The Environment
At Farm & Cottage Holidays we believe that we should be doing our bit to protect
the environment and the wonderful part of the world we live in. We have been working
hard by taking a fresh, long term sustainable view of how we do business and are
committed to reducing our impact. We buy and source most items locally and promote
many other local businesses and attractions who we work closely with. Please read
on to find out a bit more about the positive steps we have taken over the last couple
of years.
Green Tourism Business Scheme
As accredited members of Visit Britain's Green Tourism Business Scheme we are committed
to providing a quality service whilst minimising the environmental impact of our
activities. By encouraging sustainable practices it ensures the continued enjoyment
of the environment around us for future generations.
Gold Award for 2009
We are very pleased to have received the GOLD award from the GTBS in 2009 for our
commitment and facilities here at our offices at Farm & Cottage Holidays. This
has been very well received by all our staff who have also made the effort and commitment
to reduce our impact on the World around us. Please read further on below to give
you more of an idea about what we have done to make this possible.
Green Sponsor 2009
In 2007 Farm & Cottage Holidays joined Visit Britain's Green Tourism Business
Scheme. This move was driven by a deeply held feeling of responsibility for the
environment, along with the encouragement of its staff and customers. The company
now sees its next step with Devon Wildlife Trust as part of a long term commitment
to the sustainability of the West Country.
Farm & Cottage Holidays is working with DWT in two ways. Firstly, by becoming
a Corporate Supporter, the business is committing support to the excellent work
carried out by DWT. Secondly, by making a contribution to The Wildlife Trusts from
each holiday booking made. This money will be allocated according to the location
of the booking, to one of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset Wildlife Trusts.
One project which stands to benefit from this new partnership with Farm & Cottage
Holidays will be DWT's Working Wetlands. The project is working to restore the wet
Culm grasslands landscape of North and West Devon. These are some of the rarest
and most vital habitats in the Country and as well as supporting a range of rare
species also act as effective carbon sinks. Internationally wetlands may store as
much as 40% of the World's carbon.
As a company, Farm & Cottage Holidays is on a green journey of its own. The
company's Matthew Retter told Wild Company: 'By considering the environment in everything
we do, such as increased recycling, water saving and using recycled materials throughout
our business we have reduced our environmental impact. We have encouraged and are
working with our holiday property owners to also join the scheme and share in the
benefits that it can bring.'
To date the scheme has raised thousands of pounds for the DWT and other Wildlife
Trusts around the region!
Tracy Ebbrell from Devon Wildlife Trust and Matthew Retter of Farm
& Cottage Holidays
Our Environment Policy
Here at Farm & Cottage Holidays we are committed to providing a good quality
service whilst minimising the environmental impact of our activities.
A symbol of this commitment is our membership of the Green Tourism Business Scheme.
The scheme provides accreditation and encouragement for tourism businesses to reduce
the environmental impact of their activities. By encouraging sustainable practices
the scheme ensures the continued enjoyment of the environment around us for future
generations.
Some of the main steps we have taken to reduce our impact are:
- Recycling facilities for glass, cardboard, paper, plastic and food waste
- Monitor & reduce our energy use
- Use 100% recycled office paper
- Consider the environment when purchasing goods & services
- Record all environmental achievements
- Promote green business awareness to our property owners & holiday makers
- Train and encourage green business to our staff
- Light sensors in low use areas and low energy lighting throughout
- A Rated kitchen appliances and energy efficient hand driers
- Water controls to conserve water in our toilets
- Use of environmentally friendly cleaning materials
- Energy efficient "flow through" boilers for hot water
- Energy efficient air conditioning and heating system with room specific controls
and sensors
- Encouraging more email communications from ourselves and our customers
- Send booking confirmations online
- Staff car share scheme
- Purchase all of our cleaning materials and office product through local business
- Use low Co2 energy efficient company vehicles
Our Visitors Charter
Help us support the local area and environment while you're enjoying your West Country
holiday; here are some suggestions:
Conserve energy
Reduce energy by switching off lights and closing windows if the heating is on.
The Energy Saving Trust provides information on what you can do at home and in your
holiday cottage
Give the Car a Rest
Leave the car behind, if only for a day. Walk, cycle or use public transport
Shop Local
Use local products, they give you a flavour of the area and help support local communities.
We are fortunate to have some fantastic producers of food, drink, and arts and crafts
in our region. Ask about local markets or local and regional organic produce
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Try to avoid overly packaged goods and say No to that extra carrier bag. Try and
recycle any waste you have
Be Water Wise
Please use water wisely. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and adhere to
towel policies or other water saving initiatives
Respect Nature
Help us to look after the landscape and wildlife by not littering, guarding against
fire and using footpaths and cycle-ways responsibly
Our Green Initiatives
In 2007 we took a fresh look at ourselves and with the encouragement of many of
our staff we started working with the GTBS to become a more environmentally responsible
company. We were delighted to be awarded the Bronze Award from the GTBS and felt
that we had learnt a lot more than just recycling our waste to become a more sustainable
business.
2008 was a year of change for Farm & Cottage Holidays. After many months of
careful planning we relocated our new offices in October 2008 which was a great
opportunity to start from scratch and implement green sustainable facilities throughout;
here are some of the ideas that we have implemented:
- Light sensors in low use areas.
- Low energy lighting throughout
- A rated kitchen appliances for our staff
- Energy efficient hand driers
- Water controls to conserve water in our toilets
- Use of environmentally friendly cleaning materials
- New energy efficient "flow through" boilers for hot water
- Energy efficient air conditioning and heating system with room specific controls
and sensors
- Instillation of energy efficient glazing and retention and refurbishment of characteristic
windows along historic quayside.
- Staff shower facilities for the those who cycle to work
- Recycle facilities for glass, cardboard, paper, plastic and food waste.
Operational green initiatives:
- Purchase of energy efficient computer servers and backup systems that significantly
reduce power consumption.
- Use of network copiers to reduce printing and copy cost that also enable document
scanning.
- Joined the "Cycle to work scheme" which is part of a Government initiative
that helps staff to purchase bikes in a tax efficient way.
- Monitor and reduce our energy use
- Use 100% recycled office paper
- Consider the environment when purchasing any goods or services
- Train and encourage green business to our staff
- Our brochures are printed on recycled or PEFC paper.
- We use either biodegradable of recyclable plastic polylthene wallets for all of
our brochure mailings
- Developed on line booking system to enable live holiday property availability and
booking.