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 & 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 & hospitality for our guests.
We go far beyond basic recycling or token gestures. Instead, we organise both our lifestyle & our business around low-impact choices & responsible behaviours, & 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, & shared responsibility sit at the heart of how we operate.
An Open Conversation
Ecology, for us, means consistency, honesty & continual improvement — not perfection, it’s an evolving journey. We still have work to do & welcome ideas, suggestions & 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, & garden products
Minimising plastic by buying loose goods & using cotton/paper bags
Avoiding single-use plastics & unnecessary packaging
No single-use condiments, tea or coffee packs
Providing refillable water bottles, proper crockery & cutlery
Recycling & Composting
Recycling all plastic, tin, paper, foil & glass
Reducing general waste to an absolute minimum
Composting kitchen waste, tea/coffee grounds, garden waste & brown cardboard
Providing clearly marked compost bins & recycling bins for guests
Thoughtful Food Choices
Buying seasonal, local produce wherever possible
Using homegrown vegetables & herbs from our allotment
Cooking freshly prepared, wholefood, vegetarian meals
Achieving zero food waste through careful planning & portioning
Energy & Water Use
Monitoring gas & electricity use monthly
Fitting thermostats, timers, & energy-efficient light bulbs
Closing doors, curtains & shutters to keep out/retain heat
Encouraging shorter showers, turning off lights & avoiding running taps
Changing towels & bed linen weekly, unless requested
Washing laundry at 30°C on short cycles & line-drying outside
Furnishings & Materials
Using recycled & unbleached paper for tissues, toilet rolls & kitchen towels
Furnishing rooms with pre-loved furniture, kitchenware, clothing & materials
Buying from & donating to, local charity shops
Safely disposing of batteries, bulbs & 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 & compost bins
We believe small, shared actions create lasting habits — guests 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 have introduced new signage, leaflets & gentle reminders throughout the retreat to support composting, recycling, water-saving & the use of our bags-for-life.
We have redesigned the recycling area to make it effortless for all guests to recycle glass & food wrappings correctly. Educating our visitors to respect our values — & 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 & continue to explore better ways to heat our water & 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 & often cheapest way to reach us from the UK, we are actively exploring ways to encourage car sharing & the use of high-speed rail connections via Eurostar.
