In 2021 we got serious about data. This enabled us to know our baseline. Getting the right information at the right time is not always easy, and our data collection is improving as we mature.
Where we have been able, we have set targets and KPIs to help us get there, and these are in our overall sustainability strategy and on our business sustainability dashboard so that we can see our progress each month.
Transparency and trust are integral to our way of working,
We share financial transparency with the team, monitor KPI’s for our social and environmental impacts, and increasingly assess our stakeholder engagement through the year.
—
Accountability is Key
Our eco collection will allow guests to see the work owners are doing, and our digital guidebook allows guests to see what the owners are doing too, and how they can get involved.
Booking.com research shows that over 71% of people would be happier if the house they stayed in was eco-certified and 80% of people say that travelling sustainably is important to them. A whopping 3/4 of the adult population in the UK, and 83% of teens, have eco-anxiety (UK Census Nov 22). All these figures point toward a new tourism approach.
But which certification and how do they work? Who reviews them, what’s the cost etc… It’s our role to help our owners work that out. As yet, there is no simple answer.
We’re working with the industry to create a sensible, workable system that user-friendly for all. Watch this space.
Below are a few of our environmental projects, for more visit our Properties page
One of our single biggest challenges is to support our owners to deliver greener properties. Without greener stays, we can’t really be integral.
This change is no small thing. Each owner is running their property as an independent business and change takes time.
But we can help them with research, ideas, collaboration, funding, discussion, communication and much more.
From “how-to” guides on waste, to ‘cleaner cleaning’ and super-high tech ‘Green Butlers’… we’re rolling our sleeves up and learning together! Visit our Properties page for more info.
Together, with our cleaners, we researched and wrote this Cleaner Cleaning Guide. It will help you save money, clean greener and polish your planet-saving halo!
Read more about how to get going on our Cleaner Cleaning page.
Plastic and food waste. Two of our pet hates! We can do better – even if we have major local restraints with our New Forest Council systems.
Food waste is one of the largest causes of carbon emissions. In holiday houses, discarded food makes up 40% of black bag waste – composting isn’t a kerb-side pickup option here. Currently the local council doesn’t separate it, and until they do, we’ll do what we can to encourage owners to put in wormeries, offer composting on-site.
By keeping food waste out of our bins, we found that recycling rates shoot up. Important learning for our industry.
New Forest Escapes have teamed up with researchers at the University of Cumbria on an innovative research project to investigate the factors affecting visitors happiness and wellbeing as a result of staying in a sustainable place.
We hope to answer questions such as ‘How much is holiday happiness to do with what the owners provide?’ ‘How much do the guests own experiences or the weather contribute?’ ‘How does a sustainable home add to guests experience of holiday happiness?’ And most importantly – ‘Can these factors help to reduce a guests climate concerns?’
View our GDP of Happiness page and change maker interview with Dr Parapanos from the University of Cumbria.
