Environmental and other Policies, Actions and Objectives

Energy

To reduce our Energy consumption by 5% in 2015. We intend to do this by replacing existing bulbs with LED in our Main Cave Access Building. We have also, through staff training and visitor awareness, adopted a ‘one hour less’policy on machines and lighting where applicable.

Water

To investigate the possibility of reusing our water for cleaning purposes in the Birds of Prey Centre and toilet flushing purposes throughout the entire site. From our waste water audit we know that the grey water produced on site is acceptable for this purpose. To investigate for and repair leaks in our main water tanks at the Cave Access Building. We also are submetering our water usage during our cheese production months of March to October.

Waste

To reduce the waste we send to landfill by 150 Tonnes during 2015. We will do this by extracting all rigid plastics on site from our landfill waste, baling same and sending the baled plastic seperatly to our recycling plant in Cree, Co Clare.

Green Purchasing

To buy goods in bulk as much as the business requires.

To begin to engage with our suppliers to reduce packaging and to enquire about their own policies when ordering goods.

All our cleaning products are of Eco Label standard.

To increase usage of recycled paper products to 10% of all paper/cardboard purchased. This includes for example the adoption of recycled sandwich wrappers for use in our tea room and farm shop.

We use cloth tea towels and service cloths in our tea room and farmshop

None of our coffee machines use coffee filters.

Community Social Responsibility through sustainable activity.

We continue to Support our charitable partners withih the Burren region and nationally, ie The Golden Eagle Trust, Clare Memories, The Burren Gaels Ladies Football Club and The Kilfenora Timeline

To engage in a local “Clean Up” at least once a year in conjunction with the Burrenbeo Conservation Groups, Meitheal and Adopt a Road Schemes. In relation to this we have, since opening in 1976, kept our local approach road litter free and maintained the hedgerow of same.

Interpretation & Guiding

We have sustained since 1976 a sound tradition of  welcoming to, educating about and intrepreting the Burren Region personally for our diverse groups of visitors. We achieve this year round; underground through fully guided cave tours and overground through narrated Flying Displays, one to one hawkwalks, bushcraft camps and masterclasses. All our employees engage in a comprehensive induction training course prior to starting work with us. For example, to invite our customers, visitors, suppliers and contractors to participate in our efforts to protect the environment, staff  training and awareness of  The Leave No Trace Seven Principles helps us to achieve this.

Sustainable Transport

Our website provides links to information on bus and rail services in the area.

While with us our visitors receive and are personally guided through a site map. They are encouraged to park their car and use the paths and/or the provided free of charge road train that connects all the facilities. These efforts minimise short and uneccessary car trips.

We also provide a secure bike and locker park for people visiting by foot or bicycle. From March 2015 we are adopting a ‘Have a free Cuppa Tea if you Cycle to me’ incentive.

We intend communicate at least quarterly i.e., every three months, our performance & achievements through our website and on our social media sites.