Goleen Harbour, an eco glamping resort in West Cork, Ireland, has introduced a new sustainability initiative that converts food waste into renewable energy.
The project, which began in 2025, is part of the resort’s broader environmental strategy to integrate climate action into its operations while enhancing the guest experience.
The resort, operated by eco-entrepreneurs Matt Mills and Melanie Furniss, offers accommodation in geo-domes, eco-cabins, and traditional camping setups.
Environmental protection and biodiversity are central to its business model, and the latest partnership with MyGug, a company specializing in food waste-to-energy solutions, aligns with this focus.
Food waste management had been a challenge for the resort, which hosts guests across a variety of accommodation options. By installing a MyGug biodigester, the resort is now able to process food waste on-site, producing both small-scale biogas for cooking and liquid fertilizer for growing.
According to Mills, “MyGug is a great fit for us, addressing food waste in a sustainable way and at the same time providing a supply of clean, renewable energy for use on-site. It’s a great demonstrator for our camping guests as they can cook with gas produced from their own food waste. A circular food economy for Goleen Harbour.”
According to The Southern Star, the biodigester can treat up to seven tonnes of food waste annually, the equivalent of about 18 kilograms per day.
Through anaerobic digestion, the process not only reduces the amount of waste going to landfill but also decreases reliance on fossil fuels and helps cut carbon emissions.
For outdoor hospitality operators, Goleen Harbour’s adoption of on-site food waste-to-energy technology demonstrates how sustainability practices can be integrated into guest-facing operations.
Beyond meeting environmental goals, such initiatives can serve as visible educational tools, showing visitors practical applications of circular economy principles.
This approach may also contribute to cost savings through energy efficiency and reduced waste management expenses, providing a business case for operators exploring similar investments.
By embedding renewable energy solutions into its core operations, Goleen Harbour highlights a path that other glamping and camping businesses might consider as they balance sustainability with guest engagement.