Carbon Offset, Eco Initiatives, Environmentally Friendly Changes
and Fair Trade Supporter
Couples Resort Inc and its Employees are taking environmentally friendly and humanitarian supportive steps towards creating a better world. We ask you as our guest to help support our direction.
Having vacation properties close to where people live helps cut down on Airplane Emissions and Carbon (which are massive). Success goes to the Couples Resort Inc. Supervisors and their Team of Employees for Keeping Jobs in Canada.
Many of these products are substantially (up to 300%) more expensive to purchase than non eco friendly or non fair trade products. The Carbon Offset Eco Fee is used to make this Happen and we need your Support.
The "Bear Trail" Dining Room is now recognized by Savour Canada as a significant contributor to buying Ontario Food Products. We also produce some food products on site.
Complimentary served in the dining room is Viveau Water, Still or Sparkling, to help reduce our carbon foot print. Also served is Planet Bean Fair Trade Gourmet Coffee and Tea which helps support our values in society.
All Towels in all Accommodations are certified 100% Organic cotton towels. Visit our Canadian Supplier to order your own at www.dreamdesigns.ca
The Algonquin Spa uses Bamboo Flooring and Wool Carpets. The Spa uses only 100% Organic Towels and Linens. The Spas products for facials, wraps and body molding are all Eminence Brand - 100% Organic. Visit our Canadian supplier to order your own at www.dreamdesigns.ca
26 new GREEN 15” Cushion Euro Top STRATA BEDS
Canadian Made Pocketed Coil Sleep System. Extra Strength Recycled Strata Pad 1” Soya Support Foam on Both sides of Innerspring
1“ 5 Zoned Foam (Memory Foam and Latex)
1.5” Soya Comfort Foam
¾” Soya Support and ¾” Soya Comfort Foam with 20 oz Premium Polyester
High Quality Anti Dust Mite Bamboo Ticking
Maintenance / Cleaners / Gardeners / Hot tub Inspectors use a fleet of 8 Electric Golf Carts
Sports Center uses 4 stroke Toys instead of the old 2 strokes. 2 Can/am All Terrain Vehicles, 2 Skidoo Snowmobiles, 4 Honda 8 hp recreation boats, Tige Water Ski/Wakeboard Boat, 10 Metre Sunset and BBQ Tour Boat. 2 Strokes are known for spewing oil into the environment, where as 4 strokes are like cars and contain the oil.
24 Solar Panels at the Resort are now providing power to offset hot water usage in our most Opulent accommodations: the Master's Junior Suites and in our Salt Water Swimming Pool.
www.blackstonesolar.com/
Bamboo flooring is in all 9 Grand Cabins at our sister Lodge, the 4.5 STAR Canada Select Awarded, Adventure Lodge.
Firewood is used in 60 fireplaces throughout the Couples Resort and Adventure Lodge. Firewood is Carbon Neutral compared to Natural Gas or Propane which is Carbon producing. Cost and delivery of the Wood plus Maintenance of the Fireplaces are very substantial.
Currently we use a significant amount of incandescent lights with Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs.
All organic kitchen waste is composted and used in our gardens.
No pesticides are used in our gardens or lawns.
Re-paving was completed on 1/4 of our driveway this spring and the old surface was taken away to be recycled.
The old 1999 maintenace truck was taken away to be recycled and a new 2010 was purchased which will greatly reduce carbon emissions, by its new technologies.
2011
Our hope is to install onsite recycling bins and have our nearest recycling company come weekly from Pembroke ( 3 hour round trip ). The good news; they already are driving past our driveway to access the recycling at Algonquin Park (otherwise one wonders if the drive would offset the environmental benefit). Cost a few years ago to install the bins was $35,000. plus pick up fees.
What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplaceFair Trade puts people ahead of profits. Sustainable environmental practices are given high priority.
Here’s a great definition of Fair Trade:
"Fair Trade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade which promotes social equity, economic security and sound environmental practices. It’s goal is to contribute to sustainable development by improving market access for disadvantaged producers, by raising awareness and campaigning. It works to a set of values and objectives that seek to improve living standards and achieve a fairer distribution of income and influence. It is a partnership between all involved in the trading process — producers, workers, traders and consumers."1
To learn more on Fair Trade check out the IFAT (International Federation of Alternative Trade) web site.
Couples Resort's Suppliers Help
Sysco is the "Bear Trail" Dining Room's Major food supplier. Sysco's mission - "We strive to reduce Sysco's carbon footprint by effecting change in those areas we can influence the most. By focusing our collective efforts throughout the supply chain, we can significantly reduce our impact on the environment" more information on Sysco's initiative can be found at - http://www.sysco.com/services/features/sysco_green/sysco_green.html
1. Ten Thousand Villages News (Canada) March/April 1999 pg. 1
