Sustainability at Nymphes

According to “The Greener Guest- an initiative from Travel Without Plastic”
“The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative”, that created with the aim to end global plastic pollution in tourism:

• We implement an integrated recycling system for paper, glass, plastc, providing with a special recycling bag in each apartment, for collecting paper, glass, plastic, that we collect and send for recycling.
• We’ve removed, all single-use plastic miniature shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles and changing with refillable dispensers for toiletries, instead of individual bottles.
• We have replaced bottled water with water dispensers, providing with reusable bottles -We encourage our guests, as the most of them do it, to take their reusable bottles home. If they adopt our initiatives during their stay, that’s already a great result. If they go home and change their habits, we will be proud that our property is creating long-lasting impact as well.
• We have filtered/drinking water in water cooler/dispenser reusable bottles at the reception, to avoid single use plastic bottles.
• We, also, never offered, plastic straws, plastic cups, neither plastic cutlery, tableware or plastic stirrers.
• We involve our guests about the changes we’re planning, that we’re reducing the amount of plastic we use at our property and why cutting plastic is important and we ask guests to share their own ideas.
• We use limit packaging materials by purchasing less packaged products and limit use of single-use plastic bags.
• We use electronic systems for the information of our guests in order to avoid the use of paper, but, also, of paper for business purposes.
• We implement, train and raise awareness of our family run hotel’ staff for a circular economy.

The “International Tourism Partnership” gives more information on how to start measuring our water usage, and to learn about the methodology use.

• We inform our guests about to signal to our housekeeping team if they’re happy to skip cleaning today, for saving water . This is as basic as a door hanger. Easy for guests to pop on the handle, and easy for employees to spot at a glance. We, also, use to ask our guests if they would like to use their towel again, just like they do at home, for saving water.
• We educate our housekeeping staff to save water, for not removing towels if the guest has indicated reuse, keeping toilet flushes to a minimum during cleaning, not leaving the taps running and using a mop to wash floors (instead of a hose).
• We also, use a hose water nozzle, for saving water.
• Watering only in the morning with a drip system. Also, our plants are endemic, which do not need much water.
• Our linen and towels are washed by a certified external partner.
• We implement a proper control and maintenance of the swimming pools.

According to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, the three most important factors determining a property’s environmental footprint are lighting, hot water and air conditioning/heating.

• We are committed to shrink our carbon footprint
• Our goal is to reduce energy consumption without affecting the comfort of our guests, with the ultimate goal of protecting the environment.
• We, years ago, have replaced the 100% of bulbs with LED energy saving bulbs in all areas.
• All A/C units are A+++ energy efficient and use refrigerants for the ozone which are environmentally friendly.
• Our machinery is inverter, we have saving technologies in common areas such as motion sensors, we monitor the electrical appliances in empty rooms and we proper and regular maintenance of our machinery.
• We use magnetic card in all rooms, ensuring that all electrical appliances (except the refrigerator) are switched off when guests leave the room.
• All windows are double-glazed.
• In addition to using A/C we also provide fans.
• Renewable electricity (solar energy) is used to heat the water.
• We do not have a restaurant, but the fruit we offer or the ingredients for a breakfast come from the area, from local suppliers and producers, which means strengthening the local economy, boosting local employment, reducing emissions from further distances

• We encourage our guests to take tours and activities organized by local guides and businesses as visiting gorges, bird watching, sea, mountain, etc. activities and instructions for hiking, snorkeling, visiting wineries, oil mills and other local enterprises.
• We offer to local artists a platform to display their talents.
• Upon guests' arrival we provide with a virtual tour with a travel guide in each visitor's language, where the points of interest, the local ecosystems, history, culture and visitor etiquette of our country are presented, providing with a map and a travel guide book in their language.
• We recommend for a car or a bicycle rental from a local company.
• Fair treatment of all our employees and guests.
• Our staff and partners come from the local community.
• We use to maintenance of high standards in all matters relating to Quality and Health & Safety in the working environment.
• The transparency of our business policies and practices by meeting all relevant legislation and by keeping ethical best business practices throughout our operations.
• We and our staff engage for local people and business to support the economy, community and protect local traditions

We at NYMPHES are fully responsible and we are totally committed to improve a sustainable development and a protection of the environment.

• We implement environmental measures that we mentioned above for controlling air / soil / water pollution.
• We support the conservation and protection of the landscape, wildlife and historical resources near our property, for conserving natural resources, which is our priority over other regional or general projects.
• We use environmental friendly cleaning products.
• We, adapting our operation to local nature characteristics & conditions, have adopted and preserved the endemic plants that were on the hill before our arrival as we came and created our NYMPHES on this hill.
• We protect, support and present to our guests, in order to adore the Cretan Nature, to remember and public their impressions about.
• Some of them are: Cistus creticus, Cretan dittany (Origanum dictamnus), Savory (Satureja thybra), Thyme (Coridothymus capitatus), Caper (Capparis spinosa), Oregano (Origanum vulgare), Spanish broom (Spartium junceum).
• We, also, cultivate we, also, cultivate herbs next to the apartments, which, we encourage our guests to cut and make a smelful tea, or, use in cooking. Some of them are: Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis), Laurel (Laurus nobilis), Pelargonium odoratissimum, Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Portulaca oleracea, Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla), Marjoram (Origanum majorana), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), Spearmint (Mentha spicata), Peppermint (Mentha x piperita), Sage (Salvia fruticosa), Artichoke (Cynara scolymus), Myrtle (Myrtus communis).
• Our library is equipped with books, like HERBS IN COOKING, that we lend to our guests for using in their cooking, during their stay at NYMPHES
• But not only herbs we cultivate. we grow fruit trees like figs, many grapes, that we encourage our guests to pick and try them
• By this way we conserve and protect of the landscape Cretan Environment and the nature of Crete

We attempts to reduce the use of Earth's natural resources by an individual or society. we attempt to reduce our ecological footprint (including their carbon footprint) by implemening the above methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet. We aim to conduct our lives in ways that are consistent with sustainability, naturally balanced, and respectful of humanity's symbiotic relationship with the Earth's natural ecology. The practice and general philosophy of ecological living closely follows the overall principles of sustainable development.

Our responsible environmental management proves the effort we make and ultimately our contribution to sustainable environmental development.

One more about me, Pepy Chatzimarkaki, the owner and creator of this sustainable point, the our family run hotel apartment NYMPHES, I'm participating at the program “Coastal Communities and Sustainability", also, in the local community and also, at the Board of Directors of Heraklion association of Cretan hospitality as a Vice President.

At the end of our guests’ sustainable travel, we thank them for helping us achieve our sustainability policy & our environmental goals, during their stay with us!