Sustainability Update: Climate Week 2025

Following Wales Climate Week this November, I thought it was a good opportunity to introduce myself and give you a little insight into what we've been working on behind the scenes at Glaslyn.

I'm Sophie and I worked at Glaslyn seasonally for over a decade while I was a student. I first started serving customers in the ice cream parlour, and now I help to make the award-winning ice cream.

Alongside this role I have taken on a sustainability remit, allowing me to follow my passion for the environment through leading the development of Glaslyn's sustainability strategy.

This work has seen me undertake training with Food and Drink Wales via a number of decarbonisation and sustainable business workshops. Through this we have started to collect data on our energy usage, waste and water to address where we can reduce our impact. I have also been working on a 5-year environmental and social action plan to keep us on track and working towards realistic goals.

These courses have led us to not just consider the carbon footprint side of sustainability, but also the social and nature impact, which is why we donate to Cymdeithas Eryri (Snowdonia Society), who do great work with conservation and preservation projects with Eryri National Park.

I have also began implementing a procurement process that ensures our sustainability goals are aligned with our suppliers. Additionally, we have a variety of plants outside to encourage wildlife. In my spare time I like to enjoy the beauty that Eryri has to offer through wild swimming and exploring the mountains.  My top tips for reducing your impact whilst visiting the national park:  

• Please take your rubbish home with you and recycle appropriately, if you can carry it up, you can carry it down.  

• Take public transport wherever possible. There are great links using the Sherpa buses which will take you all around Eryri.  

• Try to use reusable items wherever possible. Grab that reusable coffee cup in the morning. Who knows, you might get a discount for using one like you do at Glaslyn