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Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and other Scandinavian countries are striving relentlessly to achieve their SDGs of net zero emissions. This goal extends to all industries and operations within the countries, including hospitality departments. Many leading hotels in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have adopted sustainable and green practices. If you’re in any of these countries and want to leave a minimal carbon footprint, eco-friendly hotels in Scandinavia are the way to go.
These hotels incorporate eco-friendly products and environmental measures, such as using local materials, renewable energy sources, and sustainable architectural designs, to cater to eco-conscious travelers. Let’s see what hotels have adopted and what is sustainable regarding green practices.
Scandic Holmenkollen Park, Norway: Family Rooms
The Scandic Holmenkollen Park, Oslo, is an antique hotel whose facilities have been renovated to meet contemporary green standards.
This establishment belongs to the Scandic hotel chain that was awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
It is committed to lessening carbon emissions and its overall environmental influence. The chain’s environmental strategy is to become 100% carbon neutral by 2025, significantly reducing its environmental impact.
Zoku Copenhagen, Denmark
Zoku Copenhagen can be distinguished by the living concept implemented, which not only refers to the local greener approach but also extends to hosting international guests sustainably, making it a prime example of eco-hotels.
Located at the center of Copenhagen, this hotel sources most of its food requirements from local vendors. They emphasize the use of organic produce in their food offerings, ensuring meals are both sustainable and delicious. Moreover, they have refused to use disposable plastics to reduce plastic waste.
Zoku understands the importance of one’s work during one’s staycations. With its mission to become a zero-emission building, Zoku incorporates communal spaces where less is more and offers facilities to go green.
Treehotel, Sweden: Wood Fired Sauna
This exquisite hotel is in the northern Swedish village of Harads, Treehotel providing lodging in tree houses. These are based on different themes and are environmentally conscious.
Among these, treehouses are built from renewable green materials using hydropower, and the lights used at night are low-energy LED lights. The natural beauty of the surroundings, with stunning landscapes and eco-friendly architectural design, enhances the appeal of staying at Treehotel.
Expanding on this, let me explain that ecotourism is advantageous because one can be integrated with nature through Tree Hotel when visiting Sweden.
Hotel GSH, Denmark: Organic Produce
Hotel GSH (Green Solutions House) is based on the Danish island of Bornholm, and it has the provision of sustainability as its principle. The hotel employs recycled items for windows and drinkware. The use of water-efficient sinks further minimizes water consumption and enhances eco-friendly practices within the hotel.
Its construction is based on the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) guidelines. Moreover, the hotel has Green Certification – Green Key is an environmental mark of international standards.
Långholmen Hotell, Sweden
Långholmen Hotell, located in Stockholm, pays attention to reducing food waste and compensating for carbon emissions. Other accommodation options in the area, such as eco-friendly apartments and cabins, also adhere to sustainable practices.
Located in a former prison, this hotel will be not only an ecological one but also one with an accent of historicist style.
It focuses on the minimal impact of the hotel on the environment while simultaneously creating conveniently unique guest experiences.
Urnatur Eco Treehouse Lodge is a cluster of cabins and tree houses in the Holaved forest in southern Sweden.
Builders construct every building from salvaged materials, with no facilities like electricity, following the principles of ‘roughing it out’ on the premises, providing a true off-grid experience.
The lodge is in affiliation with Nature’s Best Swedish Ecotourism Society. A unique feature of the lodge is its wood-fired sauna, which enhances the overall detox experience for guests seeking tranquility away from urban life.
Skepparholmen Nacka, Sweden
Skepparholmen Nacka is a spa and conferencing hotel located ahead of Stockholm that emphasizes sustainable development in the long run. The whole site offers a cohesive environment that promotes an alternative lifestyle through its sustainable design and philosophy.
This hotel’s ISO 20121 certification means that it uses the products and services of environmentally friendly companies and has provoked interesting views of the Stockholm archipelago.
Some of their environmentally friendly productions include a KRAV-labeled restaurant, meaning guests can enjoy the luxury in the environment.
Scandic Hotels, Various Locations
Some of the most popular eco-friendly hotels in northern Europe are Scandic Hotels. These chains have strict principles on sustainability. Outdoor activities such as hiking, dog sledding, and whale safaris are available at these hotels, set against the backdrop of iconic features like the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun.
These include the following: every hotel in the chain has a policy of minimizing the use of energy, avoiding the wastage of food, and purchasing organic food from the local market.
Interestingly, both the Scandic Holmenkollen Park in Oslo and almost all Scandic hotels hold the official Nordic Ecolabel—The Nordic Swan. By 2025, the chain aims to achieve the goal of ‘Net Zero Carbon.’
Conclusion
These eco-friendly hotels in Scandinavia highlight the area’s commitment to being green and give those concerned with their carbon footprint several ways to have an enjoyable experience, including witnessing the northern lights. Outdoor adventure activities such as hiking the Kungsleden Trail in Sweden and dog sledding in Norway further enhance the eco-tourism appeal.
Additionally, some accommodations are located near UNESCO World Heritage Sites, providing a unique cultural experience. No matter what, if you are a fan of contemporary construction like the multi-story Zoku Copenhagen, or old buildings like Scandic Holmenkollen Park, Scandinavia green hotels can offer you just that.
FAQs
Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and others have extensively adopted sustainable practices in various industries. For instance, Sweden’s carbon emissions were 3.24 metric tons as of 2020.
Hotel GSH, Denmark, and Scandic Hotels chain have the most sustainable practices in the Scandinavian region.
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