Corporate retreats offer valuable time to step back, think clearly, and reconnect as a team. They also present an opportunity to make more responsible choices about how that time is spent. From travel and accommodation to food and activities, small decisions can significantly reduce the environmental impact of a retreat. Below are practical ways to plan a more sustainable corporate retreat without compromising on comfort, quality, or experience.
Choose a Sustainable Venue
When planning your retreat, select a venue where sustainability is embedded in day-to-day operations. The Killary Lodge runs on BioLPG from 100% renewable sources and incorporates a range of initiatives including a wind turbine, electric vehicle use, and on-site food composting.
Encourage Low-Impact Travel
Where possible, use public transport combined with a shuttle, or encourage attendees to carpool. Reducing the number of individual car journeys can significantly lower the overall carbon footprint of your retreat.
Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Ask guests to bring reusable water bottles and avoid disposable items wherever possible. Small changes here can have a meaningful cumulative impact.
Skip Merchandise, or Choose It Carefully
Avoid unnecessary branded items, particularly plastic merchandise that is likely to be discarded. If you do offer something, choose practical, durable items such as stainless-steel water bottles that will be reused long after the retreat ends.
Use Seasonal and Local Menus
Plan menus around seasonal produce and source locally where possible. Including plant-based meals, or offering a fully plant-forward menu, can further reduce environmental impact. The Misunderstood Heron is available to cater retreats at the lodge, using local, seasonal and foraged ingredients to create a contemporary menu inspired by Irish and Chilean influences.
Incorporate Sustainability into the Programme
Sustainability does not have to sit in the background. A retreat can include a sustainability workshop. As part of any stay at the lodge, a complimentary sustainability experience is included for your team. This can take the form of a hands-on tree-planting session (season-dependent) or a guided introduction to the environmental initiatives and conservation work underway at the lodge.
