Cornish hotel champions sustainable business
Lewinnick Lodge, Newquay’s first boutique hotel, has banned all unsustainable palm oil.
The hotel, on the Pentire headland, has eliminated palm oil where possible and, where not possible, now uses only RSPO-approved palm oil products – from cleaning products to kitchen ingredients.
The move is part of the Lodge’s efforts to be more sustainable.
Managing director, Dan Trotter, said: “I have three children and we are bringing them up to respect the environment. I believe this approach should flow through into my business too.
“This year we are pleased to announce, among our initiatives this palm oil pledge.
“We stand behind the Newquay Supports Sustainable Palm Oil (NSSPO) group in its bid to make the town more sustainable and aware of the issues surrounding palm oil production.”
The group works with various businesses around Newquay and recently had the backing of Sir David Attenborough who wrote offering his support.
While it is cheap, useful, and the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, palm oil and its demand has caused deforestation, loss of habitats, and conflict in the tropical countries where it is cultivated.
Jane Griffiths, of NSSPO, said: “Palm oil is the most ubiquitous oil on the planet. It is found in products ranging from soaps, cosmetics and cleaning products to candles, chocolates and ice cream. But its production has caused untold devastation for rainforests and wildlife. This is why many NGOs, scientists, zoos, conservationists and environmentalists are convinced the way to prevent further deforestation and loss of wildlife is to produce palm oil sustainably.
“As consumers we can all play our part in sourcing products with certified sustainable palm oil and the Giki Badges app enables us to do this. We are delighted Dan has taken up the mantle to become the town’s first sustainable palm oil champion and we welcome other businesses joining us in this venture.”
Lewinnick Lodge also joined the Clean Cornwall scheme to offer water bottle top ups for people. Plastic straws are banned as well as single use plastic packaging on toiletries and paper items have been cut down on too like napkins and paper hand towels in the toilets.
Energy saving measures include electric charging points (including two Tesla), low energy LED lighting and, where they can, action-sensor lighting. The hotel has its own water supply from on-site boreholes.
Sister venue, the Plume of Feathers at Mitchell, is welcoming wildlife with schemes including bee bricks, swift boxes and a wildlife garden. There are also bee hives producing Angry Bee honey.
Dan added: “Minimising environmental impact is also important to us as well as giving back to the community.
“We source as much as we can from Cornish companies, from ingredients for our menus to flowers for displays. This supports local businesses and reduces our carbon footprint.
“Guests are encouraged to join us in our efforts - they have the chance to opt-out of daily linen changes in order to save water, and the offer of used coffee grounds to take home as fertiliser.
“The Lodge ethos is to promote tourism in Cornwall ethically and sustainably. We are constantly looking to see where we can make improvements and look forward to announcing more initiatives and partnerships in 2020.”
I have three children and we are bringing them up to respect the environment. I believe this approach should flow through into my business too.
