ECO INFO...
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OUR EU ECO LABEL & WHAT IT MEANS TOP

Pro-active change - The Greenbox is an area here in the north-west (including West Cavan) which has become Ireland’s first eco-tourism destination. Responsible tourism: small scale and sustainable, which provides an area with income that stays in the area, and does not damage the environment which attracted visitors in the first place.

The first step was to offer certified eco friendly accommodation, to be followed by similarly accredited restaurants, pubs, shops and places of interest, offering public transport run on bio fuels. This was not going to be easy, because Ireland did not, and unfortunately still does not yet have any national ‘green’ tourism certification in place.

Some years ago we tried to be greener by composting, organic gardening, recycling rubbish, using a battery operated outboard motor on our boat and not cutting back hedges too often. When Prospect Bay was offered the support as members of Greenbox to work for the EU eco label we went for it. At last, a chance to properly market something we were already doing unnoticed!

Wrong! It was soon apparent that the few things we were doing were good, but not nearly good enough for the label, and there then followed an extremely steep learning curve, and considerable expense. But we feel it was worth it. We have learned so much along the way; reduced our carbon footprint considerably, become aware of how much more we can do, and now find that we view everything we do or plan from a green perspective before any other. Plus, we became one of the first seven in Ireland (and five in N Ireland) to hold the label, and we’re very proud of that achievement.



www.greenbox.ie Ireland’s first eco tourism destination...

Some of the Eco Label mandatory and optional requirements we are committed to:-

• Using renewable energy – Airtricity
• Recycling as much as possible and keeping records
• Composting all uncooked kitchen and garden waste
• Providing showers rather than baths
• Using biodegradable detergents and cleaning products
• Having our boilers and electrical equipment serviced regularly, and records kept
• Record keeping of cleaning fridge and freezer fins, and suitable location of appliances
• A daily water leak inspection of all taps, shower heads, etc.
• Complying with local waste and water regulations
• Reusing rainwater – in our case by running it into a pond and creating a habitat
• Using no individually packaged items like soap, butter or cereals
• Sourcing local and organic ingredients for our breakfast menus
• Using free trade teas, coffees and hot chocolate
• Using recycled toilet paper and stationery, and shredding paper for composting
• Refilling printer ink cartridges
• Using local shops for our groceries.
• Our house is well insulated, double glazed and we don’t burn coal.
• We record our use of energy, detergents and water so that we can try to reduce our consumption
• Using no pesticides or herbicides in the garden.
• Our fishing boat’s outboard motor is battery run
• We have over 60% energy efficient light bulbs
• We have a Class A rated refrigerator, washing machine etc.
• We use our washing line rather than drier as much as possible
• We never run a half full wash of laundry or dishes
• We keep windows shut and turn down the heating if we are too warm
• All rooms have independent radiator valves
• We regulate water flow not to exceed 12l per minute from all taps
• Our hallways, entrances and outside lighting are all on timers
• We water our garden in the evenings only, when necessary
• We don’t use plastic bags and avoid buying pre-packaged items
• Our computer has a new low energy flat screen
• We don’t print brochures
• We are members of Green Box, a cross-border eco tourism marketing group
• We are creating a 2 acre lakeside wildlife sanctuary at the most remote section of our property

Guests are supplied with information in their room inviting their participation with our environmental policy. We ask them:-
• To remember to check lights and standby modes are switched off when leaving room
• To notify us of any leaks, dripping taps they may observe
• To separate their waste into suitable bins supplied
• To fill kettle only as necessary
• To separate towels which need replacing from those which do not
• To request change of sheets only if a twice weekly change is insufficient
• To consider turning off taps when shaving or brushing teeth

We provide guests with recycled notepaper and envelope, Ecover liquid soap and shower gel, and a leaflet regarding environmental changes they can make at home to save energy. An environmental questionnaire is available regarding their stay, and guests are invited to post it direct to the Green Box

Guests are given guidelines on reducing their impact on the environment while visiting:-
• Countryside Code, including bringing litter home for safe disposal, staying on marked paths and trails, etc.
• Angling Policy relating to parking and access, permits and licences, salmon tags, closed seasons where applicable, catch and release, no. of permitted rods, no lead weights, careful collection of hooks, line, tin cans and bringing litter home
• Asked not to pick or collect wild flowers or plants, or tamper with ancient monuments
• Encouraged to use hire cycles, and public transport if possible

www.ecolabel.eu - official EU website for all eco label goods and services

As a commitment to responsible tourism we also follow practises that financially benefit the community including:
• We buy only locally produced and/or organic meat and dairy products, bread etc
• We buy these ingredients from local shops
• We send our guests to local restaurants, shops and crafts
• We recommend other local B&Bs when we are full up.
• We call on local taxi cabs
• We offer holiday packages in conjunction with local cycling tour business
• We use local tradesmen for servicing and repairs, and local builders providers
• We allow some public access to our private fishing jetties

