Sustainability at St Michaels
GREEN TOURISM BUSINESS SCHEME – GOLD
St Michaels Resort is proud to have achieved a Gold award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS). The GTBS is the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the world. Businesses are assessed by a qualified advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas. It means focusing on being sustainable, responsible and green – minimising energy waste and water resources used, working as well as celebrating positive aspects of our culture and ecology.
By choosing a GTBS hotel you are guaranteed that it is:
– committed to sustainable tourism
– operating in accordance with the relevant environmental regulations
– meets minimum standards of good practice
– audited by a qualified professional to ensure standards are maintained
Our Gold GTBS award means that we have been graded as ‘inspiration and outstanding’. Our Gold award means that:
“The highest standards of sustainability are being achieved with a strong and broad ethos and excellent examples throughout. The latest technologies will be employed from LED lighting through to efficient boilers and even renewable technologies. The business has efficient control of resource use and can demonstrate effective monitoring with targets for savings. Green procurement will include sustainable fish/meat sources, a range of ethical products and working with local suppliers to provide fresh, local and even organic items. Changes in working practices are leading to significant benefits to the business, community and supply chain.”
ST MICHAELS RESORT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Situated on the beautiful Cornish coast, opposite a Blue Flag beach, the guests of St Michaels Resort are able to enjoy the clean beaches and fresh air. It is inevitable that a business concentrates on its economic goals, however, to be sure that our guests are able to continue to enjoy the natural beauty on our doorstep we must not only focus on economic success, but on environmental sustainability as well.
We recognise that our business has a direct impact on the environment and understand that the purpose of this policy is to state the company’s aims & objectives and that it forms the basis of our environmental management system.
We have prioritised our environmental initiatives according to those which have the greatest impact and are working upon new systems and procedures that reduce our negative impact.
LOCAL SOURCING
We source all our ingredients as locally as possible in order to create a menu designed around the best quality and freshest produce we possibly can. Supporting our local sustainable suppliers is a cause we are passionate about and one that is built in to our food style. We look to lower our food miles and source from those who practice sustainable and responsible production. We are proud to name our suppliers and to communicate with our guests the food journey taking you from plough or sea to plate. Our kitchen team is committed to sustainable fishing selecting species of fish that are not threatened or those that have depleted stocks. We support local food festivals and our chefs regularly perform demos at events.
For St Michaels, local sourcing means more than just food and drink – we source locally for as much as we can, from our organic local spa products to office supplies and architects. Over the last year St Michaels has seen over £1 million worth of investment on re-building, renovation and refurbishment and we are proud to say that we have worked closely with local businesses in all aspects of our re-investment.
TRANSPORT
Whilst we understand that many guests will arrive by car, once they are here we promote the use of the network of ferries, boats, buses & trains that link some of Cornwall’s best attractions. We offer e-bike-hire for guests, perfect to explore the local area. Staff are encouraged to use alternative means to get to work: public transport, car sharing, cycling or walking.
ENERGY SAVING
Energy efficiency throughout the business is achieved by actively encouraging reduced consumption; the installation of PIR lighting, improved staff initiatives and the renewal of old equipment with energy efficient equipment. Double glazing now accounts for 62% of the hotel’s windows and guests self-select to have towels laundered /replaced. Various public areas of the hotel use sensor or timer lighting (including toilets and bar areas) and 100% of our external lighting is set to a seasonal day and night timer. 80% of our public areas and bedroom corridors now have leading edge LED lighting installed.
WATER CONSERVATION
Measures have been introduced to reduce the amount of water used including the fitting of water efficient toilet cisterns, low flush urinals and flow restrictors on bathroom basin taps.
RECYCLING & WASTE MANAGEMENT
We actively manage, measure and reduce the amount of waste we produce with the promotion of recycling (glass, cardboard, printer cartridges, batteries, paper, metal & plastic) to guests and staff. In the last eighteen months we have reduced our final waste by two-thirds.
CREW INITIATIVES
The Resort has a dedicated Green Team, who champion every element of sustainability throughout the Resort and is vital to the success of our environmental strategy combined with the co-operation of our guests, customers and suppliers. The crew carry out regular beach cleans of our local Gyllyngvase beach, as well as the surrounding local roads and green spaces.
Our green journey is by no means complete, but we have the conviction to take it forward and are committed to becoming greener with every passing day.
CHARITY SUPPORT
Each year we choose a local charity to support, one whose mission aligns with our own brand values and who most importantly, need support. We support our chosen charity through fundraising initiatives, including our annual 'Give Back Friday' campaign, rather than a traditional Black Friday message. Over the Give Back Friday weekend, we donate a portion of all sales to our chosen charity, which amounts to several thousand pounds each year. We don't stop there, we continually work with our chosen charity, using our marketing channels and audiences to raise awareness and drive online traffic to their platforms.