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Sustainability at the Cliffs of Moher

The vision at Cliffs of Moher Experience is to bring the magic of the Cliffs of Moher Experience alive, inspiring our people while caring and safeguarding the future of our natural environment. Our Mission is delivering world-class experiences in a safe, accessible, authentic, and welcoming environment.

Champion best practice in managing for sustainability and conservation of the Cliffs of Moher, our environment, our culture and heritage, while protecting the status of The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.

Collaborate with stakeholders to contribute to the development of a prosperous, vibrant local community and economy for future generations.

Conservation is something we do together, as a visitor, we ask that you join in our commitment to the Cliffs and to its conservation and sustainability. Conservation isn’t just something we do at the Cliffs – it is our very reason for being.

We ask visitors to help us on this journey by practising the principles of Leave No Trace.

Sustainability Policy Environmental Policy

Share our Sustainable Future

The Cliffs of Moher Experience strives to be an environmentally sustainable eco-tourism attraction. This means that in everything we do, we strive to reduce any negative impact on our environment – from the natural world to local culture. We are here to give back rather than to take.

Our Green Team focuses on the three main areas of sustainability – Economic viability, Environmental Protection and Social Equity.

We educate our team through a series of internal and external training programmes to enrich their knowledge of sustainability, built and cultural heritage. We promote sustainability through our web sites and social media platforms and in every aspect of our daily practices.

Today we have a comprehensive Environmental Action Plan and a Sustainability Plan. Our work has enjoyed recognition from the following:

Completion of Fifty Shades Greener programme (The 50 Shades Greener Course is a valuable tool for any business that wishes to implement an environmental management system and green culture into their business).
Finalist in Clare Resilience Business Awards for Best Green and Sustainable Practises
Winner of a Green Award in 2010, finalists from 2015-2018.
Achieved an award of excellence from the Geopark.
Runners up for the ECO Tourism Awards (Sustainable Travel Ireland) in November 2019.

Find out more

Here is how we work

War on Waste

We aim to recycle as much waste as possible –both food and compostable waste. Last year, a substantial 57% of waste collected from our site was recycled. In addition, our waste management company separately collects all our food waste.

Energy usage

A Geothermal, ground-source heat pump is in place to heat and cool the main Visitor Centre building and an air to water system is in place in our newer coach arrival building. We are committed to measuring and achieving a reduction to our utilities annually and maintain detailed records of plans, actions, and achievements of this. Our electricity supplier is Airtricity who provide energy from 100% renewable sources.

We are committed to reducing our electricity usage by 5% by 2022 and increasing our recycling target to 60%. All lighting throughout the site are LED and our Green Team lead all projects in waste and energy management to reduce the CO2 emissions on site.

Water is Life

Since 2007 the Cliffs of Moher have been working on reducing our water consumption. We managed this through continuous monitoring, identifying, responding and setting measurable targets every year. This is done through a series of projects such as:

the installation of waterless urinals.
We have our own wastewater treatment plant.
We reduced the flow rate of water into our taps.
We placed Hippo Bags into our cisterns.
All our taps have aerators.
The Visitor taps are all motion sensors.
We turn off the main water every night so there is never a waste on leakage.
Our BMS (Business Management System) monitors our water continuously and alerts us to any leakages at once.

Our target for 2022 is to have our water consumption at 6 litres of water per visitor. Our upcoming project for 2022 is to start harvesting rainwater.

Buy Local

All our tenant companies are compelled by our lease agreements to have 10% of their goods bought from local suppliers in the area

How You Can Help Make a Difference

There are numerous ways you can make a difference when you visit the cliffs. We encourage all visitors to apply the principles of Leave No Trace.

The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience is a partner with Leave No Trace Ireland – an initiative that promotes and inspires responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. The programme strives to build awareness, appreciation of and respect for Ireland’s natural and cultural heritage. It is dedicated to creating a nationally recognised and accepted outdoor ethic that promotes personal responsibility. The programme also encourages all outdoor enthusiasts – from walkers to mountain bikers and horse riders – to do their part to protect the lands used by the public. In this way we can help preserve the environment for generations to come.

In co-operation with this initiative, businesses in the Burren Ecotourism Network have completed Leave No Trace Awareness Training and are now official Leave No Trace Partners since 2014.

Each member of our staff here at the cliffs of Moher are also official Leave No Trace Partners. So please do not hesitate to ask any of them if you have any questions when visiting the Cliffs of Moher.

Principles of Leave no Trace

1. Plan ahead and prepare	2. Travel and camp on durable ground
3. Leave what you find	4. Dispose of waste properly
5. Be considerate of others	6. Respect farm animals and wildlife
7. Minimise the effects of fire

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre — Eco friendly Visitor Centre

Visitor Centre and Pathways

Our built infrastructure takes its design and influences from the natural materials and forms of the area to minimise its impact and footprint on its visually prominent rural landscape setting. The most notable design feature is the subterranean Visitor Centre, built into the hillside and the use of local Liscannor flagstone along the Cliffs’ paths.

As per the EU Natura 2000 directive, we preserve and monitor the natural habitat of the Cliffs of Moher. We ensure the Cliffs of Moher’s relationship and impact on the region and community is positive by participation in external engagement with all relevant stakeholders and working together to achieve mutual goals.

We promote the County Clare tourist product for the economic and social benefit of the local and broader community as well as working closely with the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark to ensure the future sustainability of the area.