We’d like to share the eco-friendly practices we follow at Lemontree Eco Surfhouse in Sagres, as well as the challenges we’ve faced along the way starting a sustainable project in Portugal.
When we first dreamed of opening our own surfhouse in Sagres, Portugal, one thing was clear from the start: we wanted it to be a place where surfing and sustainability could truly live side by side. The ocean has given us so much joy, and creating Lemontree felt like our chance to give something back.
But as we soon discovered, building an eco surfhouse isn’t as simple as just having good intentions. While we set out with the dream of making everything as green as possible, reality quickly showed us that some eco-initiatives are easier said than done. Costs, guest comfort, space limitations, and even local regulations sometimes stood in the way.
Still, we are proud of the steps we’ve taken and even more motivated by the ones we’ve yet to achieve. In this article, we’d love to share our journey with you: the eco-friendly practices we’ve put in place at Lemontree, the small daily choices that make a big difference, and yes, even the challenges we haven’t quite overcome (yet). Because being green isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress.
The will to start a sustainable Surf House in Portugal
For many years, while working in large surf camps in Europe, we realized that nature was often not really taken into account and in most cases, there were no genuine efforts to make things more sustainable. Many of these big surf camps and hostels, because of their massive size, had forgotten how to do things with care, and in the process they contributed massively to the pollution problem. This experience became one of our biggest motivations to create Lemontree Eco Surfhouse, a more conscious and eco surf accommodation in Portugal. (if you want to know more about our story and how we ended up here in Portugal, click here)
Here are some of the things we witnessed that really shocked us and pushed us to do things differently:
Recycling – In some surf accommodations, recycling was more of an illusion than a reality. While separate bins for glass, plastic, and general waste were provided for guests, behind the scenes everything ended up in the same container.
Food – To feed large groups at low cost, shopping was often done in massive supermarkets, with little regard for food quality, food miles, or the plastic packaging waste created, not to talk about the food waste.
Surf equipment – Many surf camps and hotels get deals with big equipment suppliers, which means damaged gear is often thrown away instead of repaired. Since it’s cheaper to buy new surfboards and wetsuits, maintaining or fixing old ones is rarely a priority. Most of this gear is also made with materials that are far from eco-friendly.
Of course, this list could go on—covering everything from seasonal furniture to harsh cleaning products. But our point isn’t to criticize others. It’s to share what pushed us to open Lemontree: a sustainable surfhouse in Portugal where things are done with more care, respect, and responsibility.
Our eco-friendly initiatives and the day to day operation of Lemontree Eco Surfhouse
We found out that running Lemontree Eco Surfhouse was all about finding balance between comfort and sustainability, between good vibes and mindful choices. Here’s a look at the eco-friendly initiatives we’ve put in place and how they shape our day-to-day life at the surfhouse.
Organic food: Food is extremely important to us. We always try to buy local food from Sagres local market and sometimes from farms around the Algarve. Also, in our little garden we plant veggies and fruit that then we directly use in the preparation of our breakfast. Now, we do not want to lie to you, clearly some products sometimes are missing and in this case, we then turn to BIO products from the “classic supermarkets”.
Cleaning products, cleaning utensils and toilet paper: When it comes to cleaning, we make conscious choices every step of the way. We use eco-friendly soaps and detergents, and whenever possible, we replace harsh chemicals with natural alternatives like essential oils. To minimize packaging waste, we buy products in bulk. For sponges, cloths, and other cleaning utensils, we extend their lifespan by washing and reusing them instead of throwing them away after a few uses. And yes—even when it comes to toilet paper, we stick to 100% recycled options. Like most eco-friendly products, it costs a little more, but for us, the planet is worth it.
Water: One big issue in Sagres has always been access to good drinking water. The tap water here often contains traces of chlorine and other chemicals….not ideal for health and definitely not for taste. Because of this, many people end up buying bottled water, which sadly leads to a huge amount of plastic waste. At Lemontree, we decided to tackle this problem differently. We installed a reverse osmosis water filter (with remineralization!), which gives us clean, safe, and great-tasting drinking water. This way, everyone can simply refill their reusable bottles and help reduce single-use plastic.
