Sustainability

Sustainability Policy

At Aiteall B&B, we recognise that our business and customer’s activities can have a negative or positive impact on the planet and all species that reside in it. We are deeply committed to protecting our unique landscape, rich heritage, and local biodiversity. We strive to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner and to contribute positively to the preservation of our surroundings for future generations.

Our commitment 

We are dedicated to reducing our environmental impact by continuously improving our practices in the area of resource efficiency; including reducing our consumption of energy and water and reducing our waste production while not affecting our guest’s experience. 

This policy is a living document which we will update yearly.

• We have established our baseline of carbon emissions from 2024 at 0.9712kg of CO2 produced per person, per day from our direct operations

  We aim to reduce this figure by 4.5% in 2025

• Our energy consumption we aim to reduce by 3% in 2025

• Our landfill waste we aim to reduce by 5.5% in 2025

• Our food waste we aim to reduce from 0.030kg per person per day in 2024 by 10% in 2025

• Our recycling waste we aim to continue to reduce by a further 15% in 2025

• Increase our local suppliers from the current 56.5% to 58% in 2025

• Begin to monitor our water consumption in 2025 through a water meter and establish a baseline to then begin reducing in the coming years

• Add more planters to grow more vegetables which we will serve when in season for breakfast

• Add hens to the Aiteall family so we can have fresh eggs metres from our door where possible

• Continue to improve our messaging to guests and our family and friends to help reduce waste production and water and energy consumption

Activities to date

• In 2024 we achieved:

• A reduction of overall C02 kg produced per person, per day by 9% - from 1.0614 to 0.9712.

• Energy Efficiency:

  Although we did not achieve our target of a 5% reduction in energy consumption in 2024, we successfully reduced our usage by 3.45%. This was impacted by increased heating needs due to poor weather during the season of 2024  and higher laundry demands due to shorter stays.

  We will continue to communicate to guests the importance of reducing energy usage where possible including explanation of our heating system which is recommended at an ambient temperature of 21 degrees celsius, reduced shower times etc.

  We will also ensure to use the clothes line for all laundry drying where possible - we are optimistic for a warm 2025 😀

  Lastly, we will continue to encourage our guests to stay longer, reducing laundry needs and therefore conserving energy and water -  through promotion of the wonderful area we live in - where one night really isn’t enough!

• Landfill Waste Reduction

  We successfully reduced our landfill waste by 7.3% in 2024, exceeding our target of 5%. We are delighted with this result and observed that customers were bringing less waste on-site and therefore leaving less behind.

  We encourage guests in our pre-arrival communications to use reusable options where possible, such as keep water bottles and coffee cups.

  We also promote choosing local shops for purchases and opting for products with less packaging.

  Add an information blackboard for guests with local activity/music session updates etc. to further encourage reduction of leaflets/flyers being brought on site.

• Food Waste Reduction

  Our food waste reduction target for 2024 was 15%, but we achieved an incredible 50% reduction, which we are absolutely thrilled about!

  As a hospitality business with food and beverage offerings, reducing food waste is a top priority.

  This was achieved through:

  Changing the menu based on customer feedback.

  Reducing portion sizes to better match guest preferences.

  We practice strict waste segregation on site and provide a food compost bin in the guest lounge area and our own home.

  Implementing a two-bay composter, which has significantly improved our waste management, which we will increase to a three - bay composter at the end of the year.

• Recycling Waste Reduction

  While recycling remains important, we prioritise reducing waste at the source to minimise the need for recycling. 

  We are delighted to have reduced our recycling waste by 29% in 2024 from 2023.

  By focusing on reuse and mindful consumption, we aim to lessen our overall environmental footprint.

• Green Purchasing

  In 2024 we increased our local suppliers from 56.5% to 57.5% through the addition of Aiteall bespoke diffusers and candles - diffusers are used in the bedrooms and both candles and diffusers are for sale - made by local Irish Chandler company based in Lisdoonvarna.

  We also purchase our jams and chutneys from the local Clare Jam shop in Doolin. Our cheeses are regional so where possible to find local cheese instead we will strive to do so.

  Our national purchases are at 20%, with regional at 18.5% so we want to increase regional where possible. International stands at 5% which we want to reduce further over the years to 0%.

• In January 2022, we  installed SOLAR Panels with an aim of significantly reducing our energy consumption and our carbon emissions through the generation and exporting of our own electricity.

• Our goal for 2023 was to reduce our baseline emissions by 30% from 2.27kg in 2022. We exceeded this target and reduced emissions in 2023 by 58%.

• Our goal for 2023 was to reduce our energy consumption from 5.89 kWh/person by 35%. We exceeded this with consumption established at 2.17 kWh/person in 2023 - a 62% reduction.

• Our heating source is an Air to Water heat pump, with zoned heating with individual thermostats in each room - these are set at an ambient temperature recommended of 20 degrees.

• Use of Energy Saving bulbs and LED, including outdoor motion activated lighting.

• In periods of low occupancy, appropriate sections within the B&B are isolated so heating can be turned off.

• We don’t provide individual single use toiletries, instead an Irish brand Homemade Soap Company supplies our guest refillable toiletries.

• We don’t use disposable napkins instead linen ones for our breakfast room.

• We fill reusable glass bottles for our guests as our tap water is safe to drink, significantly reducing our glass and plastic bottle wastage.

• We don’t use single use items such as sugar sachets, salt and pepper sachets or mini milk pots.

• We don’t print business cards or flyers and have reduced the volume of leaflets and flyers in our guest lounge area.

• We make our own granola and fruit compote to avoid harmful additives.  

• We bring our used lighting and electrical waste as well as used batteries to local recycling drop off points in Ennistymon and Inagh, to ensure the proper disposal of batteries and this type of waste from our business and our home. (WeeeIreland.ie) 

• We switched to environmentally friendly cleaning products - Dr. Bonner and Lilly’s Eco Clean. This switch benefits both our environment, but also our team and our guests due to the removal of toxic chemicals from site which are major irritants.

• Laundry, by reducing the quantity of towels we wash through encouraging our guests to reuse their towels where possible during their stay and encouraging guests to stay longer where possible.

• Full loads in washing machines and dishwashers.

• In 2022 we organised a biodiversity consultant to create a report on the land the b&b is on and surrounding land to ensure we are supporting local biodiversity in the best possible way.
  

  Our future aims

  • Continue with our native tree planting efforts creating more diversity choosing all native heritage fruit trees.

  • Continue to build planters on site to grow more seasonal and native vegetable and fruit to use for guests as well as ourselves.

  • Installing an electric vehicle charge point on site.

  • Switch to an electric vehicle ourselves to further reduce our emissions.

  • Install a rainwater harvesting system to flush our toilets and to provide water for our garden and plants.

  
  
  

  We appreciate your support with our efforts to reduce our impact on the environment.

  ​​Jonny &  Éimhín - 23.01.2025