Climate-balanced: climate-positive & climate-neutral hotels
Our BIO HOTELS are pioneers when it comes to climate protection
7.5kg of CO2. This is how much is generated in our BIO HOTELS on average per overnight stay. This makes us an industry-wide pioneer when it comes to climate protection. We BIO HOTELS regularly have our CO2 footprint calculated in order to constantly optimize ourselves. Because even if the climate has become a topic of public discussion as a result of "fridays for future", a rethinking begins on a small scale: with oneself.
That's why we would like to invite you to save CO2 with us - on vacation and in everyday life. Because only together can we manage to change something in the long term. We demand a sensible environmental protection policy and global climate justice, but we would also like to take an active part in this ourselves. Together with you. As the most sustainable hotel association, our BIO HOTELS are already well on the way. Because in many of our houses you can already have climate-neutral or climate-positive holidays and conferences! Currently, 21 of our BIO HOTELS are already climate-neutral, 26 are even climate-positive. But what does that mean? We will explain that and a lot more to you in the next paragraphs.
Emissions balance of our BIO HOTELS
Our BIO HOTELS have been subject to a CO2 balance since 2011.
Since 2019, this has been done in cooperation with the sustainability consulting company Focus Future GmbH & Co. KG. Their guidelines are based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard (GHG Protocol). The GHG Protocol is the most widespread and recognized international standard for accounting for greenhouse gas emissions from companies.
What's it all about? And why is that actually so important? We asked Marion Schuster from Focus Future: "The consequences of global warming are becoming more and more noticeable and the pressure on politics and companies is increasing. There is now global consensus that we urgently need to counteract man-made climate change. A success in reducing emissions cannot be achieved solely through the political framework or through a changed purchasing behavior of consumers, but depends to a large extent on the voluntary and consistent action of the economy in the industrialized countries.” Since this naturally also includes hotels, our BIO HOTELS come into play happy to take their responsibility.
How is the hotel's carbon footprint calculated?
The underlying principle is actually quite simple: First, the hotel must have its carbon footprint calculated. This means that all CO2e emissions from hotel operations are recorded on the basis of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and summarized in an emissions balance by our partner Focus Future - from electricity consumption to the purchase of goods and our employees' commutes. The result is the remaining CO2 emissions, i.e. the CO2 footprint of the respective company. This can then be compensated for.
Climate neutrality and climate positivity - what's the difference?
Did these terms confuse you too? Our expert Marion Schuster explains what this is all about: “The term “climate neutral” is generally used when the CO2e emissions produced are offset by a measure. Carbon neutrality means that all CO2e emissions caused by the operation during a year have been offset by the purchase of climate protection projects. You have neutralized your footprint. In turn, climate positivity means that the company has compensated for more than its own CO2 emissions. In other words, more tons of CO2e were offset than were generated ourselves.” Our BIO HOTELS have agreed that double the tons of CO2e caused must be offset in order to be a climate-positive BIO HOTEL. In total, the BIO HOTELS offset 10,954 tons of CO2e by purchasing climate certificates.
Which projects are supported?
Once the emissions balance has been completed and the CO2e footprint has been determined, the BIO HOTEL can, in a further step, achieve the status of climate positivity or climate neutrality by acquiring climate protection certificates from international projects to offset greenhouse gas emissions - or, in the case of climate-positive BIO HOTELS, beyond that . By supporting this concept, the climate-neutral and climate-positive BIO HOTELS make a contribution to climate protection and help to improve the economic, social and ecological situation in developing and emerging countries. In addition, they support the demanding realization of the sustainability goals of the United Nations. The following projects are supported by our BIO HOTELS:
- REDD project: Para nut concessions in Madre de Dios - Peru
- Jiangxi Province Le'an County Forest Farm Carbon Sink Project - China
- Guanaré Forest Plantations - Uruguay
Climate positive hotels:
For those who believe in paradise.
Warm organic children's hotel with experiences for young and old.
