Our Top 10 Sustainable Actions

Sustainability is the main goal of our organization.

We are fully aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the UN Climate Summit in 2015, which are to be achieved by 2030. In September 2023, we received the BIOSPHERE SUSTAINABLE certification, becoming the first hotel in Platja d’Aro to be awarded this recognition.

As is well known, sustainability has three fundamental pillars:

  • The environmental pillar, which focuses on protecting our surroundings.
  • The economic pillar, ensuring the viability of businesses and livelihoods.
  • The social pillar, which considers our relationships with all stakeholders, from our employees and local suppliers to the various partnerships we establish within our community.

In no particular order, here are our eco-friendly commitments as a sustainable hotel:

Clean Energy

In 2022, we installed 52 photovoltaic panels on the hotel roof for optimal use of solar energy. This installation is 23.66 kW, reducing our electricity consumption by almost 30% (previously 50% before we had air conditioning). This results in a 4.3-ton reduction in CO2 emissions (equivalent to planting 2,357 trees).

The remaining energy we use is purchased from Total Energía, with 100% of it coming from renewable sources, certified by the CNMC (National Commission of Markets and Competition). This means we are carbon neutral, as all our energy consumption is compensated.

Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation

All the lighting in the hotel uses LED technology. We have water-saving aerators on faucets and a system to reduce water flow in showerheads.

The toilets have a dual flush system. A very practical measure this year was removing bathtub plugs, making it impossible to fill them.

Regarding irrigation, we have sectorized the garden and installed a drip irrigation system throughout, ensuring that watering only occurs during the six warmest months of the year (May to October), for just 20 minutes at dawn.

We have replaced the grass lawn in our garden with a field of native plants, most of them aromatic, transforming our garden into a Butterfly Oasis.

The plants bloom at different times of the year, providing food and habitat for pollinating species that play a crucial role in biodiversity. Over the past 20 years, 60% of these species have disappeared in our area. This Butterfly Oasis was inspired by the local conservation organization Sterna and has been officially recognized by the Zerinthia national project, which has registered it as part of a network of Butterfly Oases in the country.

Our data from last year shows that, compared to 2022, we have reduced our water, electricity, and propane gas consumption.

The latter was achieved thanks to new technologies, implementing a temperature monitoring unit for domestic hot water (DHW), the boiler, and storage tanks.

Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse

The three fundamental actions for the future of our planet.

We have reduced waste to the point of completely eliminating single-use plastic in the hotel, including in the breakfast buffet, rooms, and throughout the hotel.

Our Stop Plastic Pollution project focuses on exactly this. In 2022, we eliminated plastic bottled drinks, providing guests with glass bottles and free filtered water from a dedicated water dispenser. Thanks to this initiative, we prevent the use of 6,020 plastic bottles per year, in addition to the bottles guests would have purchased themselves. This means less plastic waste entering water systems and, ultimately, the ocean—helping to protect marine ecosystems.

Additionally, we offer reusable bottles from the Barcelona-based brand Runbott. For each bottle sold, €1 is donated to a cause chosen by our staff. In 2024, the donation went to OPEN ARMS, a humanitarian organization that rescues people risking their lives in the Mediterranean in search of a better future.

How Have We Achieved This?

  • We eliminated all single-use packaging in the breakfast buffet.
  • We use glass jars for jam, Nutella, and nut-based spreads.
  • We use glass containers for various products.
  • We are constantly researching new sustainable options. In 2024, for example, we will introduce biodegradable paper-wrapped butter portions.

Laundry and Cleaning Department

  • We receive cleaning products in "bag-in-box" packaging, reducing plastic waste by 75%.
  • All cleaning products are Ecolabel-certified, highly concentrated, and mixed with water.
  • In 2024, we are introducing a new floor cleaning system using mops, which saves 80% more water, making the process faster, more hygienic, and efficient.