Recycling: At Lemontree, we recycle as much of our waste as possible by carefully separating it into plastic, metal, and glass. On top of that, we maintain an organic compost system that helps us turn food scraps into natural fertilizer for our garden. Any excess organic waste that we can’t use goes into the special organic collection bins provided by the municipality of Vila do Bispo.
Furniture: When it comes to house decor and furniture, we love giving old pieces a second life. Since we also enjoy restoring furniture and working with wood, much of what you see at Lemontree has been reclaimed, upcycled, or bought from second-hand shops and Facebook Marketplace. This way, every item has its own story and character—while avoiding the waste of buying new.
Surfboard, Wetsuits, Wax and Sunscreen: For our surf gear, we try to follow the same philosophy. We buy second-hand surfboards whenever possible and take good care of them to extend their lifespan. For wetsuits, we chose the eco-friendly line by Janga, a Portuguese surf brand that shares our values. When it comes to surf wax, we use handmade beeswax from Ceranove, a fantastic natural alternative to commercial paraffin-based waxes. And for sun protection, we’re proud to collaborate with Suntribe, whose all-natural, reef-safe sunscreen helps us protect both our skin and the ocean.
Solar panels: Part of our hot water actually comes from solar panels—a little victory we had to fight tooth and nail for (and you’ll see later in the article why it wasn’t so easy).
The struggles of our Surfhouse Eco-friendly dream
As our Lemontree adventure started to take shape, we quickly learned that turning good intentions into reality is not always as easy as it seems. Being our very first project, we had this beautiful dream of creating a zero-waste surfhouse—a place where nothing went to waste and everything was perfectly sustainable. But reality soon gave us a wake-up call.
Some ideas that looked amazing on paper turned out to be much harder to pull off in practice. Sometimes it was because of budget (eco-options can be surprisingly expensive), sometimes it came down to guest comfort, and other times it was simply due to space, structure, or even local laws and regulations in Portugal.
We don’t see these challenges as failures though, they’ve been lessons. Each limitation pushed us to get creative and to focus on what is possible, step by step.
So what have we learnt:
Solar Power: We would have loved nothing more than to make Lemontree a fully solar-powered surfhouse. Unfortunately, because our home sits in the heart of the Sagres Natural Park—a truly unique and protected area—the local laws don’t allow us to install solar panels on the south-facing part of the roof, making the use of solar panels extremely hard. We know it feels a little ironic, but sometimes even with the best intentions, your hands are tied.
Eco-Friendly Surfboards: one of the biggest surprises for us was discovering how few eco-friendly surfboards are suitable for beginners. Most “green” boards are made from wood or cork—beautiful, but extremely expensive and, more importantly, not safe for learners who need softboards for comfort and safety. Instead, we chose to take a more realistic approach by giving second-hand surfboards a new life. It’s not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction.
A Typical Portuguese Villa: our surfhouse is set in a charming Portuguese villa that’s almost part of Sagres’ history. While we’ve lovingly renovated it, the building still lacks some of the modern features that new constructions have to make them more energy-efficient. It’s part of the trade-off: keeping the authentic soul of the house while doing our best to improve its footprint wherever possible.
Guest’s comfort: Of course, there are countless other measures we could adopt if we wanted to enforce really strict eco-friendly policies, like limiting showers to just a few minutes or banning certain everyday comforts. But after all, our mission is also about creating a welcoming, relaxed space for our guests. Sustainability is important to us, but so is comfort, connection, and the feeling of being at home.
At The end of the Day
At the end of the day, we’re proud of the steps we’ve taken so far to make Lemontree Eco Surfhouse as sustainable as possible. Every choice, big or small, feels like a little victory. But we also know this is just the beginning. There’s always room to grow, to learn, and to do better. If you’d like to experience it for yourself, we’d love to welcome you here in Sagres, come surf, , skate, relax, practice yoga and be part of our eco journey.