As a commitment to responsible tourism we also follow socially beneficial practises including:
• Providing guests with details of local community events as they occur
• Advice on ‘good’ pubs, restaurants, responsible taxi firms, and opening hours
• We regularly ferry guests to town for the evening, so avoiding them congesting the town, and possibly risking driving back.
• We always promote the concept of visiting attractions on both sides of the border
• We ask guests to observe our Travellers Code of Conduct

We’re all Responsible
More and more it has become apparent that we not only affect our immediate environment, but that everything we do, buy, or use is making a global impact when our habits as a population are added together. Global warming is such a big problem we’d be forgiven for believing we are powerless to make a difference as individuals, but in-difference would surely be worse.

Having to change our overall behaviour in ways we never considered before is probably inevitable. Legislation will force us to change and comply; severe regulation, taxes and possibly carbon rationing are ahead.

But that doesn’t mean living miserably. We run a small accommodation business, which is also our own home. We are proof that every family home can be run in a greener way if we have the knowledge to help us do it. And if a small business run from home can do it, then there is no excuse for big business.

www.enfo.ie - environmental information
www.teagasc.ie - agriculture advisory body, with useful environmental info.

Carbon Neutral Status
This is our new goal. It may be some time before we get there, as it won’t be done at the expense of guests’ comfort, but we’ll update the page as we progress. Wish us luck!

What we think about food miles...
• Buy local produce – it will probably be fresher
• Buy in season – its something to look forward to.
• If it has to be imported, are you satisfied that you paid a fair price for it, and to the benefit of the producer rather than any one else in the distribution chain? This is where Fair Trade labels can assist your purchasing decisions
• Could you have grown it yourself?
• Buy from farmers markets so you know no supermarket distribution system has caused locally grown food to travel half way round the country just to arrive back sitting on a plastic tray with cling film round it.
• The food miles principle doesn’t just apply to food. It equally applies to other seasonal products such as cut flowers.

ETHICAL EATING TOP
Alongside the question of when we eat certain foods is the topic of what we eat.

Wild salmon in decline versus chemically fed farmed salmon, for example. Then there’s the veal debate, the intensively reared pork and chicken debate, and many more. If you eat tuna, did dolphins die in the same nets? Does your cooking oil come from GM rape seed? Was your rice grown by young children who should have been in school? Did the water used to produce those melons you bought come at the expense of a local community supply?

It is a nightmare to be constantly needing reassurance and evidence about the food we buy, where it comes from and how it was produced; what is and what is not added – both to the product or to the creature as feed. Can we trust the labels? Do we trust the supermarket/restaurant?

We think the only way to convince producers and distributors to stop offering ethically questionable food is to support the Fair Trade movement, grow your own, and buy local and fresh, and most importantly, un- processed – beef you mince yourself for burgers, or home made soup from organic veg. Yes it takes longer, but it probably doesn’t cost more, it certainly will taste better, and the peace of mind will make it worth the trouble.


What we think about air travel
Many destinations on offer are economically disadvantaged and your euro, pound or dollar makes a huge difference to the people whose country you travel to. Staying at home and never going anywhere doesn’t bode well for any country’s economy, or our social awareness of the world. Unfortunately air travel is now considered one of the most damaging forms of transportation to the environment.

We can go some way to reduce our own impact. Using other means of transport may be an option – ferries, trains, etc., and consider making less trips, but staying longer, which is actually beneficial to everyone.

There are also some excellent carbon offset schemes which are genuinely worthy of support if flying is your only option. We think www.climatecare.org is one of the best. Their calculator will tell you how much offsetting your flight will cost, and show you the schemes in place which do this work while also creating employment in third world countries.


Other useful green links: TOP
www.ecoshop.ie - on line eco products.

www.ecobaby.com - reusable nappies, eco-friendly cleaning products, personal hygiene products, bio degradable products
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www.ecover.com - bio degradable cleaning products made from natural ingredients

www.responsibletravel.com - holidays that give the world a break

www.airtricity.com - wind powered electricity supplier UK and Ireland