Our sustainability vision

Reducing our waste footprint and supporting suppliers who support a more sustainable future.

We are committed to a sustainable future. Our “plant the seed” initiatives, including recycling and reuse programs and composting, can be found at each of our retreats.

Our Purpose

Our passion for the environment drives Spicers’ growth to become Australia’s most sustainable organisation. Our actions inspire change in ourselves and others.

Spicers Retreats is proud to be a signatory to the Glasgow Declaration.

An essential part of any Spicers experience is the natural setting our Retreats are positioned. We care about the environment and have worked to ensure we take a responsible approach when it comes to looking after our guests, team and business. From sourcing more environmentally sustainable products to more efficient ways to recycle waste, Spicers Retreats, as part of the broader Salter Brothers Hospitality portfolio, is constantly looking for new solutions to achieve our goals of:

  • Achieve a 15% reduction in carbon emissions from energy usage by the end of 2027, using 2024 as the baseline
  • Removal of all single-use plastics from our operations by the end of 2025
  • Achieve Green Certification for all properties by 2027
  • Reduce waste to landfill by 50% by 2027, compared to 2024.

Energy Consumption & Greenhouse Gas Emissions

We are committed to generating net zero emissions from our energy by 2030. To work towards this goal, we’re following a plan to understand, reduce, invest, generate and offset our energy usage.

Read our ‘2022 Year in Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ report here.

Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre

Opened in 2017 in partnership with the University of Queensland, the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre at Spicers Hidden Vale is a purpose-built facility housing a variety of vulnerable, threatened and endangered species.

The team at the Centre are focused on breeding programs, teaching and research of a range of native animals including koalas.

In-room Amenities

Over the last two years we have moved from using soap bars and small guest amenities bottles (shampoo, conditioner, etc) unable to be recycled in general recycling facilities to large refillable bottles. This transition has reduced our landfill waste contribution significantly.

We are proud to partner with Australian owned and manufactured brands aligned with our own sustainability ethos. Spicers Retreats now provide Leif Products.

At most of our Retreats we provide fresh filtered water in reusable glass bottles instead of single-use plastic bottles.

No Plastic Straws

We no longer provide plastic straws across our entire group. Spicers recognised the devastating effect plastic straw pollution was having on our natural environment so we partnered with “The Last Straw”. By moving to no straws and paper straws we estimate we are saving up to 40,000 plastic straws from entering landfill.

Sourcing Local

Buying local helps to reduce the carbon footprint and food mileage. Additionally, it supports the local farmers, jobs, and community. At Spicers Retreats we pride ourselves on buying locally and supporting the community.

Recycling Waste We Generate

We are committed to finding new ways to reduce the amount of waste we generate and responsibly managing the waste that we can’t prevent. Where possible, we avoid sending by-products to landfill – most materials are reused or recycled.

Our retreats work with suppliers to reduce the amount of single-use packaging we use. We look for opportunities to implement closed-loop solutions.

New waste sorting procedures support recycling of the following items:

  • Bottle and can recycling in partnership with Scouts Australia
  • Cardboard recycling
  • Comingled recycling
  • Food waste is composted
  • Cooking oil is recycled
  • Participant in pod recycling programs
  • Recycle all printer cartridges and office supplies across the group
  • In-room recycling receptacles so guests can recycle their in-room generated waste

Our Partners

We are proud to partner with like-minded organisations and businesses that share our vision of a more sustainable future.

  • To reduce our use of plastic across our retreats we are rolling out Leif Products of hand wash, hand lotion, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. Instead of using miniature bottles all retreats use large refillable containers. Leif is created in Australia from native floras like Buddha Wood, Lillypilly, Kakadu Plum and Desert Lime. All products are 100 per cent vegan and cruelty free. Retreats involved: Rolling out across all Spicers Retreats
    Visit Leif Products

  • ecoBiz is a free program, funded by the Queensland Government, that helps businesses save money across their energy, water and waste bills with sustainability initiatives. ecoBiz works with Spicers Retreats to help drive sustainable practices such as reducing resource intensity and promoting a culture of proactive sustainability within operations. Retreats involved: All QLD Retreats
    Visit ecoBiz

  • The Last Straw is a campaign to reduce the use of the plastic straws in venues around Australia. They aim to tackle the issue from both sides- encouraging consumers to use less plastic straws and encouraging businesses to give out less straws through staff training and information. Mass plastic use is a huge problem that contributes massive amounts to landfill and has a negative impact on ocean eco systems. Plastic straws are an unnecessary convenience with a big impact. Single use plastics, especially straws, are having an adverse affect on our world, and it’s time to do something about it. Spicers Retreats have been supporters of The Last Straw by implementing a no straw policy across the retreats. They have set an excellent example for their peers on how venues can conduct themselves in an environmentally conscious manner. Retreats involved: All Spicers Retreats

  • Scouts Recycling picks up all of Spicers Retreats beverage containers to be recycled through the Container Refund Scheme. For Scouts the natural environment is where they do most of their youth development work and environmental education. Caring for the environment is something Scouts has been doing for over 100 years and Spicers Retreats are also about caring for the local environment, and sustainability so the partnership is perfect. Retreats involved: All QLD Retreats
    Visit Scouts Recycling

