Eco-Label in Action: Practical Tips that Help Larrouleta Stay Green

Choosing a campsite with a strong environmental approach matters, but what you do during your stay matters just as much. Eco-Label in Action at Larrouleta is about simple daily habits that help protect natural surroundings, reduce waste, and support a more responsible camping experience. If you want practical ways to make your holiday more sustainable without making it more complicated, these tips will help.

Larrouleta is a three-star campsite in Urrugne, Basque Country, offering year-round pitches for tents, caravans, and camper vans in a preserved natural setting. The campsite was awarded an eco-label in 2014, and that recognition has been renewed, reflecting an ongoing commitment to quality and sustainability. In this guide, you will learn how to support that approach through everyday actions on your pitch, around shared facilities, and when travelling locally.

What does the eco-label mean in practice?

An eco-label is most meaningful when it shapes real behaviour. At Larrouleta, that means encouraging guests to adopt habits that reduce unnecessary consumption and help preserve the site’s environment.

In practical terms, Eco-Label in Action includes:

• Using less energy whenever possible
• Saving water in small but effective ways
• Sorting waste correctly at the designated recycling points
• Avoiding pollution, especially in sanitary and water systems
• Choosing low-carbon transport such as bicycles and public transport

These actions are easy to overlook when you are on holiday, yet they make a visible difference when practiced consistently across the campsite.

Energy-saving habits that make a real difference

Energy use is one of the easiest areas where guests can help. Many small actions, repeated every day, reduce unnecessary consumption without affecting comfort.

Use daylight as much as possible

One of the simplest habits is to make the most of natural light. During the day, relying on daylight instead of artificial lighting helps reduce electricity use with no extra effort.

This is especially relevant in a campsite setting, where much of the day naturally takes place outdoors or in open, bright surroundings.

Switch off lights, appliances, and heating when not needed

When you leave your pitch or accommodation space, remember to turn off what is not in use. Larrouleta encourages guests to:

• Switch off lights when they are unnecessary
• Turn off appliances when they are not being used
• Cut back or switch off heating when absent

These habits help avoid energy waste and support the campsite’s broader environmental commitments.

Air-dry laundry instead of using energy-intensive options

Air-drying clothing and towels is another practical step. It reduces energy consumption and fits naturally with outdoor holiday life.

If the weather allows, drying laundry in the open air is a straightforward way to align comfort with sustainability.

Water-saving tips every guest can follow

Water conservation is a core part of Eco-Label in Action at Larrouleta. Small changes in how water is used can prevent a surprising amount of waste.

Prefer cold water when possible

Using cold water when possible helps reduce energy demand linked to heating water. For simple rinsing or quick washing tasks, cold water can often do the job well.

Wash dishes in a bowl

Larrouleta recommends washing dishes in a bowl, a simple tip that can save up to 30 litres of water. Instead of letting water run continuously, filling a bowl helps you control usage more efficiently.

This is one of the clearest examples of how a minor change in routine can produce a meaningful environmental benefit.

Avoid letting water run unnecessarily

It sounds obvious, but it is one of the most important habits on any campsite: turn off the tap after use and avoid unnecessary water flow while cleaning or washing.

A few practical reminders:

• Close the tap fully after use
• Do not leave water running during dishwashing or cleaning
• Be mindful of repeated small uses throughout the day

Report leaks quickly

Water waste is not always caused by daily habits alone. Leaks can also lead to unnecessary consumption. Guests are encouraged to report leaks promptly, helping the campsite respond quickly and avoid ongoing waste.

Waste sorting at Larrouleta: what to do and where to do it

Good waste management only works when sorting is done correctly. Larrouleta asks guests to follow the onsite sorting instructions for different materials.

Sort the main recyclable materials correctly

Guests should follow the instructions for sorting:

• Glass
• Metal packaging
• Plastic
• Cardboard
• Batteries

Using the right container for each waste stream helps reduce contamination and improves the effectiveness of recycling.

Use the clearly signed recycling points

Recycling points are clearly identified and located:

• In front of the sanitary blocks
• At the campsite entrance
• By the lake

This layout makes it easier to sort waste properly wherever you are on site.

Reduce waste before you throw it away

Waste prevention is just as important as waste sorting. Larrouleta encourages guests to avoid excessive packaging and to choose products with reduced or no packaging where possible.

A few easy ways to do that include:

1. Buying only what you need
2. Choosing fresh products with limited packaging
3. Reusing containers during your stay
4. Separating recyclables as you go instead of waiting until the end

Support plastic cap recycling

Larrouleta also invites guests to place plastic caps only in the dedicated collection container. These caps are donated to Les Bouchons d’Amour, an association that sells them to help fund equipment for people with disabilities.

