The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS)
The GTBS is the leading green tourism certification scheme in the UK. Businesses opting to join are assessed by a qualified assessor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more. If businesses meet the required standard they are awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold based on their level of achievement. The Greenbank Hotel has been awarded Gold.
Environmental Issues
The Greenbank Hotel has taken significant steps to make the hotel as environmentally friendly as possible, as well as supporting a number of initiatives in the local community. Here are a few highlights :
- 80% of our food is now sourced by our Head chef Fiona Were from within a 30 mile radius of the hotel, including local oysters, sausages and salad leaves.
- The majority of light bulbs throughout the hotel have been replaced with LED lighting, which is both cost effective and carbon neutral.
- Three more low water usage shower heads are purchased and replaced each month, which saves considerably on water consumption in showers, and reduces wastage and for each shower head bought £1 is donated to Water Aid
- £559.28 has been raised to date for the Mothers Union soup kitchen, helping to feed hundreds of Aids victims in South Africa.
- £1140 has been raised to date for Surfers Against Sewage, a local drive to keep our beaches and seas clean.
- In March 2010 our Ready, Steady, Cook event raised £402 in aid of Falmouth and Penryn Foodbank.
- From May 2011 we will be supporting the Cornwall Air Ambulance with ongoing fundraising and a ball to be held in June 2011
Local Charity Support
Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust
The Greenbank is operating an ‘opt out’ visitor-gifting scheme for the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust. We automatically add 50p per room, on each guests stay which gets donated to go to this worthy organisation, who provide an integral part of Cornwall's Ambulance Service but who are reliant on public fundraising and donations.
If you do not wish to give this donation please ask the duty receptionist to take this off your final account.
More details can be found on their website www.cornwallairambulancetrust.org
However, to give something back to you we will deduct £1.00 from every guests bill who use public transport as a means to travel to the hotel instead of using their car, please inform the duty receptionist on arrival.
We are working closely with and supporting the following local organisations & charities:
Cornwall Air Ambulane Trust - In April 1987, the air ambulance was introduced as an integral part of Cornwall’s ambulance service. The initial funding provided by the local health authority was withdrawn in October of that year, and shortly afterwards the charity, then known as the First Air Ambulance Service Trust, was formed. Following considerable publicity, the service was then financed by public fundraising and donations. This remains the case to this day, with fantastic support given by the people of Cornwall and local business.
SAS (Surfers Against Sewage) - The Greenbank is the only Hotel in Falmouth supporting this Cornish environmental campaign group and we display a collection tin, organise beach cleans and send the charity our print toners to recycle. SAS is a UK-based non profit-making organisation campaigning for clean, safe recreational waters, free from sewage effluents, toxic chemicals, marine litter and nuclear waste. More details can be found on their website www.sas.org.uk
CWT (Cornwall Wildlife Trust) - www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk - fulfils a role occupied by no other countryside organisation. They are concerned solely with Cornwall and involved in the many aspects of conserving Cornwall's wildlife and wild places. As an official Corporate Member of CWT, the Greenbank Hotel is making a commitment to protect wildlife and therefore the environment in Cornwall.
Ramblers Organisation - www.ramblers.org.uk - The Greenbank Hotel is listed on the Rambler’s website as one of the ‘Walker-Friendly Accommodation Providers’ and this Guest Guide lists all of the Walks in Cornwall, contact information and some timetables of organised walks in Falmouth and other local areas.
Penryn & Falmouth Foodbank - following the Ready Steady Cook event held at The Greenbank in March, we are now selling recipe books here at the hotel for £3 each, with all proceeds going to the Penryn & Falmouth Foodbank.
The Child Brain Injury Trust - www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk - The Greenbank Hotel hosted a family Easter Egg Hunt and activity afternoon and raised £43.10 for CBIT
We officially support the following local Sustainable Organisations :
SSW (Sustainability South West), Fair Shares Fair Choices, Shape a Better South West, Future Footprints, Future Foundations and CoaST.
Why not visit a Gold Award attraction - South West Lakes Trust at Stithians Lake
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