Clifden Eco Beach Camping & Caravanning Park, in Co Galway, has been awarded prestigious gold level certification once again by The Sustainable Tourism Network (STN).
It is the only campsite in Ireland to hold this accolade. The business is family run by Tatjana and Kris Acton.
The campsite, which is perched on the Wild Atlantic Way on the Aughrus peninsula and overlooking Omey Island in Co Galway, has always had a focus on sustainability since it was first certified back in 2014. The 2024 reissue of its gold award follows a detailed on-site audit by an independent auditor.
Some of the highlights of Clifden Eco Beach Camping & Caravanning Park’s sustainability efforts include:
● Banning toxic formaldehyde-based camper toilet solution and insisting on an eco-friendly product instead since 2014.
● Banning plastic water bottles and single use plastics since 2014.
● Becoming Europe’s first certified climate neutral campsite in 2015.
● Sourcing spring water from beneath its sand-bearing soils which is free from chemicals.
● Limiting the amp of power to each camping pitch to conserve energy.
● Use of 100% green energy through their provider.
● Forgoing the use of hard stands (concrete) for pitches so that the site can be returned to a green-field site easily and quickly.
● Providing a pick-up service for customers that travel by public transport.
● Providing bikes for customers.
The business also demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement – another essential element of sustainability.
Planned future initiatives include:
● Upgrading the facilities to increase accessibility for people with disabilities, highlighting a dedication not just to environmental sustainability but also to social responsibility.
● The introduction of smart meters and solar panels to further their use of renewable energy sources.
● The introduction of QR codes at each pitch point, which both enhances visitor experience but also reduces paper use.
Speaking about the certification, Kris Acton said: “This independent certification is important for us because it allows us to talk to an Irish and international audience about our sustainability. It says we are a sustainable business at the highest level. The audit is very evidence based.
“Certification is also very beneficial to us as a business. Customers want it.” He laughs as he adds, “And it’s like getting free advertising too as journalists are very interested in sustainability now because they know people want it.”
Tatjana Acton said: “The learning we got as we worked with STN as we worked towards recertification was priceless. The environmental education we are getting is second to none and it’s ongoing as we engage with STN.
“Certification is also empowering for a business. If a customer questions you and says, ‘Why can’t I have plastic or use the blue formaldehyde?’, you can defer to your certification and say, ‘We’re a certified sustainable business and the discharging of formaldehyde-based toilet fluid is contrary to environmental best practice,’ and they accept that.”
The pair are keen to emphasise that sustainable tourism is not solely about a business’s energy, waste and water. It also focuses on biodiversity, building resilient, thriving local communities, and conserving culture and heritage, both for locals and visitors alike.
The campsite sits in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for bottlenose dolphins and is a designated machair habitat site.
Machair sites are beach/sand dune habitats backed by peatland/wetlands and support pollinators and wading birds amongst other species. They are only found in parts of the West of Ireland and Scotland.
Hence Clifden Eco Beach Camping & Caravanning Park also educates visitors about the local biodiversity and landscape and how to protect it. For example, campers can also only enjoy a campfire in designated fire pits that don’t damage the landscape as per the guidelines and principles of Leave No Trace.
