Eco-friendly Residential Retreat Accommodation
At Rural Retreat France, we operate eco-friendly residential retreat accommodation. Our retreats are directed by environmental responsibility, low-impact living, and respect for the land. Guided by expert advice & current good practice, we work continuously to reduce our environmental footprint, while maintaining a high level of comfort, care, and hospitality for our guests.
We go far beyond basic recycling or token gestures. Instead, we organise both our lifestyle and our business around low-impact choices and responsible behaviours, and we gently support our guests to do the same during their stay.
A Low-Impact Residential Retreat in Rural France
As eco-friendly residential retreat accommodation, our approach focuses on practical, everyday actions that make a real difference. Thoughtful systems, conscious consumption, and shared responsibility sit at the heart of how we operate.
An Open Conversation
Ecology, for us, means consistency, honesty, and continual improvement — not perfection, it’s an evolving journey. We know we still have work to do, and we welcome ideas, suggestions, and thoughtful conversations about how we can improve our eco-credentials further. If you have ideas to share, Sue would love to hear from you.
Eco-friendly Practices at Our Residential Retreat
Reducing Waste & Plastics
- Using refillable, eco-friendly toiletries, cleaning, and garden products — with no harsh chemicals
- Minimising plastic by buying loose goods and using cotton and paper bags
- Avoiding single-use plastics and unnecessary packaging
- Banning single-use condiments, tea, and coffee packs
- Providing refillable water bottles, proper crockery, and reusable cutlery
Recycling & Composting
- Recycling all plastic, tin, paper, foil, and glass
- Reducing general waste to an absolute minimum
- Composting kitchen waste, tea and coffee grounds, garden waste, and brown cardboard
- Providing clearly marked compost bins and recycling bins for guests
Thoughtful Food Choices
- Buying seasonal, local produce wherever possible
- Using homegrown vegetables and herbs from our allotment
- Cooking freshly prepared, wholefood, vegetarian meals
- Achieving zero food waste through careful planning and portioning
Energy & Water Use
- Monitoring gas and electricity use monthly
- Fitting thermostats, timers, and energy-efficient light bulbs
- Closing doors, curtains, and shutters to retain heat
- Encouraging shorter showers, turning off lights, and avoiding running taps
- Changing towels and bed linen only at the end of each stay unless requested
- Washing laundry at 30°C on short cycles and line-drying outside
Furnishings & Materials
- Using recycled and unbleached paper for tissues, toilet rolls, and kitchen towels
- Furnishing rooms with pre-loved furniture, kitchenware, clothing, and materials
- Buying from and donating to local charity shops
- Safely disposing of batteries, bulbs, and electrical items
Supporting Our Guests to Live More Sustainably
- We make it easy for guests to take part in our eco-friendly approach by providing:
- Reusable shopping bags
- Fridge containers
- Clearly labelled recycling and compost bins
We believe small, shared actions create lasting habits — and that guests often leave with ideas they can take home.
Our Commitment as an eco-friendly Retreat in France
As eco-friendly residential retreat accommodation, we believe meaningful environmental change comes from consistent everyday choices rather than quick fixes.
For the 2026 season, we are introducing new signage, leaflets, and gentle reminders throughout the retreat to support composting, recycling, water-saving, and the use of our bags-for-life.
We are also planning a redesigned recycling area to make it effortless for all guests to recycle glass and food wrappings correctly. Educating our visitors to respect our values — and ideally return home with better habits — matters deeply to us. And failing that… repeat offenders may lose pudding privileges 😁
Sustainable & ecological practices for the future
Some larger projects, such as installing solar panels, are currently beyond our budget — although they are an obvious next step here in sunny South West France. We actively monitor government grant schemes and continue to explore better ways to heat our water and rooms.
We will also be fitting new motion-sensor outdoor lighting to prevent lights being left on overnight — a surprisingly persistent challenge!
While flying remains the quickest and often cheapest way to reach us from the UK, we are actively exploring ways to encourage car sharing and the use of high-speed rail connections via Eurostar.
