At the core of Villa Santa Cruz’s mission are two guiding principles: sustainability and community collaboration. We are deeply committed to minimizing our environmental footprint by implementing eco-friendly practices throughout our operations. We also prioritize partnerships with small, local companies and artists, celebrating the craftsmanship and creativity of our community. Through these efforts, we aim to create a space that honors both the environment and the vibrant local talent that makes our region special.
SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES
The health of our planet is at a tipping point. At Villa Santa Cruz, we are eager to be part of the solution. As an eco-friendly hotel in Todos Santos, we have reworked many of our practices to implement sustainable and thoughtful changes, with an emphasis on eliminating plastics, diverting waste out of our local landfill and shopping local. As a larger business in a small community, we feel responsible to protect the beauty of Todos Santos – a place that has given us so much.
HOW WE ARE DOING OUR PART
Farm to Table
By growing our produce on-site, we reduce carbon emissions and food waste as our ingredients are not harvested until needed. We supply our hotel, Caracara, and The Green Room with staples like tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, zucchini, onions, garlic, melons in addition to Mexican favorites, such as tomatillos, jalapenos, and a variety of chiles. Even our cocktails are farm-to-table, garnished with herbs, such as basil and rosemary as well as sweet pineapples and mangoes. Reducing food waste is one of the newest tools of being an eco-friendly hotel, especially in Todos Santos.
No Food Waste
According to the UN World Food Program, one-third of all food produced becomes “food waste” before it is consumed. However, in our kitchen, food scraps are not wasted. Scraps are used to feed our employee’s pigs and coffee grounds go out to our gardens.
Diverting Garden Waste
Almost 60% of the waste from Todos Santos that ends up in the local dump is organic matter. This leads to combustion and causes fires and fumes, severely compromising air quality. To combat this, we compost here on-site to keep our garden waste out of the dump.
Plastic-free is our goal
We have taken considerable steps to go as plastic-free as possible, switching over to bulk amenity dispensers for toiletry products, replacing disposable cups at the pool with a longer lasting version, and using hydrosoluble trash liners that are 100% compostable.
Solar Heated Lap Pool
Solar is the cleanest form of energy there is. At the infinity lap pool, a stretch of black solar thermal collectors up on the Roof of the Heart Lounge use the Baja Sun to heat the water. As the water circulates through the black tubing, the sun heats it up and deposits it back into the pool, keeping the water at the right temperature for exercise.
We Recycle
The R’s of waste management are Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle. If we can’t reuse or
repurpose an item, then we will recycle it at our local recycling center, Punto Verde. With the help of
Cero Basura Todos Santos, a local non-profit, we train our staff how to recycle and why it matters.
We Shop Local
Our cleaning products, washing detergents, coffee, etc. all come from a local coffee roaster and local suppliers. The produce that we aren’t yet able
to grow on our own farm comes from local markets.
Heartfelt Thanks to the Zero Waste Alliance
We are grateful for our partner, Zero Waste Alliance Todos Santos, a non-profit organization that has helped us
implement many of the practices outlined above, pushing up towards our goals as an eco-friendly sustainable
hotel in Todos Santos. Zero Waste Alliance serves to educate, inspire, and connect our community on zero waste
practices and is a key player in steering our community towards a cleaner, greener, and more regenerative
place. To find out more, visit them on Instagram and Facebook
ART COLLABORATION
At Villa Santa Cruz, we strive to integrate the soul of Mexico into everything we do – from the old world
hacienda architecture of the Villa itself, to the warm and familial spirit that we infuse into our hospitality services,
we strive to put an elegant Mexican touch on every guest experience.
In honor of this intention, we have collaborated with Cuatrosie7e Galeria in Oaxaca, Mexico and are proud to
feature and promote the works of 11 up and coming Mexican artists in a variety of mediums, colors and
techniques. From traditional and essential to contemporary and whimsical, each unique piece presents a
different interpretation of the culture and elements of Mexican life.
These following pieces are all on display and for sale at Villa Santa Cruz, decorating guest rooms and common
areas. We invite you to explore and learn about the works and featured artists in the links below. Please inquire
for pricing and more information.