Recycling Initiatives

  • We properly sort and process all waste.
  • Our staff receives specialized training to ensure proper recycling.
  • We have two compost bins in our garden, turning organic waste into fertilizer.

Reusing Everything We Can

  • We donate breakfast carton waste to organic farms, where it is used as natural mulch.
  • We donate the cardboard cores of toilet paper rolls for use as seed starters.
  • We donate used cava bottles to Mas Molla winery in Calonge, where they are reused for bottling traditional farm wine.
  • Through La Caixa’s "Reutilitza’m" program, we donate furniture, mattresses, and kitchen equipment to nonprofit organizations.
  • We use platforms like Wallapop, Vinted, and the Facebook group "No lo tiro, lo regalo" to give a second life to items we no longer use.

Our 2023 sustainability figures show a reduction in water, electricity, and propane gas consumption compared to 2022.

We achieved this last goal thanks to new technology, including a hot water monitoring unit for the boiler and storage tanks.

Zero Toxicity in Paints and Ecolabel Products

We are committed to using eco-friendly paint in all our renovations, ensuring that whenever we repaint, we do so sustainably. The air in our hotel is clean and safe for both staff and guests.

Our cleaning products are sourced from a local, long-standing sustainable supplier, Llagosnet from Castell d’Aro. All their products are ECOLABEL and CRADLE TO CRADLE certified, meaning they are manufactured according to sustainability standards, resource conservation, and environmental protection. Most importantly, they are non-toxic for both people and the environment, ensuring zero contamination.

Km0 Products and Local Suppliers

We select suppliers and products based on sustainability and proximity criteria. We choose suppliers who share our values, do things the right way, and make us proud to work with them.

The lowest price is not our priority. Instead, we focus on the social value of the companies we collaborate with.

Fighting Food Waste

We collaborate with the Too Good To Go app to ensure that all good-quality food left over from the breakfast buffet does not go to waste. We have been working with them for three years, and so far, we have saved 434 food packs, preventing 1.08 tons of CO₂ emissions.

Each pack, valued at €12, is made available for just €3.99, allowing us to sell all surplus food instead of throwing it away. We have built a strong reputation for the quality of our packs, which sell out instantly whenever we list them. We usually offer one or two packs per day that would otherwise be discarded.

A Key Fact: According to a study cited by oceanographer Cristina Romera Castillo in her book Antropoceno, Espasa, 2022, one-third of all food produced globally is wasted. This food could feed 2 billion people per year. Meanwhile, the current world population is around 8 billion, according to the latest United Nations estimates.

The users of this service are not just young people engaged in sustainability, but also people in need, such as low-income individuals or elderly people with limited resources, who come to collect the food packs. This social impact is something we are very proud of.

At the end of each season, we donate the total proceeds from the packs. In 2023, the funds will go to the local conservation group STERNA, which works on preserving and protecting the natural environment. As a new initiative, we will also donate part of the proceeds to 18Nusos, a local organization dedicated to marine ecosystem conservation.

Healthy Lifestyle: Local Products

At our breakfast buffet, we prioritize local products and offer healthier options, featuring a wide selection of unprocessed and organic foods. More than 60% of our buffet is organic, making us the only hotel in Platja d’Aro that serves organic eggs for breakfast. We proudly support the Realfooding movement, which promotes healthy eating.

Now, let us ask you something: If you take care of yourself at home, why shouldn’t you eat just as healthily on vacation?

We also offer a diverse buffet with gluten-free, lactose-free, egg-free, vegan, and vegetarian options—because we care about the different preferences, allergies, and intolerances our guests may have.

We Promote Sustainable Mobility

We are a Bed & Bike hotel, offering a dedicated space for storing, repairing, and washing bicycles.

We also provide bike rentals and charging stations for electric vehicles, including cars, bicycles, and motorcycles.

We encourage our guests to choose sustainable transportation options and provide public transport schedules to help them use it whenever possible.

