Introduction
In a world where sustainability is becoming increasingly important, many conference facilities in Sweden have taken a step forward to offer more environmentally friendly meeting options. Choosing a sustainable venue for your next conference not only reduces environmental impact, but also sends a strong message about your company's values. In this article, we explore four prominent sustainable conference facilities in Sweden that combine functionality with environmental awareness.
Sigtunahöjden
At Sigtunahöjden, sustainability is not just a concept, it is a living practice. The facility strives to make every conference more sustainable and environmentally friendly, taking responsibility for the demands and needs of people, businesses and the environment. This responsibility is rooted in history; Sigtuna, founded by King Erik Segersäll in the late 10th century, has been a meeting place for over a thousand years. Sigtunahöjden continues this tradition with a desire to promote meetings well into the future, with a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility.
Sigtunahöjden works actively to create sustainable and successful meetings, with a focus on the experience. They take a holistic approach to sustainability by thinking in terms of cycles and context. This includes everything from using smaller plates to reduce food waste, to creating workwear from colorful recycled curtain fabrics. This philosophy is also evident in the meeting rooms, where everything from whiteboard pens to flipcharts are eco-labeled, and guests are encouraged to turn off lights when not in use.
As a Swan-labeled facility, Sigtunahöjden sets high environmental standards for its suppliers. In 2019, their efforts were rewarded when they were named Sustainable Company of the Year by the Sigtuna Business Gala. Their commitment to the environment also extends to biodiversity, where they maintain beehives on site and produce their own honey, while avoiding products with palm oil.
Sigtunahöjden's sustainability efforts are not limited to their own doors. They are an active part of the region's sustainability network, participating in initiatives such as the Fly Green Fund, which aims to use biofuel for flights, reducing the carbon footprint of meetings where participants need to fly.
The food at Sigtunahöjden is carefully selected for sustainability and quality. With a high proportion of organic ingredients, the purchase of whole animals from local farms and a focus on minimizing food waste, they show how meals can become part of a sustainable conference experience.
Sigtunahöjden's housekeeping team reflects this sustainability mindset in everything they do, from washing to maintaining textiles, further strengthening their commitment to the environment.
Varberg Coastal Hotel
Varbergs Kusthotell sees its place not only as an individual company, but as an integral part of a larger context that includes society, the country and the planet. Therefore, their commitment to sustainability is strongly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals constitute the most ambitious sustainable development agenda ever adopted by the countries of the world, with the aim of achieving great things by 2030. Varbergs Kusthotell has chosen to focus specifically on four of the 17 SDGs that are closest to their hearts and where they can have the greatest impact. Their daily work includes active efforts to achieve these goals.
One of the specific goals is sustainable consumption and production. Varbergs Kusthotell strives to create clear purchasing procedures that reward eco-labeled, Swedish-made and locally produced raw materials and products. As part of this, they have long been a Nordic Swan Ecolabel facility, which means that they follow strict environmental criteria to minimize their impact on the environment.
Energy consumption at Varbergs Kusthotell is actively reduced through an energy optimization action plan. They have introduced a demand-controlled system for heating and ventilation, and all lights in the facility are low-energy. They also prioritize the use of biodegradable disposables and are working towards a reduction in plastic use, replacing plastic products with paper or wood alternatives. In addition, they have phased out
using disposable items such as plastic cups, straws and slippers, and replacing them with more environmentally friendly alternatives.
In its efforts to reduce water consumption, Varbergs Kusthotell is replacing older equipment with more energy-efficient ones, including low-flow faucets and toilets. They are also actively working to reduce the amount of laundry, including opting out of table linen in the restaurant and encouraging guests to reuse their towels.
Another focus area is reducing food waste. The hotel works with well-planned menus and uses as much of the raw materials as possible, which helps to reduce waste. Regular weighing of food waste helps to monitor and improve these efforts.
The cleaning products and detergents used at Varbergs Kusthotell are eco-labeled, and their laundry is ISO-certified and Nordic Swan Ecolabeled, which minimizes both the environmental impact and risks to people handling these chemicals. Guests' beds and textiles are Swedish-made, Swan-labeled and OEKO-TEX certified, ensuring that they are free of harmful chemicals.
Kusthotellet is also active in the fight against climate change. They run on 100% renewable electricity, always offer meat-free options on the menu and carefully select their ingredients, focusing on local products. They reward Swedish meat because of its low climate impact and help preserve Sweden's natural pastures.
Varbergs Kusthotell also participates in Keep Sweden Clean's initiative "Kusträddarna" (Coastal Rescuers), where staff and guests gather to clean up the coast.
Their commitment to the ocean and marine resources is evident in their restaurant where all wild-caught fish and seafood is MSC-labeled, guaranteeing sustainability and care for the marine environment. They are also active in spreading knowledge about the importance of a healthy and prosperous ocean to both staff and guests.
