Our zero-waste principle
Long-term sustainability is rooted in every aspect of the Mulberries Wellbeing Château operation, from the initial property design to our hospitality offering.
From the first line drawn in creating the blueprints for the regeneration of the property, we sought nothing but the utmost respect for the natural and local surroundings. From the get-go, we set minimal environmental impact as our priority and mission.
Our main objective has always been to reduce the carbon footprint as much as possible during the construction and design of Mulberries, and presently in our daily hospitality operation.
Adopting a zero-waste approach, we actually turned waste into a resource, salvaging tonnes of local stone and materials. Where not reclaimed, materials were sourced from the vicinities to minimise transportation-generated emissions.
Where raw materials were not available locally, such as flooring and wall tiles, we made sure to source these responsibly from green and sustainably managed suppliers. The shipments were organised in a way that helped reduce transportation and the project’s overall carbon footprint.
Conscientious construction and conservation
The internal walls are constructed from local stone obtained from quarries located just a few kilometres from Mulberries. The stones were unloaded and laid directly in place in a traditional manner, reducing packaging and transportation-generated waste and emissions.
All external walls are composed of reclaimed stone blocks from demolished sites, some aged hundreds of years.
The roofs, built according to a centuries-old construction technique, use salvaged materials that include stone roof slabs and timber beams.
Part of the material excavated to form the basement was used to construct the rubble walls. The rest was taken to a specialised plant, crushed, and used for backfilling and for the formation of roof screeds.
Stone offcuts and breakages were incorporated into the construction of our boundary walls. Any packaging materials were securely disposed of at civic amenity sites to be recycled, positively shrinking the project’s carbon footprint.
All the soil that we removed from the building site now nourishes the plant trees and agricultural produce grown in Mulberries’ back garden.
Energy-efficient design
Our château farmhouse incorporates passive and active energy principles and practices. To counter local buildings’ reliance on conventional, electric cooling systems that generate global warming emissions, Mulberries boasts features that drastically reduce heat gains in a passive manner.
Environmental design best practices include a central courtyard, borrowed from Mediterranean vernacular architecture, which renders the building naturally responsive to seasonal changes. It is joined by high-efficiency, double-glazed external apertures composed of sustainably engineered wood, loggias for enhanced natural cross-ventilation, double-leaf and cavity external walls, and shaded outdoor areas.
The white-washed roofs reflect and minimise the effects of direct sun heat in the summer, and contain a thermal insulation layer used in refrigeration systems to ensure optimal thermal performance.
Abiding by the principle of minimal intervention for reduced environmental impact, most of the stone used in the construction of the edifice has been left in its raw, natural state. The walls in most of the rooms are rendered in a lime-based plaster and treated only with a water-based dust-proof solution, primarily to eliminate high-volatility solvent-based paints.
The natural flagstone flooring is composed of a layer of bedrock known as “Pietra Modicana,” a sustainable resource whose extraction process involves requalifying agricultural land instead of quarrying.
Reclaimed and restored furniture sits alongside bespoke designs, custom-built by a local artisan using natural wood from sustainably managed forests.
Responsible resource management
We don’t compromise on our driving principle and mission of sustainable hospitality. In the daily running of Mulberries Wellbeing Château, we prioritise three core values: generating the least possible waste, creating minimal environmental impact, and conserving energy through responsible processes and systems.
To that purpose, we have implemented an intelligent water management system via a purposely created underground reservoir that harvests around 300㎥ of rainwater run-off annually. Every drop of rain that falls on our terraces, roofs, and courtyards is reused for irrigation purposes, washing floors, and toilet flushing.
In line with our renewable energy solutions ethos, our extensive solar-powered water heating system, enables us to vastly reduce dependency on electricity-generated forms of heating. Our sophisticated, inverter-type circulating pumps immediately supply hot water to each guest bathroom, greatly lessening water runoff.
Additionally, as part of a no-plastic-water-bottle policy, our drinking water comes from an on-site reverse osmosis plant.
Eco-conscious practices
As part of the sustainable solutions we ensure in our day-to-day operation, we cultivate our own seasonal produce or procure it from our local farming community for guests to enjoy on our premises. We have also greatly reduced pre-packaged foodstuffs in our breakfast offering, and take great care to substitute these with freshly prepared, homemade options and alternatives whenever we can.
We also make sure that no effort is spared in carefully sourcing eco-friendly toiletries for our guest accommodations. Room cleaning and linen change services are provided only on request, further supporting our energy conservation efforts.
At the Mulberries château, we believe that each considered choice or decision is never too small or insignificant to bring about much-needed change. Every single action taken and individual role played to further preserve our planet and the environment can, and does, have an important, holistic impact.
Each time you visit Mulberries, we warmly invite you, our guest, to play your own unique role. We’d love you to join our collective effort to make sustainable hospitality a way forward for the discerning holidaymaker.
Ready to be part of the Mulberries sustainable holiday experience? Check our suite availability to book a memorable stay – we look forward to welcoming you soon!
