Sustainability

A charm place with a strong environmental awareness

Sustainability is a part of Areias do Seixo's DNA in every sphere of action

From management strategy to trivial daily life.

Recruitment

We privilege people who seek a stable and long-lasting relationship with Areias do Seixo, who share the same sustainability values and practices. We also favour locals and/or people who are willing to move to the surrounding area and somehow intervene positively.

Architecture and construction

During the whole process of construction, and from the very biggening, good practices were considered to promote a harmonious and respectful marriage between landscape and building, also, to mitigate environmental impact and ecological footprint. The architecture and design were conceived taking the morphology of the land - a natural amphitheatre, into account, allowing the building to have less volume. We used rubble and wreckage from what was previously on the land – an old aviary – as pavement base.

Restaurant

We cook with what Mother Earth - naturally - gives us,

using and abusing flowers, bulbs, vegetables, and herbs from our garden..

Seasonal Menus

Our menus change not only according to season, but also, with our garden production rhythm.

Sustainable practices

We abolished every single-use plastic, namely straws and water bottles. Our compostable napkins are used as brown material, and the organic waste, as green material, on our composting centre. Combined, and with time, they will turn into natural chemical-free compost, used afterwards on the garden.

Organic waste

Our compostable napkins are used as brown material, and the organic waste, as green material, on our composting centre. Combined, and with time, they will turn into natural chemical-free compost, used afterwards on the garden.

Suppliers

We favour local suppliers, bulk shopping, returnable packaging, and larger quantities. We avoid purchasing products that come with waste and overpackaging.

Quality policy

Annually, we define financial and environmental objectives, indicators and goals to which the Management and all employees are committed. These objectives include sustained growth and positive net results.

Energy and natural resources management

No waste

The orange peels, from the breakfast orange juice, are naturally dehydrated and used as firelighters on the rooms and villas fireplaces, along with pinecones (we do not use artificial firelighters).

Acclimatisation system

Geothermal energy as acclimatisation system – a thermal circuit that allow us to efficiently use the earth’s temperature and distribute it throughout the building floor and water heating.

We use cork

We used cork as insolation on the walls – the cork is an abundant resource in Portugal.

The water

We managed to forward several springs – found during the construction phase, plus rainwater, into the existent well. Assuring that these are reintegrated on our water supply channels. Pool water comes from an existent whole on the property, and it’s heated through solar panels along with the geothermal energy.

The species

Most of species that grow on the hotel garden are autochthonous (local), depending solely on rainwater. No need for extra watering.

Decoration

Based on the Upcycling concept. We reuse and attribute new purposes to old objects that otherwise would have been disposed as pieces of trash. Some examples: old sifters, rusty bikes, straw baskets, plumbing pipes, railway wood, scaffolds, fishing nets.

Vegetable garden

A lovingly tended garden made with love! An organic garden, rich in fruit, vegetables, eggs, aromatic herbs, flowers, and many other natural products which we use at the hotel: fibrous plants for bindings; leaves and stalks for decoration; essential oils for massages… A way to bring Nature ever closer to us.

Guest offer

We provide a wide range of activities happening around the hotel, promoting the direct contact with the surrounding Nature, without the need of transportation.We scattered several recycling stations throughout the hotel – that invites guests to separate their own trash

There are not disposable amenities, rather refillable bottles; no mini bar with small disposable bottles; no air conditioning; and no TV screens, instead, huge windows to appreciate the magnificent show of Nature outside.

IT’S ALL ABOUT RESPECTING NATURE AND THE SURROUNDINGS AND TRY TO GIVE BACK AS MUCH AS WE TAKE.

Amphibian Guide

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Bird guide

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Mammals guide

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Reptiles guide

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Plant Guide

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Areias do Seixo by Nature

Permaculture