Our Team at the Heart of Our Business

Our team members want to work with us because we are a company with a soul, where people are valued and where labor rights are fully respected according to the hospitality industry agreement.

We are transparent: our employees work 40 hours per week, in 8-hour shifts, and have two days off, whenever possible, consecutively. Schedules are planned one week in advance to accommodate personal needs. Often, rest days are combined with vacation days to provide better work-life balance.

We prioritize family-work balance and flexibility, adapting to the individual needs of our employees.

Our primary goal is not just to make money, but also to create social value and protect our environment.

Stable and Quality Employment

We offer stable and high-quality jobs, and 70% of our staff returns each season.

We practice positive discrimination in hiring women:

  • 73% of our workforce are women.
  • 61% of our employees are over 40 years old, as experience generates trust.
  • The 30% who do not return are either people who find year-round jobs or students seeking new experiences, which is completely natural.

50% of our team members are from abroad, while the other half are local.

Opportunities for New Employees

We provide job opportunities for:

  • People at risk of social exclusion.
  • Long-term unemployed individuals.
  • Young people from Platja d’Aro (IES) entering the workforce for the first time.
  • Tourism faculty students doing internships.

We also help our employees develop their professional skills through a Training Plan, which includes courses during the low season when we are closed.

Commitment to Training and Safety

At the beginning of each season, we organize a training day covering:

  • Emergency procedures.
  • Occupational health and safety.
  • Sexual and psychological harassment prevention protocols.
  • Psychosocial work environment management.
  • Food safety and allergen handling.

Inclusive and Non-Sexist Communication

We actively promote inclusive language and eliminate gender clichés from our communications. Language shapes our perception of reality, and by making it more inclusive, we can drive cultural change.

Language is a powerful tool for transmitting culture. If we live in a sexist society, our language tends to reflect that. Fortunately, language evolves, and by modifying how we communicate, we can change the way we see the world.

We Build Partnerships with Microbusinesses and Small Local Projects

And we love doing it! We give visibility to small businesses by offering them a free space to showcase their products, helping them achieve economic sustainability.

In this spirit, we highlight the products we sell as souvenirs in our Km0 store—local specialties that our guests can take home, such as honey from Vall d’Aro, Vi(o)ritme wine from Castell d’Aro, jams, and Les Eroles olive oil from Agrobotiga de la Masia Can Juanals de Castell d’Aro, as well as ceramics from La Bisbal and cork products.

We have also launched a collaboration with Jeansbag (@jeanbag19), where we serve as a collection point for old or unused jeans. These are upcycled by Maria Aubeso into handbags, keychains, and denim fabric cushions.

Additionally, we collaborate with local diving and environmental organizations to clean beaches and the seabed, helping to protect marine ecosystems.

To further this effort, we distribute beach ashtrays to our guests, working towards a world free of cigarette butts in the sea.

Did You Know?: A single cigarette butt can take up to 10 years to degrade and can contaminate up to 10 liters of seawater or 50 liters of freshwater. It is one of the main sources of pollution on beaches.

We Are the First Hotel in Platja d’Aro Certified with the BIOSPHERE SUSTAINABLE Certification

After two years of work, we have achieved Biosphere’s international sustainability certification. Last month, we also obtained the Ecostars certification, and in 2024, we are in the process of obtaining the SICTED quality certification.

We have also reached Level 3 in Booking’s Travel Sustainable program, which is the highest level, and we are part of the “Hostelería por el Clima” (Hospitality for Climate) initiative by Ecodes.

Additionally, the Baix Empordà Regional Council has recognized us as a Socially Responsible Company for the second consecutive year, especially for our commitment to quality employment.

Did You Know?

According to Booking.com studies, 73% of travelers are more likely to book accommodation that implements sustainable practices.

In the short term, investing in sustainability has helped us save water, electricity, and food. In the long term, all our efforts contribute to creating a better world.