Environmental Policy

Environmental Policy Statement

The Doolin Ferry Company has crafted an environmental policy because we operate within an area of outstanding natural beauty and environmental sensitivity. Doolin Ferry recognize that our business has an important role to play in protecting and enhancing the environment for future generations and to help secure the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry. We are committed to operate within this area of The Burren, Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher with the utmost respect and in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Our company is dedicated to continuously monitor and measure our impact on our local environment and areas of operation. Moreover, we strive to instill in our employees, customers, and suppliers a shared commitment to fostering a more sustainable approach in our business practices.

We collaborate with all stakeholders to collectively develop the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark as a sustainable tourism destination. Our business works with local providers, businesses, and employees to encourage collective growth of sustainable heritage in our larger community. We attend training and networking events throughout the year as well as participating with sub groups formed from Burren EcoTourism Network. Several of our employees have completed their “Leave No Trace” course.

A cared-for landscape

We actively participate in conserving our natural and cultural heritage. Our staff and crew are trained in the geology and ecology of the landscapes in which we operate. We are a sponsor of The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and Burrenbeo Trust and have worked to identify and report species of birds and wildlife that are in our area of operation at sea. Our trained Crew and Staff then share this knowledge with our on-board commentaries. We also use this information across social media platforms and our websites so customers can learn and be aware of the geology and ecology when travelling on board. We also adopt the “Leave No Trace” policy in our daily working days. We organise clean ups at Doolin pier and participate in local clean ups in our area.

A well-understood heritage

We offer quality information and interpretation to communicate our stories and the unique character of our place to guests. Through our tourist information points, we provide and highlight information and literature on the local area and local providers with an environmental focus.

Vibrant Communities

Our environmental policy helps us to ensure that tourism makes a positive social contribution so that it not only enhances the experiences of our guests but also contributes positively to the well-being of our local community. Continuously seeking innovative collaborations with fellow local businesses, we strive to offer both locals and visitors unique and novel experiences year after year. You may be interested in learning about the Burren Slow Food Festival. Working closely with local hotels and accommodation providers on the Aran Islands and throughout the Clare region, we incentivise 1-2 night stays, ensuring visitors extend their time in our region. This approach not only enhances the appeal of our company but also positively impacts the entire Clare region.

Strengthened Livelihoods

We contribute to the local economy by maintaining and supporting local employment, by sourcing services and produce within our region wherever possible, and by engaging with other businesses in promoting our area as a sustainable tourism destination. Our partners Doolin Tourism, Burren Eco Tourism and Burren Beo networks work with us to reach a wider audience in promoting this. We work with eco-friendly suppliers as much as possible. For example our range of eco candles, made and sourced locally were created with sustainability as a core objective. We encourage and foster generational local knowledge that is passed down by many of our crew members who are mostly from Inis Oirr. Here is more our local crew About Us.

Sustainable tourism management

We work with our Environmental Action Plan, which includes actions and targets for improvement that are reviewed annually. We have effective systems for monitoring and adequately managing our waste, water, wastewater, energy, travel impact and purchases. Thanks to the Burren GeoPark Code of Practise we track our:

• Landfill By WeightKg/per
• ElectricitykWh/per
• DieselLtr/per
• Co2 Total In TonnesCo2 Kg / Per Person

These figures efficiently help us as a company to:

1. Track our growth
2. Set targets for the coming years
3. Ensure we are going in the right direction year on year.

We are committed

Doolin Ferry has taken significant strides towards sustainability, with a key focus on reducing its environmental footprint. It is evident our changes and work has paid off. Our studies show this from monitoring and adequately managing our landfill, recycling , diesel consumption and electricity.  One noteworthy initiative involves the digitisation of ticket bookings, a move that has markedly decreased the company’s usage of paper. In the past, Doolin Ferry utilised reams of paper for issuing tickets, using traditional three-sheeted ticket copy books and daily printed lists of bookings, resulting in considerable waste. By embracing digital ticketing solutions, the company has not only streamlined its operations but has also significantly curtailed its consumption of paper resources. This transition aligns with Doolin Ferry’s commitment to the Geopark Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism.

We encourage our customers to also use good practices while using our services, and to visit other members of the Burren Ecotourism network. We are working hard to continuously assess our Environmental Policy and our companies’ part in sustainable tourism. It is our mission to make practical changes in our daily operations. These changes contribute to environmental and cultural preservation of our heritage. Can view our Privacy Policy and more FAQs if needed.

We are committed to taking the following action:

1. Continue sound environmental practices across our entire operation.
2. Produce an annual Environmental Plan setting out our Objectives, Targets and planned Actions.
3. Comply fully with all relevant legislation.
4. Minimize our waste and reduce our water consumption where possible.
5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle the resources consumed by our business wherever practical.
6. Invite our customers, suppliers and contractors to participate in our efforts to protect the environment.
7. Provide all employees with the training and resources required to meet our objectives.
8. Openly communicate our policies and practices to interested parties across social media platforms, word of mouth and online.
9. Monitor and record our environmental impacts on a regular basis and compare our performance with our policies, objectives and targets.