Sustainability
Committed to working in a sustainable way
As a charity, Seren is committed to working in a sustainable way and take care to reduce, re-use and recycle. Our aim is to become Net Zero by 2030 and we are working continually to achieve this, despite the challenges we face to do so.
Therefore, we have a developed a strategy, policy and plan on how we hope to achieve this with short, medium and long term goals.
We recognise our responsibility to protect the designation of being located in an area of outstanding natural beauty and are committed to play our part in preserving it and to minimise environmental impacts as much as possible. In preserving our countryside for future generations, Gwesty Seren has partnered up with Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park’s “Plastic-Free Yr Wyddfa” campaign, being located within its boundary and have already achieved the Silver Standard. With your help, we are working towards increasing this to a Gold Standard – this will confirm that we are 94% plastic-free within the establishment.
We no longer use:
- Single use plastic products to include condiment sachets
- Single portion cereal boxes
- Single use butter pats
- Bulk bought products
- Plastic wrapped biscuits in bedrooms
- General bins for all waste
- One stop shop ordering for everything
We now use:
- Condiments served in reusable receptacles.
- Selection of pre portioned breakfast cereals
- Butter curls served in dishes
- Locally Sourced products with reduced air miles, supporting the local economy
- Home baked biscuits/cakes in bedrooms
- Segregated recycling bins
- Considered purchasing with locally sourced products and sustainability in mind
Gwynedd is one of the highest counties in Wales in terms of recycling targets and guests are encouraged to use the segregated recycling bins located internally on the first-floor corridors and externally to the side of the hotel towards the back at the top of the drive.
Segregated recycled material includes paper and cardboard, plastic and metal, glass, food and general waste. This ensures waste to landfill is minimised as far as possible.
We also compost as much appropriate waste food products such as kitchen peelings and other organic kitchen waste material as we can which is then reused in our Gerddi ‘Stiniog Gardens and are seeking to invest in a wormery.
Additionally, we’re also planning to introduce water butts to water plants around the hotel and gardens. We will be measuring these activities when in place.
Internally, the charity is committed towards becoming paperless and our journey continues having made as much use of technology as possible.
As part of our commitment to sustainability and becoming plastic-free, we work with our suppliers to ensure we partner up with those having a similar ethos and values as ourselves.
Over the last couple of years, we have commenced installing low energy lighting, some of which is dimmable and sensors so that the lights/fans switch off automatically when not in use in some areas of the building. This improves energy consumption and lengthens the lifespan of our lighting sources. Otherwise, all equipment is switched off at the mains when not in use and we kindly ask guests to do likewise.
Towels are replaced only when requested to do so by leaving them in the bath/shower in order to save water and energy usage.
Cleaning products are environmentally friendly throughout the Hotel and in the bedrooms, we use refillable bathing products for guests’ use to reduce the amount of plastic bottle waste.
Externally, we have commenced a comprehensive programme to eradicate invasive species as much as possible – this includes removing Japanese Knotweed and Rhododendrons.
As guests, we kindly request your assistance with this by ensuring that you:
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Use the recycling bins located in public spaces or outside
- Turn all appliances off at the walls when not in use
- Turn down the radiator thermostatic controls rather than opening the windows if the room is too hot
- Be Water Wise and mindful of wasteful consumption by eg not leaving the tap running unnecessarily to cool tap water or when cleaning teeth
- Please support our local community by using local products and suppliers which also helps to reduce carbon emissions
- Consider walking, biking or taking public transport as an alternative to using the car – details of bike hiring facilities and walking/biking trails are available. Please ask at reception if you’re interested in learning more
- Respect the countryside codes by staying on footpaths, not straying onto private farmlands, closing all gates behind you, keeping all dogs on a lead around farm animals and not dropping litter
- Participate in the Plastic-free Wyddfa by not using single use plastic where possible
Future plans
Our programme of proactive cyclic maintenance continues, which includes further investment to ensure that eventually 100% of our lighting is low energy use LED.
Eradication of Japanese Knotweed and Rhododendrons to continue as a 5-year programme.
We are working towards installing new low energy down lighting outside to reduce light pollution for Dark Skies observing points and to encourage wildlife conservation, whilst maintaining health and safety requirements.
There are however challenges inherent with our commitment, the biggest one being the cost involved in lagging and renovating the whole roof, overhauling the heating system, and installing solar panels. We have already invested in an air source heat pump, but we are also working within the restrictions posed by a historical building.