It is a simple gesture that connects waste reduction with a positive social purpose.

How to avoid polluting the campsite’s natural environment

Protecting a campsite’s environment goes beyond using less water or energy. It also means preventing substances from entering the wrong systems.

Keep harmful products out of toilets and water systems

Guests are asked not to throw polluting, harmful, or toxic products into toilets or water systems. Bins are provided for appropriate disposal, which helps protect infrastructure and the surrounding environment.

Use Bordeaux mixture in chemical toilets

For chemical toilets, Larrouleta advises guests to use Bordeaux mixture. This recommendation supports more responsible waste handling on site.

Help preserve a natural setting

Larrouleta is set in a preserved natural environment and includes a natural lake whose ecosystem is protected. In a setting like this, pollution prevention matters even more. Small choices made by each guest help maintain the balance of shared outdoor spaces.

Low-carbon travel options during your stay

Sustainable tourism is not only about what happens on your pitch. It also includes how you move around during your holiday.

Larrouleta promotes low-carbon transport and encourages guests to favour alternatives to combustion-based travel when practical.

Choose the bicycle for local trips

The campsite highlights bicycle trips to the nearby supermarket as an eco-friendly option. For short distances, cycling can be both convenient and enjoyable, especially in a holiday setting where the journey itself is part of the experience.

Use public transport

There is a bus stop just 200 metres away with routes to St-Jean-de-Luz and Urrugne. Using public transport is a practical way to reduce car use while still exploring the local area.

Prefer non-combustion travel when possible

Larrouleta also promotes bicycles, public buses, and other non-combustion vehicles. This reflects a straightforward principle: when travellers reduce emissions from local journeys, the overall environmental impact of the stay becomes lighter.

Why guest actions matter to Larrouleta’s green commitment

A campsite’s environmental programme works best when staff efforts and guest behaviour reinforce each other. That is exactly why Eco-Label in Action matters.

When guests:

• switch off lights,
• save water,
• sort waste properly,
• avoid harmful disposal practices, and
• use lower-carbon transport,

they actively support the standards behind Larrouleta’s certified sustainability approach.

These habits also improve the camping experience itself. Cleaner shared spaces, reduced waste, responsible resource use, and respect for the surrounding landscape all contribute to a more enjoyable stay for everyone.

Practical takeaways for a greener stay at Larrouleta

If you want a quick checklist, here are the most useful actions to remember.

Your simple eco-checklist

Before leaving your pitch:

• Turn off lights
• Switch off appliances
• Lower or switch off heating if not needed
• Check that taps are fully closed

When washing or cleaning:

• Use cold water when possible
• Wash dishes in a bowl
• Avoid continuous water flow
• Report any leaks quickly

When disposing of waste:

• Sort glass, metal packaging, plastic, cardboard, and batteries correctly
• Use the recycling points near the sanitary blocks, entrance, or lake
• Put plastic caps only in the dedicated collection container
• Keep harmful products out of toilets and drains

When getting around:

• Walk or cycle for short trips
• Use the bus stop 200 metres away for local travel to St-Jean-de-Luz or Urrugne
• Prefer non-combustion transport where practical

Quick answers to common questions

How can guests help Larrouleta stay green?

Guests can help by reducing energy use, conserving water, sorting waste correctly, avoiding polluting disposal practices, and choosing bicycles or public transport for local trips.

Where are the recycling points at Larrouleta?

Recycling points are located in front of the sanitary blocks, at the campsite entrance, and by the lake.

What water-saving habit has the biggest immediate effect?

A very effective tip is to wash dishes in a bowl, which can save up to 30 litres of water.

Does Larrouleta encourage eco-friendly transport?

Yes. Larrouleta promotes bicycles, public buses, and other non-combustion vehicles, and there is a bus stop 200 metres away.

A more responsible holiday starts with simple choices

The strength of Eco-Label in Action at Larrouleta lies in its simplicity. You do not need complex equipment or a strict routine to travel more responsibly. Instead, everyday decisions—switching off a light, sorting a bottle correctly, taking the bus, or washing dishes more efficiently—add up quickly.

Larrouleta’s eco-label reflects an ongoing environmental commitment, and every guest can play a part in keeping that commitment alive. If you are planning your stay, take a few moments to build these habits into your holiday routine. You will help protect a preserved natural setting while enjoying a campsite experience that values comfort, responsibility, and respect for the environment.

For more ways to prepare your stay, explore practical information about pitches, onsite facilities, and the best ways to enjoy the Basque Country surroundings from Larrouleta.