It felt fitting to use World Environment Day as the impetus to highlight how The Watermill does its bit for the good of the planet. We don’t say it to brag, but we know that as consumers we want to make sure we’re purchasing products that take care of our home on planet earth as much as take care of ourselves. We are proud to have made changes – and continue to adapt – to promoting sustainable eco-conscious business and operations decisions that help keep untouched Tuscany exactly that.

Cool and Green

That’s our motto, at least. Here are just some of the ways we aim to live up to this mantra:

• Locally sourced: whether it be our cooking, our wine, or our staff – we aim to keep our supply chain as short as possible. Sometimes, this can be as close to home as our own garden! When the season is right, cherry tomatoes come straight from the orto and to our dining room table in mere minutes.
• Solar powered: photo-voltaic cells are embedded in our terracotta tiled roofs, providing enough energy in the last six years to power 60,000 electric kettles for one hour. Or, as in our case, power our air-conditioning units to combat the midday heat of the Tuscan sun – keeping you cool as we stay green.
• Plastic-free: okay, not 100%, but we have made efforts to reduce where we can. Our biggest contribution has been our branded ocean bottles which we let guests borrow for the week. These, combined with our filter-water machines (giving you the option of ambient, cold, or sparkling) means a significant cut in waste. Plus, our fizzy water is now always freshly bubbly!

Additionally, our holidays promote slow travel, minimising ecological footprints as well as boosting local economies. We encourage our guests to wind down and enjoy the simple beauty of our bit of paradise – with the addition of an artistic endeavour to help memorialise the week.

Why is it good to do good for the planet?

Don’t worry, we won’t stay on our soapbox for too long, nor are we saying anything you don’t already know. Simply put, we just want to offer the environment the same level of care and attention we offer our guests. And, selfishly, we love how unspoilt our part of the world is and want to keep it that way. So, rest assured, booking a holiday at the mill is an experience both good for the soul and good for the planet.