Hacienda Hato Verde still operates as a dairy ranch and uses Ecuadorian labor to keep its 86 acres of pastures well cared and green.  Most of the dairy production is sold in the area for the artisanal fabrication of other dairy goods; in this way we contribute with our community and help its improvement.  

And in our cuisine some of this milk is used to make cheese, butter, yogurt, cream and sour cream to be consumed by guests and inhabitants of the hacienda.  Composting reduces the amount of waste sent to our landfills, and produces a nutrient rich organic fertilizer so using our recycle garbage; the hacienda has an insecticide-free vegetable garden for feeding our guests.  

Around 500 trees are planted every six months to protect the environment and the birds that live on the property.  

Schedules have been created for water and electricity conservation, in order to reduce usage we recommend our guests to have their sheets and towels laundered less often to reduce water consumption.  

We maximize the use of our natural resources by re-using items as many times as Possible: 

• Collecting paper that has been used on one side for draft printouts and photocopies 
   
• Using interoffice envelopes, or re-using envelopes by using sticker labels, 
   
• Using incoming packaging for outgoing products, 
   
• Making our suppliers take back packaging for reuse, 
   
• Donate or trade items with community schools, visits are made to nearby communities to develop good communication and interaction with them. 
   
• Trying to use only reusable cloths, sponges and mops when cleaning. 
   
• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs in guestrooms, lobbies, and hallways. 

We educate our staff to turn off lights when rooms are unoccupied.  Creating an incentive program to encourage them to participate in and improve upon environmentally-friendly practices.  

We provide recycler baskets for newspaper, white paper, glass, aluminum, cardboard, and plastic.  

We use nontoxic or least toxic cleaners, sanitizers, paints, pesticides, etc. throughout the hotel. And these are stored safely in a well-ventilated area.  

We provide glass cups and ceramic mugs (instead of plastic) for in-room beverages.  

Our building was built with mostly local native materials, maintained traditional architecture, planted native trees, and provide local employment.