Visiting Susanne A. Schalz’ studio. Part 2
7. March 2019You don’t need mate tea to have a sustainable breakfast.
21. March 2019Is the environment always close to your heart? Even when travelling?
Yes, perhaps that’s a real “Gretchen question” after all. And admittedly, the jute bag is indeed one of the much-quoted features of the „eco-people of the first hour. And it is by no means meant to be polemical here. Because on the one hand these are the clichés of yesterday, on the other – and that is even more important! – many people of today are truly interested in a responsible approach to the environment and its resources. For fair cooperation and sustainable interaction with each other and with everything that makes this planet a wonderful place.
Traveling. Luxury or burden. In any case, very frequently
Do you like to travel, or do you have to travel a lot on business? Are you already looking forward to your holiday in the South or are you preparing your next business trip to Duesseldorf? No matter what your motives are, many of us are on the road a lot right now. Travelling is often almost part of our everyday working life, whether by car, train or plane. We travel a lot between Detmold, Dortmund, Moscow, New York, Rio or Tokyo.
Travelling is indeed associated with great environmental burdens. Reason enough to take a closer look at the topic of “sustainable travel”. Not only for your next holiday, but also for your next business trip.
Sustainable Business Travel
For many people business trips are indispensable. Not everything can be discussed on the phone or by e-mail. And not every business partner can be reached on foot or by tram. The point here is not at all to call for renunciation, but rather to proceed a little more sustainably and environmentally consciously. Even at the travel planning stage, one or two “screws” can be turned so that the business trip becomes a little more sustainable.
In fact, it is the choice of means of transport that makes up the largest part of the CO2 footprint, and flying is unfortunately one of the least environmentally friendly means of transport alternatives. Even though the CO2 emissions of a flight vary greatly according to flight class, aircraft, connection, etc., the CO2 footprint of a flight is also a major factor. An overview on all airlines that helps to decide which one is most efficient at climate protection is provided by atmosfair.de.
There are still no technical solutions for flying such as bio-fuels or emission-free new technologies. As long as flying is the only tried and tested method of choice, there is, for example, the possibility of voluntarily “compensating” for the harmful emissions caused by flying with atmosfair.de via a climate protection contribution. Compensation cannot solve the problem, but is at least sometimes a “second best” alternative. An alternative to flying is certainly the train. It has a much more favourable CO2 balance than air travel and is an important alternative, especially on routes within Germany. And the choice of hotel can also make a difference.
Sustainable overnight stays
If you are going on a business trip, you will certainly have to spend a lot of time overnight. And this is where the choice of hotel comes into play. When choosing your hotel, take a closer look at how it positions itself in terms of sustainability and environmental protection. And a little more thoroughly. By this I don’t mean the „Towels are only washed when they are lying on the floor“ announcement that you can read in many hotel bathrooms. This has certainly become a matter of course in the meantime, and should no longer require any special mention.
Especially the larger hotel chains have recognized the “hipness” of “sustainability & Co.” and do a lot of advertising on their own behalf, gladly with one or the other supposedly “green” hotel certificate. Some of these qualifications, however, on closer inspection and with their extremely soft quality criteria, offer more “greenwashing” than real orientation and information. Especially since with one or the other „certificate”, you can gain valuable points with the mere declaration of intent. Up to now, as Hotel Villa Meererbusch, we have consciously decided against such a further environmental or organic or sustainability or eco-certificate. Because we are of the opinion that the majority of these qualifications do not provide the necessary information and real transparency for consumers. This is necessary, however, if people who want to stay overnight wish to obtain sound and comprehensive information. Please take a close look when choosing your hotel.
Sustainable overnight stays near Düsseldorf. At the Hotel Villa Meererbusch
If you are travelling to Düsseldorf, we have a hotel tip for you. Our hotel is located in Meerbusch-Büderich, in the immediate vicinity of Düsseldorf. Only 12 minutes by car from the airport, trade fair centre, main station and city centre. These important places can also be easily reached by public transport. Many of our business guests actually use the tram when they are doing business in Düsseldorf. For example, when visititing an international fair, or working on Hansa Allee, Boehler Fair grounds or the industrial estates in Krefeld and Düsseldorf Heerdt.
But “sustainability” for us certainly does not just mean that we are also well connected by public transport. After all, we didn’t contribute anything to this ourselves. We’re just happy about that, for us and our guests.
And what do we do ourselves actively with regard to sustainability? A few examples:
With 100% green electricity from renewable energies and climate-neutral natural gas, we reduce CO2 emissions by almost 54 tons a year. Clever waste management for us means about 8,000 l less residual waste per year. “Zero Waste” at breakfast. No mini portion packs, but lots of organic and FairTrade products, lots of homemade treats. If at all possible, regionally. And always fresh, prepared according to your wishes, with love and care. Thanks to our water softening system we can do without aggressive cleaning agents. Recycling? This starts with our old furniture with a lot of history.
For us, sustainability is not only somehow “organic”, but also has an important social component. We are of the opinion that with supposedly cheap offers at the “super special price” and so-called “bargains” someone always pays the bill. We don’t employ mini-jobbers, seasonal workers or temporary workers, and certainly not “somehow like that”. And we are beyond all minimum wage debates. We are happy about our long-time, well-trained employees with fixed contracts, who together with us make our house what it is. Namely a good place.
Please come in! Welcome!