Under Goal 8, which focuses on decent work and economic growth, Varbergs Kusthotell works to create a safe and inclusive work environment. They apply collective agreements and use tools such as Winningtemp to promote employee well-being. The hotel is also an LIA workplace, which means they accept students for internships, and collaborate with local high schools to offer internships.
Through these multifaceted efforts, Varbergs Kusthotell shows that sustainability is not a single activity, but an integral part of their daily operations. Their work strengthens both their own sustainability profile and contributes to a greater global impact.
Engsholm Castle
At Engsholm Castle, a deep-rooted tradition of sustainability has been present since the building's construction in 1916. With a construction choice of brick, limestone and other natural materials, the castle has a lasting and sustainable foundation.
Back in 1984, Engsholm Castle took the lead in sustainable heating by installing some of Sweden's first marine heat pumps. An expansion of the system in 1995, with over 2 km of hose on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, continues to heat the castle building today. Further sustainability improvements were made in 2020, when new heat pumps were installed, which can be remotely controlled for optimal efficiency.
Even the hotel buildings and Strandateljén at the castle have been modernized with geothermal heat pumps, demonstrating Engsholm Castle's longstanding commitment to sustainability. In fact, the castle has embraced ecological thinking long before environmental certifications such as the Swan and KRAV became commonplace.
An example of this is their early decision to use unbleached toilet paper back in 1988, a practice that was unusual in hotels at the time. Similarly, the recycling of paper, glass and other waste has been part of the castle's practice since its inception. Furniture, fittings and other materials have mainly been of high quality, often second-hand or antique and made from natural materials.
Strandateljén, an all-wood building with a sedum roof, has a wood-fired sauna where guests can enjoy a sea bath instead of an energy-intensive bubble bath. This building, constructed in 2000 and heated by geothermal energy, was nominated as the wooden house of the year in Södertälje Municipality the following year.
The castle park grows vegetables, salads and fruit, making the castle self-sufficient in these items for much of the year. Even the flowers that adorn the dining room tables are picked here.
Engsholm Castle also takes care of its water in a sustainable way. With a state-of-the-art desalination plant, they produce their own purified water from the Baltic Sea, contributing to 100% circular water use and protecting the groundwater. An in-house treatment plant ensures that all discharged water is clean, and an in-house laundry uses Nordic Ecolabeled products to reduce environmental impact.
In the kitchen, local and sustainable ingredients are a matter of course, with a large amount of game from the local forests.
Engsholm Castle's long-standing commitment to sustainability permeates their entire operation, demonstrating their true commitment to long-term sustainability in both large and small ways.
For Bergendal, sustainability means more than just contributing to green forests and blue oceans. It also includes their relationship with employees and cooperation with various organizations, both nationally and internationally, to develop conditions for people and the environment.
Bergendal uses ansvarsfullt.se to report on its sustainability work. This management system, based on standards such as ISO and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, provides qualitative guidance on all relevant issues and presents the results in an easy-to-understand manner.
The facility's sustainability report provides concrete evidence of its performance and uses the Responsible Business® certification to give a clear picture of its sustainability performance.
At Bergendal, sustainability efforts extend to creating a "clean house" in the broadest sense. This means that they use environmentally friendly products for laundry and cleaning and avoid unnecessary cleaning tasks. Guests staying more than one night are not disturbed by cleaning unless they specifically request it.
Meals at Bergendal are prepared from scratch in their own kitchen and bakery, with a preference for organic and locally sourced ingredients. Their chefs and bakers use these ingredients to create creative and flavorful dishes.
The climate issue is central to Bergendal, and they work actively and long-term to green their operations. They measure everything from water and energy to chemicals and waste to ensure that their values are at a desirable level. Every year, they also support international climate projects and offset 110% of their carbon footprint.
Staff well-being is the key to success at Bergendal. They are constantly working to provide staff with the best possible conditions to perform their work and continue to develop.
By choosing Bergendal, guests are also helping to support environmental projects and organizations working for human rights and childhood cancer research.
As a climate and environmentally committed facility, Bergendal offers more than just climate-neutral conferences. Their extensive environmental efforts include the use of soil from their own compost and an in-house plant that purifies and cools the water from their tap, reducing the need for transportation.
Sustainability for Bergendal also means providing a safe environment. They strive to offer protection against theft, violence, threats, fire and other accidents. Staff are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and Bergendal is security classified according to Safe Hotels to maintain a high international security level.
Summary
Choosing a sustainable conference facility for your next meeting is a step towards more responsible and environmentally friendly business operations. These facilities in Sweden show how to be both environmentally conscious and offer a high quality conference experience. By choosing these locations for your next meeting, you are not only contributing to the environment, but also to a sustainable future for the conference industry.
Ask us about more sustainable conference facilities next time you book your conference.