Nord Sea climate, endless horizon and extensive wellness offers.
Climate-positive health hotel with over 25 years of experience!
A wonderful castle from the 15th century in a unique location.The location of our castle from the 15th century - above the Jagsttal and embedded in the small old town of Kirchberg / Jagst - is just magical. This is where the Kocher-Jagst-Radweg, Kocher-Jagst-Trail and the Jakobsweg meet.
Hotel with an excellent reputation & famous Wilde-Weiber cuisine.
Top class organically built hotel with 1,000 m² large SPA-area.
Charming hotel with unique yoga and mountain experiences.
Experience this breathtaking valley view yourself ...
Spanish luxury in the Bavarian Forest – 7 dreamlike chalets!
Certified organic & fasting hotel in the idyllic Salzburger Land.
Culinary delights await you – in outstanding gourmet quality ...
Gsies, Alto Adige, IT
Blasla Hof
Love the simple life!
Family-run hotel with Tyrolean charm in the middle of the mountains.
Enchanting hotel surrounded by pure nature.
BIO HOTEL in the mountain village of Steinegg, between Bolzano and the...
Unforgettable vacation by the Baltic Sea at affordable prices.
Quiet location and perfect for excursions of all kinds!
Nature resort with handcrafted spa and unique philosophy.
100% organic, 100% real – feel organic enjoyment all along the line!
Innovative hotel with majestic views at a lake and royal castles.
Enjoy moments of relaxation and special meals!
Austrian charm in the middle of the romantic city of Schwerin.
Welcome to the first certified organic bed & breakfast in Hessen!
100% organic, directly in Frankfurt - for sustainable city stays!
Top organic cuisine, sustainable conferences and much more!
Climate neutral hotels:
A special mix of Bavarian tradition and sophisticated modernity.
Historical hotel with sauna house at the lake & fine organic cuisine!
Long sandy beaches, unspoilt forests and lively silence.
Traditional nature hotel with exceptional Ayurveda offer.
Upper Bavarian hospitality with own organic beer brewery.
A real insider tip in South Tyrol - experience unique relaxation!
Vacation on Juist - experience the magic at the North Sea island!
South Tyrol's first certified BIO HOTEL with its own garden.
Modern hotel with a majestic view of the Tyrolean mountains.
Quiet yet centrally located city hotel with large garden.
At one of the most picturesque places in the Bavarian 5-lake region, you can draw new strength and joie de vivre from nature and put aside your everyday life - this is what the BIO HOTEL Schlossgut Oberambach, which is fantastically situated above Lake Starnberg, stands for. Feel safe in an oasis of peace!
Right in the middle of a beautiful nature park!
Get to know Kitzbühel from its most sustainable side!
Family-run hotel in the heart of the South Tyrolean Vinschgau.
Sustainable hotel with organic quality for green city trips.
Quietly located BIO HOTEL with magical garden for you to relax.
An inspiring place to retreat, recharge your batteries and rest.
Vegetarian and vegan BIO HOTEL that is simply different!
Germany's first Holz100 hotel – a special place in the Allgäu!
Culinary highlights in a relaxed atmosphere – since 1777!
Lovingly organic guest house with extensive range of fasting options.
Traditional BIO HOTEL in Tyrol near the Pitztal Glacier.
"On the Green Fence" - a podcast of the Deutsche Welle
At the beginning of May 2021, Neil King from the podcast "On the Green Fence" visited our BIO HOTEL Eggensberger in Füssen. Neil King talked with hotelier Andreas Eggensberger about the problems of mass tourism, the impact on the climate and how our BIO HOTELS as true pioneers of sustainable tourism prepare the way for climate-friendly hotel stays: by reducing energy consumption, exclusive use of renewable energy, reduced meat consumption and much more.
„Offsetting ist only an option for us, after CO2 has been saved actively by increasing efficiency, by renouncing brown coal electricity or other measures.“ - Andreas Eggensberger, BIO HOTEL Eggensberger
