Sharksfin praised for environmental practices

May 9, 2008: Just weeks after St Austell Brewery launched a major campaign to become one of the UK’s greenest brewing and pub companies, The Sharksfin, in Mevagissey, Cornwall, has received a silver award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS).

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	l Clare and Paul Mckay with their Green Tourism Business scheme silver award

The recent renovation of The Sharksfin allowed the integration of key sustainable features that helped to achieve the award. These included: motion sensitive lighting in the toilets and cellar; push taps to conserve water; minimum flush toilets to conserve water; energy efficient lighting; new energy efficient appliances; new self cleaning fryers; good staff environmental awareness maintaining high housekeeping standards.

The team at The Sharksfin have also implemented other sustainable initiatives which are quick and easy ways of making a difference to the environment. These include: recycling of glass, paper, cardboard and cans; recycling old oil into bio diesel; using environmentally friendly cleaning products; sourcing food locally, with 85% from Cornwall; using sustainable fish; using Fair Trade coffee; donating 5p from every cup of coffee sold to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

Clare McKay, manager at The Sharksfin, said: “We are wholly committed to operating The Sharksfin in a sustainable way and we are delighted to have achieved a silver award on our first inspection.

"The support that St Austell Brewery has given us really made a difference — it's great to feel that the whole company supports the sustainability drive.

“We have a few areas that we can develop and ideas for future initiatives. Hopefully, when our next inspection takes place, in two years' time, we will be in a good position to achieve gold.”

Sally Sandford, St Austell Brewery’s environmental manager, said: “As an environmentally conscious, family run business, the brewery is keen to support the adoption of sustainable practices across all of our estate.

“The team at The Sharksfin worked really hard on the Green Tourism Business Scheme and the award is well deserved. The achievement of the silver award indicates very good environmental practices and this is our aim throughout the whole of the estate. I hope that this encourages more businesses to pursue accreditation for their environmental efforts.”

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is an accreditation scheme for tourism businesses relating to and encouraging environmental good practice. Inspections include an in-depth assessment of all areas of the business, including back-of-house, front of house, offices, storage areas, kitchens, refuse areas, grounds and boiler rooms.