Sustainability for you and the planet

At Vår Gård we strive to be part of the solution to climate challenges. Did you know that over 75% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuels? To make our contribution to a greener future, we have made significant investments in our energy use.

In the hotel kitchen, we have installed an advanced ventilation system. This system filters and purifies the air before it is recirculated, which not only improves air quality but also reduces our energy consumption. These pumps are part of a smart combination of geothermal and air heat pumps, which not only increases efficiency but also provides greater power coverage. This means that we can keep our premises warm and comfortable while significantly reducing our carbon dioxide emissions and electricity consumption. In practice, this means that we make use of the heat that is blown out in a smart way, creating a circular process where nothing is wasted and we benefit from every unit of energy. Switching to LED lights and motion sensors is ongoing, and to support and encourage environmentally friendly transportation options, we have installed several charging stations in our parking lot, making it easier for our guests and employees to charge their electric cars and thereby reduce their carbon emissions.

Every step we take to improve our energy use is a step towards a more sustainable future.

One of the most important resources on earth is fresh water, which only makes up about 1% of all water on the earth's surface. In the Nordic countries, we have plenty of water, but we need to commit ourselves together for future generations where climate change is affecting the availability of clean water. Everyone needs to contribute in their own way, and at the hotel we are continuously replacing regular taps with touchless or low-flush mixers to ensure that water is only used when it is really needed. We also encourage guests to keep their towels and forgo daily cleaning if they stay more than one night. By reducing the amount of laundry, we not only help save water but also reduce the energy consumption used for heating and washing textiles.

Vår Gård has a partnership with VI-skogen, where we make a contribution that plants a tree in Africa every time a guest chooses to forgo cleaning the room. This not only contributes to energy savings on site, but also to prosperity and a better environment in vulnerable areas where climate change is a major threat.

Read more about VI-skogen

At Vår Gård we are committed to minimizing our environmental impact by eliminating hazardous chemicals in all aspects of our operations. For cleaning, dishwashing and laundry we only use eco-labeled products, ensuring that we do not contribute to pollution and reduce our ecological footprint. In addition, we have introduced a variety of eco-labeled products and services at the hotel, from the production of profile materials to organic skincare products for a healthier and greener stay.

An important part of our sustainability work is how we manage our waste. We have an effective system for source separation that helps us minimize residual waste and maximize recycling and resource utilization. In the kitchen, we actively work to reduce our food waste by . We do not use disposable items in our daily operations and offer guests waste containers for source separation throughout the facility.

You can't visit Vår Gård without a visit to our restaurant or café. Tasty experiences await all guests here. As a restaurant kitchen, we have a great responsibility to deliver a sustainable dining experience for both guests and the environment. The production of food accounts for a full 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions according to the Swedish Food Agency. Therefore, it is important that we all try to reduce our food waste by planning and consuming in the best way.

At Vår Gård we work actively to reduce our food waste by weighing everything that is thrown away. This helps us identify areas for improvement and be able to measure both the kitchen's and guests' waste to avoid excess. Everything from purchasing to serving size can be better optimized when you get a handle on the balance between consumption and supply. We also try to encourage our guests not to put more on their plate than they can eat at, for example, the breakfast buffet. Often the eye is hungrier than the stomach when there is so much to choose from.

Read more about our food philosophy

As a guest, you can feel safe when you visit a hotel or other business that has been certified by the Nordic Ecolabel. Vår Gård is proud to be a Nordic Ecolabelled hotel, which means that we follow strict environmental requirements within the industry and have a holistic approach to our environmental work linked to energy, water, food waste, biodiversity, chemicals and procurement. We also train all employees in our environmental work annually to increase knowledge and sustainability through all levels.

Learn more about the Nordic Ecolabel criteria