Contained in Nimbin

Ideally located just three kilometres from the unique and eclectic village of Nimbin, Contained in Nimbin Accommodation offers a peaceful and comfortable retreat for travellers seeking a mix of nature-immersion and luxury.

The two self-contained cottages are sustainably built using a unique, non-traditional construction method from recycled Grade A shipping containers. Guests can enjoy private access to Goolmangar Creek and the surrounding ten-acre self-sustaining permaculture farm that the cottages are nestled on.

Contained in Nimbin follows an eco-mindset, implementing a number of measures to improve the business’ sustainability measures and its guest experience. Aiming to reduce its impact on the environment, the business decided to take the path to sustainability with Ecotourism Australia’s Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard in partnership with Destination NSW.

“The opportunity to benchmark our business and gauge our current sustainability practices against recognised standards was too valuable to pass up. This initiative allowed us to assess and validate our current sustainability efforts but also to identify areas for improvement and innovation,” said owner Nicole.

Before completing the Scorecard, Nicole had completed a 14 month course in Sustainable Operations to ensure a solid sustainability foundation for Contained In Nimbin’s practices. Despite this, she recognised there are always ways to improve and that the sustainability journey is never complete.

“There is always room for more innovation and improvement, pushing us to explore new ways to enhance our practices and hopefully, one day, lead by example in the sustainability and eco-tourism arena.”

The Scorecard helped Contained in Nimbin understand how to improve their tourism best practices in all aspects.

“One of the most surprising learnings was the breadth and depth of sustainable practices that can be implemented across all aspects of a hospitality business”.

Constant guidance and feedback during the application process was critical in advancing their knowledge of new opportunities and strategies.

“Based on the feedback and suggestions we received, it has inspired us to explore new strategies and initiatives to enhance our sustainability efforts further. The program’s detailed feedback has been instrumental in helping us identify opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation in our sustainability practices.”

Their efforts aim to significantly reduce their environmental footprint while serving as a model for responsible resource management. The business is very proud of its green initiatives, such as developing and implementing a Cultural Action Plan, regenerating an acre of riparian zone on their property, obtaining Wires Rescue Accreditation, as well as focusing on achieving a circular system with their water and waste management systems.

The importance of communicating with and educating guests on their sustainability efforts was a key outcome of the Scorecard for Contained In Nimbin. As a result, they plan to share their practices and Scorecard results on their website and social media as well as through on-site engagement with visitors.

Eventually, the business intends to continue developing their sustainability commitment by taking the next step to Ecotourism Australia Certification.

“We think progressing to certification would be a natural and beneficial next step for our business. It would validate our ongoing efforts on a recognised and respected platform and would help provide us with a structured framework for continuous improvement. We place a lot of strategic value on a formal recognition of our sustainability practices.”

Click here to learn more about Contained in Nimbin’s sustainability efforts and book a stay: https://www.containedinnimbin.com.au/

Contained in Nimbin Accommodation completed their Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard on 15 January 2024 and is a snapshot of their current sustainability practices. The scorecard is not a certification and is valid for 12 months upon completion.

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