PLASTIC FREE CHAMPIONS

We catch up with Sheila HarveyLarmar to find out how they make sure their hospitality business is as green as possible. Discover their efforts for sourcing plastic free packaging options and how you can start implementing more eco-friendly practices for your own business.

By Juliet Horner

otential guests are more switched on than ever regarding environmental responsibility, but not just for their own lifestyles.

More and more, people are checking the environmental policies of the places they escape to for well-earned holidays.

But despite how popular environmental responsibility is becoming, it can be quite difficult to know where to start, especially if it concerns your business.

How can you implement more ethical and environmentally friendly practices?

We approached The Great House B&B to discover what they do to help the environment and how they earned the title ‘Plastic Free Champions’ as part of an initiative organised by Surfers Against Sewage, a grassroots movement that has grown into one of the UK’s most active environmental charities.

Sheila Harvey-Larmar and her husband Bruce own and run the Grade II listed accommodation in Exmoor and their business ethos was built with the environment in mind. “From the very first day we have been constantly working to improve our eco credentials.

“It’s all about what you’re doing to reduce what would normally be used in the business, making conscious decisions and a conscious effort," said Sheila.

URLs thegreathouse.co.uk sas.org.uk delphiseco.com uk.whogivesacrap.org

SOCIAL MEDIA

FB: The Great House B&B Exmoor IN: @the_great_house_exmoor w READ ONLINE & SHARE >> luxurybnbmag.com/plastic-freechamps-oct21

One of the main areas that Sheila and Bruce focus on is the packaging on the products they use.

“It’s not always just the product itself,” explained Sheila, “but what the product is contained in.

“For example, refilling glass bottles with water from a large holding tank because glass is recyclable.

“So in terms of our shower gel and hand gel, we look for bottles that are made from either glass or recycled plastic. But as well as being made from recycled materials, it’s also important that the packaging is still 100% recyclable at the end of its life cycle.”

When choosing to use packaging that is recyclable or eco-friendly, it’s important to do your research.

“Packaging is one of the reasons why we don’t put biscuits in the rooms,” said Sheila.

“I’ve been through every major manufacturer of individually wrapped biscuits and not one of them does recyclable packaging!

“They don’t do it, so I don’t supply it and I don’t have time to make my own shortbread because we’re just a husband and wife team.”

She added: “It’s the same with cleaning products. It’s difficult because you have to assess the quality of the product itself as well as the packaging.”

Whilst researching cleaning products, Sheila and Bruce have often had to email the companies to get the information they want because it’s not on the websites.

After searching high and low for the right cleaning products to compliment their values, Sheila and Bruce recently started using Delphis Eco products.

Delphis Eco uses recycled/recyclable packaging and their products don’t contain harmful chemicals.

Sheila also explained that they use washing powder instead of liquids for laundry.

“That way, we aren’t using harmful microplastics and the washing powder comes in a cardboard box which is easily recycled.”

Plastic Free Champions - What are they?

‘Plastic Free Champions’ is an initiative organised by Surfers Against Sewage, a grassroots movement that has grown into one of the UK’s most active environmental charities.

The SAS Plastic Free Communities movement has seen various sized businesses rising to the challenge of removing avoidable single-use plastics.

This initiative focuses on things like plastic bottles, disposable coffee cups, food packaging, straws, balloons and bathroom plastics. Independent businesses such as The Great House B&B are driving the change that’s needed to stem the plastic tide at the source.

Almost seven hundred businesses have now achieved the Plastic Free Champion award, with hundreds more working towards it.

sas.org.uk