Environmental Policy

At Hawthorne House we are committed to the implementation of measures to help protect and sustain the environment for future generations. We recognise the impact of our operation on the environment around us and try to minimise that impact. As a result, and in line with our chosen partners, we have implemented the following sustainability policy.

In delivering our commitment we will:-

Not only select product on price and quality but also according to criteria such as sustainability, reliability, ethical practices, social supplies, workplace safety and health supplies.
‘Buy local’ where possible to minimise environmental impact of purchased goods.
Encourage environmental responsibility by our suppliers and contractors.
Comply with all relevant environmental legislation as a minimum standard, and take a proactive approach to future requirements and obligations.
Seek to conserve natural resources through the responsible use of energy, water and materials whilst also maintaining the quality of service expected by our guests.
Monitor performance and aim for continued improvement by reducing, re-using, and recycling in areas such as energy consumption, reduction of waste materials and water consumption.
Ensure that employees at all levels are aware of the potential environmental effects of their activities and the benefits of improved environmental performance.
We are also working towards becoming a carbon neutral organisation.
Use environmentally-friendly cleaning products where possible
Active participation by all staff members in environmentally sound community projects at least annually (paid for by Hawthorne House)

Examples of everyday actions:

Recycling

Paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, toner cartridges.
Food waste is fed to our chickens and non-food organic waste is composted
Waste compacted to reduce number of collections.

Saving energy

Monitoring gas and electricity consumption on an on-going basis.
Move to low-energy light bulbs (as old bulbs expire)
Use of motion detectors to turn off extractor fans in bathrooms.
Timer controlled heating
Re-use towels on guest request.
When replacing worn-out appliances we change to energy-efficient models.

Reduction of

Water consumption by installation of dual-flush system in toilets.
Waste packaging by the purchase of items in bulk where possible

Conservation

Planting of trees and shrubs to create natural habitats for wildlife

Social policy

Donating supplementary products or furniture to local charities/schools
Hire local staff where possible to grow community
Guest amenities are donated to the local women’s refuge where possible along with surplus/ old branded items.
Donate old computers etc to local schools
Free provision of Hawthorne facilities to local charities for meetings or event hosting

We are in the process of being assessed on the Qualmark Enviro rating system and will work towards achieving Qualmark Enviro-Gold rating.

We are also participating in the Sustainable Tourism Advisers in Regions (STAR) programme which provides tourism operators with tools for improving their environmental performance in nine regions across New Zealand.