Sustainable holiday home in Andalusia, without an official eco label, but with a lot of love for people, nature and our surroundings! Sustainability. It’s everywhere these days, and rightly so. We all need to take better care of the planet.
The tourism sector is changing too: more and more accommodations now carry an eco label to show how environmentally conscious they are. There’s no shortage of certificates, from internationally recognised labels like Green Key and Travelife to Spain’s own Biosphere.
But… here at Finca Las Nuevas, we’ve consciously chosen not to have a sustainability label. Not because we don’t value sustainable living – quite the opposite! We absolutely want to do our bit for a greener world. But we simply don’t believe in paper labels or commercial certificates. We believe in action. In living as consciously as we can, and in keeping our footprint and waste as small as possible.
So, what do we do for a sustainable holiday home in Andalusia?
The well-known labels often focus on things like water-saving, waste separation, eco-friendly cleaning, community involvement and fair working conditions. All great things – and things we already do. Simply because it feels right. And honestly? We don’t feel we need a label, especially not one we have to pay for. We’d much rather invest that money straight into sustainable initiatives. So, what do we do? Well, take a look:
Water-saving
Water is scarce in the south. That’s why we’ve chosen to plant succulents, cacti and other water-wise plants that thrive with minimal watering. We also kindly ask our guests to be mindful of their water usage.
Solar panels
Our holiday homes are largely powered by energy from our solar panels. With all the sunshine in these Andalusian hills, it would be a shame not to make use of it, wouldn’t it?
Recycling & cutting down waste
We have separate bins for recycling on the property, for both us and our guests. And we’re always looking for ways to reduce single-use plastic: In the bathrooms are refillable dispensers instead of throwaway toiletries. In each house, you will find cool bags and shopping totes in every holiday home, no need for a pile of plastic bags!
Herbs and oil are already in the kitchen, so you don’t need to buy the basics. And any leftover food? We bring it to the village, there’s always someone who’ll be happy to use it. Throwing it away just feels wrong.
Reuse & upcycling
We’re not big on throwing things away. Many of our things get a second life. Did you know Robert made the swing bench at Maria Abajo from an old double bed? * The games on the terrace, Jenga, domino and Yahtzee, are handmade from leftover wood. Even the little wooden wheelbarrow that holds the Jenga was once a quirky gift from a Christmas game where everyone brought something they wanted to get rid of.
Fresh sheets – sun-dried
With more than 300 sunny days a year, we line-dry all our laundry outside. No tumble dryer needed – and it smells wonderfully fresh too!
Organic – without the label
Our olives, almonds, figs and plums are grown naturally – without any pesticides or artificial fertilisers. We may not have an official “organic” certificate, but in practice? They’re 100% pure.
No chemicals
And the weeds? We tackle them the old-fashioned way, with a hoe and some serious elbow grease. No Roundup, just wheelbarrows full of greenery and a good workout!
Explore without a car
From our finca, you can walk straight into nature. We’ve even put together an e-book with beautiful walks. No emissions, just peace, space and the sound of birds.
Peace, space and respect for the land
No mass tourism here. We believe in keeping things small-scale. In personal attention, and in preserving this beautiful place for everyone, and for the future.
So… do we offer a sustainable holiday home in Andalusia?
What do you think? Are we having a sustainable holiday home in Andalusia – or does it not count just because we don’t have a Green Key, Travelife, EU Ecolabel or Biosphere sign on the wall? We believe it’s not about the label – it’s about the intention. And about taking action.
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