  • Mallow Sustainability provides a food waste collection service to businesses. looking to reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal. They collect food waste such as coffee grinds, fruit and vegetable scraps and other organic waste such as compostable coffee cups from businesses around Brisbane. They use a combination of composting and worm farming to break down organic material into valuable soil amendments. The compost they produce in their farming operations, allow the nutrients from the organic waste to be returned to the soil rather than being sent to landfill and wasted. Retreats involved: Spicers Hidden Vale
    Visit Mallow Sustainability

  • The Turner Family Foundation’s environmental vision is to build a commitment to the conservation, management and sustainable use of land that extends for generations. The Turners have a passion for Australia’s flora and fauna, and the Turner Family Foundation is their vehicle to promote positive environmental outcomes. The Turner Family Foundation believes that a deeper affinity with the natural environment is established, developed and appreciated by experiencing nature. The Foundation seeks to nurture a love of Australia’s natural wonders through ecotourism ventures including the Scenic Rim Trail.
    Learn more

  • Closed Loop is an Australian company with more than 17 years experience providing comprehensive environmental solutions across industries including aviation, hospitality and health. At Spicers Retreats we use the Closed Loops’ fantastic food composter at four of our retreats and they dehydrate the food scraps and create a nutritious compost that we have our local farmers pickup to use on their farms. This food composter is called CLOey and it is the ultimate food waste composter, enabling us to convert our food waste into nutrient rich compost in only 24 hours. It allows for easy and odour-free composting. The units decompose and homogenise food organic waste in an aerobic environment using controlled temperatures, agitation, airflow and organic starter material. All you have to do is add food and organic waste throughout the day, including fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy, meat, fish, poultry, eggshells, crustacean shells and liquid. This compost is then used on our own gardens or given away to local community gardens. Retreats involved: Spicers Balfour Hotel and Spicers Potts Point
    Visit Closed Loop

  • GEM Energy provides quality solar solutions for homes and businesses across Australia. Solar energy is a good alternative to replace fossil fuel as the major energy source because solar power is renewable at absolutely no cost to supply energy infinitely. Also world pollution is getting worse. Any effort that can reduce the pollution to the environment helps to save the earth. Solar panels are able to harness the energy from the sun and convert it to electricity. Retreats involved: Spicers Retreats Head Office, Spicer Amphitheatre Eco Camp and Timber Getters Eco Camp
    Watch GEM Energy video

  • Hive & Harvest produce raw urban honey in Brisbane from local flora. There are no additives, unprocessed, and unchanged – from hive to home. Established in 2015, Hive & Harvest started with an interest in backyard beekeeping and the benefits bees can provide to the local environment. It is widely known we are facing a worldwide decline in bee numbers, and the value of bees and other wild pollinators is well established. They believe that small actions can make big changes and each of us has a part to play in conservation. They’re inspired by the concept of beekeeping in urban environments, and are proud to be bringing green spaces into the city with the help of businesses and individuals who are looking for an opportunity to improve their sustainability effort, and to enjoy the rewards of playing host to honey bee hives. Retreats involved: Spicers Balfour Hotel
    Visit Hive & Harvest

  • Perfect Potion products are used at our eco camps for bathroom amenities. Their products contain no phosphates or nitrates and a vegan friendly and cruelty free. Retreats involved: Spicers Amphitheatre Eco Camp and Timber Getters Eco Camp
    Visit Perfect Potion

  • This program closes the loop on soft plastics and optimises the recovery and utilisation of problematic (non-recycled) soft plastic films into value-added materials and products. The program also provides valuable data on the volume and generation of soft plastic waste and this can inform future initiatives to reduce waste, reduce litter and foster sustainable behaviour change. Retreats involved: Spicers Guesthouse & Spicers Vineyards Estate
    Visit Plastic Police®

  • All decking from our eco camps is made of Replas (a recycled plastic product), which uses soft plastic wrapping to make the decking. We chose the product for its durability, low maintenance and sustainable credentials. During the construction process we recycled all soft plastic and any offcuts of the decking material was collected and sent it back to Replas at the end of the job to be fed back into their production cycle. A closed-loop approach to building materials. Retreats involved: Amphitheatre Eco Camp and Timber Getters Eco Camp
    Visit Replas

  • SmileIT is an IT solutions company who repurpose any e-waste and donate the failing parts to Substation33. Substation33 specialises in electronic waste collection and processing and diverting e-waste from landfill. Smile IT also has a program where they re-image some of the old laptops from their customers and donate it to Edubuntu Software. This is a free education software operating system with built-in educational games. These laptops then go to the owner of Smile IT’s family in Zimbabwe who give them to disadvantaged schools in the area. There is is an opportunity for IT to transform today’s businesses into more efficient and sustainable enterprises. This approach to sustainability is why Spicers chooses to partner with Smile IT. Retreats involved: All Spicers Retreats
    Visit Smile IT

  • Spicers Retreats have Tesla recharge stations to allow guests to recharge their batteries as well as their car. Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Retreats involved: Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Spicers Balfour Hotel, Spicers Peak Lodge, Spicers Hidden Vale and Spicers Guesthouse
    Visit Tesla

  • Spicers Potts Point get their compost picked up from their composting machine by Wayside Chapel which they use in their rooftop garden. In return Wayside provide eatable flowers for Spicers Potts Point breakfast dishes. Wayside Chapel provides support to the people that live on the streets of Sydney. Retreats involved: Spicers Potts Point
    Visit Wayside Chapel

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