.com/
-We have phased out single use tea and coffee sachets. Instead we refill individual mini jam jars with tea, coffee and sugar. This way we can guarantee hygiene, no one else has put their fingers or spoons in a communal pot and reduce waste at the same time.
-We use fragrance free, Ecover Zero laundry powder which is plant based and biodegradable. This means that our sheets are less likely to be irritating to sensitive skin but they will not smell like fresh laundry as there are no fragrances. We buy this in bulk in paper bags, reducing waste. The bags are then composted on site. https://www.ecover.com/products/zero/zero-washing-powder/
-We do not use fabric softeners. This reduces the chemical load going into the runoff from our septic tanks and also reduces plastic waste generated by buying refills, even in bulk.
-We no longer use a tumble dryer. This reduces our electricity consumption and also does not require the manufacture of new machinery when the tumble dryer inevitably breaks down due to constant use. All our bedding and towels are line dried. What this means is that you will not get the classic soft fluffy white towels and crisp fresh smelling sheets of a more commercial venture. But we felt this was a small price to pay in reducing our impact.
-We use plant based and biodegradable cleaning products for dishes and surfaces. Again we buy these in bulk to reduce plastic waste. The only compromise we make here is the use of bleach for toilets and occasionally in the showers to prevent mold from developing. As soon as we find an alternative that is as effective we will swap but right now we don’t think people would tolerate loos that were not pristine or mouldy showers ( I am not sure I would either).
-We provide a delicious vegetarian continental breakfast with as much locally sourced and home made produce as is possible. This helps reduce our environmental impact by not eating meat, and by reducing food miles and waste packaging. Locally home made jams and honey, home baked muffins (one day I will attempt homemade croissants) all help to minimise how much we throw in the bin. All food scraps are home composted.
-We do not run the hot water and heating all day. This means that in the middle of the day, usually when people are out and about, the heating and hot water will be off. If you find that you are cold or that you need a shower, just ask and we will pop it on.
-We do not retire imperfect towels or bedding. The manufacture of fabrics, especially cotton has a huge environmental impact. Cotton is often grown in arid climates and is a hugely thirsty crop. Sometimes our sheets and towels get marked or faded, but they are still functional and have many more nights of use in them. It makes no environmental sense to throw them away. All of our bedding and towels are washed at 95 degrees on a long wash, so they are most certainly clean. But might not be the crisp white linens of 5 star hotels. Now there is a limit to what people will tolerate, so if it is a sheet I would not be ok with seeing on my bed I won’t use it for you. Sheets that just look dirty are reused in the garden as weed control and mulch (cotton is after all biodegradable).
Here are some of the things we will do over the next 10 years to help us achieve our objective of zero waste and carbon neutrality
-We are installing solar arrays to provide us with renewable electricity and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and the national grid.
-We are establishing a kitchen garden that will provide organic home grown fruit to the breakfast table
-We will begin planting an orchard this autumn to provide organic home grown fruit juice and fruit for breakfasts
-We will build polytunnels to extend the fruit and berry season so we can rely on our own produce even into the winter months.
-We will install recycling facilities for guests so they can separate out the waste they produce rather than generate miscellaneous landfill.
If you are an expert in any area of sustainability and think your advice would help us achieve these objectives then please feel free to start a conversation. Or if you are curious about any aspect of what we are doing here then equally start a conversation. We are always open to ideas and dialogue.
Ultimately we hope that our efforts and journey inspire you to think about your own ecological impact and give you some hope that things can change for the better.