Sustainability and the tourism industry
/At Unique Cotswold Cottages, we're trying to do our part to help protect the environment as much as we can and we thought we would share with you some of the sustainable initiatives that we have been working on.
So, what are we doing? Well, we believe that investing in local suppliers is one of the best ways we can do this, so we are consciously buying products that are locally sourced or made in the UK. By doing this, we have reduced our carbon footprint and we are supporting local businesses at the same time.
For example, our guest soaps are made by a local artisan producer Petala Soaps made in Bourton of the Water, the home of our gorgeous properties Little Gem Cottage and Hideaway Cottage. Petala soaps are not only a delightful addition to our cottage bathrooms, but they are also an environmentally conscious choice. To make the soap this local artisan producer uses a highly sustainable, traditional cold-process method from natural oils.
Plus, our logs are supplied by local company Cotswold Firewood and Logs who source their firewood locally from either waste products from tree surgery operations or timber taken from thinning sustainable woodland.
We're also trying to make it easier for our guests to be eco-friendly. So that our guests can charge their electric vehicles while they stay with us, we've installed EV chargers at two of our properties, Hideaway Cottage and Honey Pot with plans to do this in the rest..
During the renovation of our Hideaway Cottage property, we donated numerous household items and furniture to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, ensuring that our unused items went to a good cause and did not end up in landfill.
We're also proud to say that we work with lots of other Cotswold and UK-based companies who share our commitment to sustainability. To name a few:
Cotswold Gold is a local supplier of high-quality rapeseed oil. Their oil is cold-pressed and bottled on their family farm in the heart of the Cotswolds, ensuring that the product is not only delicious but also sustainable. We include it as a welcome gift, so that our guests can taste and enjoy the delicious flavour of this locally-produced oil.
At all of our properties, we provide shampoo, conditioner, and body wash from Faith in Nature. Their products are natural, cruelty free and ethical. Their production facility is in Lancashire, UK, using the water from nearby Lake District. What's more, they use 100% recycled and recyclable bottles and plant a tree for every product bought.
Bramblecrest is a UK-based company that manufactures their outdoor furniture in Indonesia, where they have a team of highly skilled artisans who use sustainable materials and techniques to create their products. They are committed to ethical and responsible sourcing, and their furniture is made to the highest quality standards. So when you relax on their outdoor sofas or enjoy breakfast on their table and chairs, you can do so knowing that you are supporting a UK company that values sustainability and quality craftsmanship.
Bramblecrest garden furniture at Hideaway Cottage
Rise and Fall is one of our absolute favourite suppliers, and we are proud to offer their Soft and Smooth bedding range to our guests for the ultimate night’s sleep! They are committed to sustainability and minimising their impact on the environment. Their cotton is grown without the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals. They also work with suppliers who share their values and are certified by independent organisations such as the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Fairtrade. Additionally, Rise and Fall uses packaging that is made from recycled materials and is 100% recyclable.
Rise and Fall bedding at Little Gem
Serious Tissues is a UK based company provides all our properties, The Loft, Little Gem, The Bolt Hole, Honey Pot and Hideaway Cottage with 100% recyclable and plastic-free toilet paper made from old paper such as newspapers, office documents, and Christmas cards. Their 3-ply toilet roll comes in a recycled cardboard box and is free from chemicals, perfumes, and dyes. But that's not all; when you purchase a pack of Serious Tissues, they plant a tree in various locations across the globe to help restore ecosystems and protect forests. As of now, the company has planted 341,064 trees.
Serious Tissues loo roll in the bathroom at Little Gem
For our latest refurbishment project, Hideaway Cottage, we turned to David Hunt Lighting, a reputable lighting company based up the road in Shipston-on-Stour. David Hunt Lighting is known for their exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, producing lighting fixtures that not only illuminate a space but also add to its aesthetic appeal. They use eco-friendly materials and employ energy-efficient manufacturing processes, making their products a great choice for us. We also made sure to select carpets made in the UK to support local manufacturing and reduce our carbon footprint.
We are currently trialling Arya Eco kitchen sponges which are made from coconut fibres and natural, sustainable, plastic free materials. And Envirowipe cleaning cloths which are fully compostable and also made with 100 percent natural fibre, for use in the kitchens of our properties.
So, that's what we're all about at Unique Cotswold Cottages. We believe that sustainable tourism is the way of the future, and we're committed to doing our part and we are working to make sure our properties are as environmentally friendly as possible.
