The Lodge at Ashford Castle's Sustainability Initiatives

Here at The Lodge at Ashford Castle, our commitment to environmental and social responsibility has a multifaceted approach, find out more about our holistic dedication to creating a positive impact on both the environment and the community below. CLIMATE We are undertaking a number of different measures to reduce our carbon footprint at The Lodge at Ashford Castle. As a property, we have been using 100% renewable energy since 2019, this dedication to the reduction of carbon emissions is something that we are particularly proud to endorse. Additionally, through using Diligent, we have recorded our carbon footprint, able to track our progress and align ourselves with industry standards. As part of the future here on the estate, we are looking into using all electric vehicles with additional charging points on the Ashford Estate. FOOD Reducing Food Waste All coffee grinds, raw fruit and vegetable trimmings are now being converted into compost via Winnow, a food waste solution technology. This compost is then being transferred into helping fruits and vegetables grown on the estate, this circular process is one our Executive Head Chef, Jonathan Keane and his team are particularly proud of. In 2021, we recycled 69% of our waste, which is then separated into various streams, food, non-recyclable, glass, paper & plastics, cardboard, batteries and electrical waste. Local and Organic Produce Jonathan Keane is an advocate for using the best locally sourced produced, and his menus are a testament to this belief. The Lodge's partnership with Glasraí the perfect example of this. A small certified organic farm in Hollymount Co. Mayo, a few miles from the Ashford Estate, they farm with the earth as their core value and encourage a biodiverse, vibrant, healthy ecosystem. On the Ashford Estate, Gardener Alex Lavell has brought new life to the polytunnels. Situated by The Lodge at Ashford Castle, these supply the Ashford Estate with a vast array of local and organic produce. WASTE Eliminating single-use plastics Currently, we are 76% of the way to eliminating as many single use plastics as possible from our operations. We are also in the process of changing our key cards to paper as well as trialling new refillable toiletries in the bathrooms, which would eliminate a significant amount of plastic waste on the estate. EXPERIENCES MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® We have curated a collection of MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences under four different themes: Irish food, indigenous craft, music and story, and the real Connemara. This is a unique opportunity to meet the flagbearers of traditional Irish culture and to support our local artists and artisans.

The Lodge's Sustainability Initiatives

Wildlife