New thinking, active action, positive change.
At a time when the consequences of our reckless treatment of the environment are becoming ever more apparent, the issue of sustainability is becoming increasingly important at Hotel Hafen Hamburg - fortunately!
The question "What does 1-2 degrees mean?" may sound superficial, but its implications are alarming. While not every:r seems to be directly affected, the polar ice caps are melting, forests are going up in flames, and the number of mentally ill people is rising continuously.
Superficial actions, such as separating waste, have long since ceased to be sufficient. At Hotel Hafen Hamburg, we face the challenge of finding sustainable alternatives for the long term. This process is time-consuming and may also require financial investment. But it is an investment that will pay off in the long run, not only ecologically but also economically - we are deeply convinced of this at Hotel Hafen Hamburg. Every 6 weeks, we gather our internal sustainability team to discuss ideas, successes and also setbacks. From these meetings, we draw valuable insights from which we derive concrete recommendations for action. We would now like to give you an insight into the developments that have taken place at our Hotel Hafen Hamburg over the past few months.
Read lessWhat happens if we don't change anything?
The drastic effects of climate change are no longer theoretical concepts - they are reality.
All soon history?
The water level is rising unceasingly. Venice, Lisbon, London, Bordeaux, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Bremen, Oldenburg, Sylt and even Hamburg will no longer be habitable.
The 8th continent
"Plastic Soup" Great Pacific Garbage Patch. More than 650 underwater species are threatened by the permanent influx of plastic into the sea.
Mental illnesses
With each degree of global warming, the risk of mental illness increases by 0.9% - at our current population density, this equates to 72 million people.
Hunger
Currently, more than 822 million people go hungry. If all other non-climate factors and feedback effects remained unchanged, an additional 183 million people would go hungry due to climate change alone, compared to a scenario without climate change.
Species dying
Warming by 2-3 degrees Celsius could result in the extinction of 20-30% of all animal and plant species worldwide.
and a lot more
These are only a few consequences. All these facts sound utopian at first. But they are our future, if we do not change something NOW.
AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED AT HOTEL HAFEN HAMBURG?
In view of these pressing challenges, it is essential to take active action at Hotel Hafen Hamburg. In our sustainability team, we constantly discuss, discard and decide on the smallest improvements and steps.
Read moreAt Hotel Hafen Hamburg, for example, we have set the date for our second Sustainability Day and already announced it. This event should not remain a rarity and will be held annually. Here, the achieved goals and current challenges are communicated transparently, space is given for ideas and feedback, and extensive information is provided about the 3 pillars of sustainability. In addition, we have set aside a slot for the topic of sustainability in our onboarding of new colleagues at the Hotel Hafen Hamburg, so that everyone is picked up from the first day of work and can directly contribute his or her ideas. According to the motto "Veggie is not bad, it's delicious!" there are now more and more "Veggie Days" in our restaurants for employees at Hotel Hafen Hamburg. Not only on the guest side, but also behind the scenes, every:r at Hotel Hafen Hamburg is taken by the hand on the way to a sustainable future.
Our goal for this year at Hotel Hafen Hamburg was to formulate smart goals on the topic of sustainability. Here we have now formulated our first goals for the year 2024 and defined some more to be further concretized. These cover all 3 pillars of sustainability and involve the entire company, including at the Hotel Hafen Hamburg, starting with the kitchen, through purchasing and the front office, to technology. We are confident that we can achieve our goals through continuous optimization, which does not mean that the targets are set low. We will present our goals at Hotel Hafen Hamburg at our next Sustainability Day in January 2024 and then, of course, transparently here on our sustainability blog, as always.
Read lessGreat success with small changes
We were able to achieve gratifying results through targeted measures in the area of energy use. Use of timer programs, motion detectors, LED lighting and other technologies led to significant savings.
![Light bulb with the earth inside]( "Light bulb with the earth inside | Copyright Pexels")
Power consumption
We have taken stock of 2022 at Hotel Hafen Hamburg - in the measurement period 01 May to 02 August, we were able to save 8.14% electricity this year compared to the same period last year through various measures such as motion detectors, timers and LED lights.
![White pipes for district heating]( "White pipes for district heating | Copyright Mitchell Luo Ralidqgjkbe Unsplash")
District heating
We were also able to reduce our district heating consumption by 32.21% in the same period. Here, the individual heating distributors are now manually opened and closed by our colleagues in the building services department in the hotel.
![A drop of water dripping into water]( "A drop of water dripping into water | Copyright David Becker Unsplash")
Water Savings
Even though we as a hotel can have little influence on the water consumption of our guests, we have been able to save a whole 5.47% of water here as well compared to the year 2022 through various modifications such as water-saving faucets and toilet flushes.
![A single picture of Andre Schulz the Technical Manager of the Hotel Hafen Hamburg.]( "Team | Andre Schulz | Copyright Saskia Giebel")
The key to success
Our Technical Manager, André Schulz, leads by example when it comes to energy efficiency. He emphasizes that it's not just a seemingly cooler summer that's responsible for the savings alone - because without active measures, progress doesn't happen. While new purchases may be initially costly, they not only contribute to energy savings, but also bring financial gains. This fact illustrates that sustainable investments can have a positive effect in the long term.
We introduce:
CREATING A BRIDGE BETWEEN GENERATIONS
"Oll Inklusiv" is an inspiring Hamburg initiative that focuses on actively involving "Seniors & Senioritas" and people aged 60+ in what is happening today. At Hotel Hafen Hamburg, in a world inhabited by young and old alike - be it digital or analog - we strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome. Founder Mitra Kassai emphasizes the enrichment she draws from her conversations with seniors and senioritas at various senior residences. These conversations about memories, occupations, hobbies, and fears teach her to appreciate the true values of life. The initiative reflects these values by establishing a network for people 60 and older that serves as a link between generations.
Through "Oll Inklusiv", Hotel Hafen Hamburg creates a connection between generations, showing that life in all its facets is shared by all of us, regardless of age or background.
Take a look here.
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09.06.2023
Sustainability means: Together and step by step
Sustainability means: together and step by step. Learn about our progress after our successful sustainability day in our second sustainability blog. As a hotel and company with discerning guests, we are well on our way to continuously working on new initiatives and reducing our environmental impact. A sustainable future is close to our hearts.
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09.01.2023
First "Day of Sustainability"
At the beginning of 2023, an exciting event took place at Hotel Hafen Hamburg: our first Sustainability Day. With engaging workshops from our partners and a plenary session openly sharing our plans, successes and challenges, we were able to give all participants valuable tips on how each individual can contribute to making the world a better place.
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19.12.2022
Small steps to success
Environmental protection and resource conservation are more important today than ever before. For decades, our society has been anything but economical with the resources at our disposal. Whether water, electricity or people.
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31.08.2022
GreenSign Certificate
Great commitment pays off. Our focus on ecological, economic and social sustainability has proven successful. The Hotel Hafen Hamburg an den Landungsbrücken is now a certified GreenSign hotel and has been awarded Level 4 out of 5 for its progress and milestones achieved in the area of sustainability.
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