Sustainability at Ballyseede Castle

Sustainability

At Ballyseede Castle Hotel, we are passionate about sustainability and are committed to making a positive impact on the environment by implementing effective green practices and procedures through out our hotel. We are actively working towards our Eco award with Fifty Shades Greener with the aim of consistently improving our efforts and achieving silver, gold and platinum awards in the future.

We actively began our ‘Green ’journey in 2020 and our fantastic staff are key to our success in delivering amore sustainable and environmentally friendly service. Their invaluable input, insight and engagement is at the core of our achievements to date. Many initiatives have already been introduced and new ideas are emerging and evolving daily. We recognise that sustainability is a never-ending journey and are excited for the road ahead.

CARBON FOOTPRINT

We follow the process of metering, measuring, monitoring, evaluating and managing our waste, energy, water and carbon in order to reduce:

• We have retained our “real keys” rather than resorting to the use of plastic key cards.
• The vast majority of our light bulbs have been changed to LED lighting with plans to replace the remaining few in the very near future.
• Food waste monitored on a continual basis in order to minimise wastage.
• Our food waste management partners remove this waste and convert to Bio-fuel.
• We use green energy only where possible.
• We have our Green Procurement policy in place and are actively working with suppliers to have them reduce reuse and recycle packaging.
• Most of our food products are produced within Kerry and the surrounding area where possible.
• ‘Meat free days’ for staff meals.
• Electric Car Chargers located in our car park.
• Have signed up with the cycle to work scheme partnering with Travel hub /Bike to work and actively encourage our staff avail of this wonderful scheme.

CO-OPERATION

• Adopting new ideas / adapting practices /embracing change.
• Suggestion box in place for our staff to become actively involved /make suggestions on how we can further improve.
• Waste Management programme in place with waste separation available in guest rooms, staff areas and public areas.
• All our staff follow our ‘Think Before You Print’ policy.
• We encourage guests to follow our 7 steps to a greener stay with literature available in guest bedrooms and also on prearrival confirmation email.

COMMITMENT

• To be fully engaged in the reduction of our energy consumption and waste production through dedication, education, reducing& reusing. We aim to continue to reduce our landfill waste.
• We follow a strict waste separation policy with all waste segregated into general, recycling and compost.
• Oil Filtration System in use which reuses oil, consuming less and saving in oil used. This results in less deliveries, less pickups and reduction in carbon footprint.
• Stationary station rather than stationary per person, resulting in less paper & pen usage.
• We aim to dramatically reduce the use of singleuse, non-compostable plastics.
• Fully biodegradable cups and eco-friendly packaging is used for take-away breakfast items.
• We use environmentally friendly soap & shampoo in our bedrooms.
• We have significantly reduced our single use plastics throughout our F&B operations.

COMMUNITY

• Working together with a common understanding.
• Promotion of our ‘green’ message through our social media channels.
• Tree Planting on the hotel grounds.
• Regular clean ups of our local surroundings in partnership with Tralee Tidy Towns
• Donating old/unwanted goods to charity.
• Responsible Recycling of Batteries.

BIODIVERSITY

Ballyseede Castle is set on 30 acres of rolling parkland surrounded by mature stands of native broadleaf woodland comprising of Sessile and pedunculate Oak, Beech, Birch, Ash, evergreens suchas Holly, Yew, and rhododendron.

Native species such as oak, Alder Birch, Beech and pine were planted. Pollinator friendly species such as Rowan, Blackthorn, whitethorn, Holly, Willow, Guilder rose ,beach rose and dog woods were planted as understood planting .

The Belfry at Ballyseede castle which is due to open in 2024 was designed to ensure that it allowed many pollinator-friendly species - to ensure our Biodiversity efforts are continued. Emphasis will continue on Carbon offsetting.

Mapping of our grounds flora and Fauna is currently underway.

OUR FUTURE PLANS

We are well on the way to achieving the Eco Award with 50 Shades Greener with a long-term plan to become carbon neutral and even carbon positive.

OUR TARGETS

• We aim to reduce waste product sent to land fill by 30% over the next 12 months.

o   We will do this through staff education on correct waste segregation, and monitoring of same, further installation of recycling bins throughout the grounds for ease of recycling for guests and staff alike, in-bedroom recycling bins, further limiting of single use plastics where at all possible.

o   We are actively working with our supply partners so that they too can becomeinvolved in our mission to reduce waste, and assist us by limiting packaging onthe products we purchase.

• We aim to increase the use of renewable energyonsite with planning permission submitted already to house of very own Solarfarm.
• We plan on reducing reliance on fossil fuels byswitching from Natural gas to biofuel CHP systems in the coming 12-18 months.

WHAT CAN OUR GUEST DO TO HELPUS ACHIEVE OUR AIM?