Sustainability

Duas Portas Townhouse is a Green Key certified establishment and an institucional subscriber of Porto Climate Pact.

Environmental and Social Responsability Policy

At Duas Portas Townhouse we are commited to minimise the environmental impact of our operations and to promote sustainable practices capable of protecting the environment.

We recognise the importance of acting in a responsible and ecological way and this policy reflects our values and commitments.

Resource Management

We regularly monitorise the use of resources in order to identify and implement continuous improvement;

We use efficent technologies to reduce the use of energy and water in all areas of the establishment; we have photovoltaic panels that generate hot water, our taps and flushing tanks have efficent saving systems, and part the hotel’s lighting is equipped with motion sensors;

We encourage our guests to take part in inniciatives that preserve natural resources.

Waste Management

We promote selective collection of our waste and encourage recycling practices;

We adopt practices that help minimise waste production, including a reduction in disposable plastics.

Minimisation of Environmental Impact

We implement measures to reduce carbon emissions and our ecological footprint;

We use eco-friendly products and work with suppliers that are commited to sustainable practices.

Protection and Respect for Human Rights

We ensure equal opportunity when hiring staff for all positions, without discrimination based on age, race, sex, religion, disability or socioeconomic status;

We strictly forbid child labour and respect all working rights, guaranteeing fair and safe working conditions for all the staff;

We defend human rights, gender equality and respect for all minorities, and we promote a working environment free from exploitation or harassment of any kind, including sexual and commercial exploitation.

Work Safety and Crisis Management

We guarantee a safe working environment for all the staff, with adequate training in safety and risk management procedures;

We have a crisis management plan that ensures a rapid and efficient response in emergency situations.

Fight Against Corruption

We implement strict anticorruption policies and defend transparency in all operations of the establishment.

Education and Awareness

We offer our staff continuous training in working rights, safety, sustainability and ethical practices;

We engage our guests in awareness iniciatives, encouraging them to make conscious choices during their stay and to adopt responsible environmental practices; we lend bicycles for free and encourage the guests to use them during their stay, or to use public transport.

Biodiversity Conservation

We protect local biodiversity through practices that respect the ecosystems in the surrunding areas.

Support of Local Communities

We work in partnership with local producers and suppliers, promoting a sustainable community economy;

We engage in projects that directly benefit local communities. Duas Portas Townhouse founded the Vidro Duplo art gallery, which is set up in its premises. This project hosts temporary exhibitions and the launch of different publications, as well as promoting conversation and discussion panels, linking local community and guests to the arts;

Through partnerships, agreements and sponsorships with Universidade Lusófona do Porto and Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto, we welcome foreign guest professors, contributing to the exchange of knowledge, in particular in the field of Architecture.

Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

We set environmental goals and regularly review our performance;

We commit to continuously improve our environmental practices.

Compliance with Legislation

We strictly fulfill the law and all applicable environmental regulations.

Plan of Action

Duas Portas Townhouse is commited to continuously improving its environmental practices and therefore sets a plan of action with achievable goals to implement during the next years, such us:

To implement a plan of action to reduce our carbon footprint;
To certify Duas Portas Townhouse as carbon neutral in accordance with the Greenhouse Gases Protocol;
To offer our guests the possibility to compensate their carbon emissions through a system of carbon emissions compensation;
To soon offer an inquiry in which our guests can evaluate our environmental and/or sociocultural performance.
To carry out a Water Risk Assessment in order to determine possible risks related to water in the surrounding areas (droughts, floods, or water contamination);
To offer, only on request, individual amenities such as shower caps, dental kit, vanity kit and shaving kit;
To set a plan of reduction and/or reuse of waste;
To use organic waste for compost, or for other suitable purposes;
To carry out an energy audit and repeat it every 5 years;
To register the quantity of our food waste;
To mention on the breakfast menu/buffet food that is organic, local, or that has a fair trade certificate;
To monitorise the quality of the air inside the establishment;
To plant a vegetable and aromatic herbs garden, and offer our guests the harvested products;
To implement a sustainable shopping policy;
To donate materials and products that are no longer in use to social organisations;
To organise environmental education activities for our guests, staff, communtiy and/or business partners;
To buy environmental certified textiles.