I was just coming onto the Community to bring this discussion up, so thank you! In response to your proposal, I agree, I and I think your sustainable and cruelty free practices should be listed along with whether you have wifi, or a smoke alarm. I started hosting earlier this year and I felt like I was taking a leap of faith to see if I could host sustainably and how would the guests respond. I can now report that people LOVE it and my hosting is going really well.
Some things I have implemented (there are many) but I think these are basics everyone could do.
- Zero landfill. I have a sign next to the baskets in the kitchen which explains that we have managed zero landfill for 2 years and we hope that the guests will be happy to try it out. I ask them to look at what they are throwing away and sort it in the following way -
if any of it is compostable - put it in the compost bin.
if it is clean paper - put it in the paper bin to start the fire.
if it is dirty paper - sanitary waste for example - put it in the fire.
if it is soft plastic - anything that will scrunch in your hand like packets, bags etc - clean it and put it one bin. We take it to Coles to be recycled.
If is is normal recycling - clean it and put it in another bin.
Often there is nothing else, but if it is left over then it goes into land fill.
many guests have LOVED this and noone has complained. Many mention it in their praise of their experience in their reviews. Only one couple have totally messed this up and put all their waste together.
My home is built from earth, I am on tank water, solar power and the toilet is a compost toilet so I am happy with my level of sustainability on these fronts. However I have a note on the toilet explaining what to do with sanitary waste and ask them to google 'keepcup'. (I hope people do as this is one reusable item for the whole of a womans life and is fantastic).
Instead of having cling film in the kitchen drawer I have wax wraps and some clean take away containainers people can use.
All cleaning cloths are squares of scrap material that I have cut up. They are pretty. They are laundered with the tea towels etc and work much better than single, or short use, kitchen cloths.
The cleaner has only biodegradable cleaning products and also has a large supply of squares of scrap material that I have cut up.
All toilet paper is 100% recycled office waste. Available in almost all supermarkets or from 'Give a Crap' online and there is is no excuse not to make this simple choice in my opinion. Fancy toilet paper has plastic in and does not break down for years. It also uses virgin wood which is not sustainable.
I buy large blocks of soap at the local market which does not have palm oil or plastic wrap. I cut it into small squares with a sharp knife. Very easy.
I ask people to bring their own supplies of bread, milk etc to suit their dietory needs so that is not wasted by getting things people don't want. But I have an amply stocked larder of fair trade, organic products like coffee, teas, all hebs and spices, rice, pulses etc.
I hope this helps others think about how they can run their property more sustainably. We have a fantastic opportunity to raise the bar and give people an experience which hopefully inspires them.
my property is Castle in the Sky, Musk Vale, Victoria, Australia.
love Annabel