15th Swan label marks commitment to sustainability & environment

Bjertorp Castle has been awarded the Swan Label for the 15th year in a row, underlining the castle's long-term commitment to sustainability and the environment. This year, the castle has focused on reducing electricity and water consumption as well as increasing the proportion of organic and local food.

Bjertorp Slott, a historic landmark and a prominent meeting place on the Vara Plain, has received the Nordic Ecolabel for the 15th year in a row. This underlines the castle's long-term commitment to sustainability and the environment.

The swan is one of Sweden's most respected environmental labels and symbolizes the minimal impact of both products and services on the environment throughout their life cycle. To obtain the eco-label as a hotel, one must comply with requirements regarding energy use, chemicals, source sorting, the purchase of eco-labelled goods and services, and the supply of organic and sustainability-labelled food.

- The requirements have increased significantly during the 15 years we have been working with the Swan, which is of course positive. It challenges us to see new opportunities in our environmental work with the tougher requirements that are being imposed. For example, energy use with a ban on fossil oil or gas for heating, clear routine requirements for food waste and better training for our employees,” says Victoria Johansson, CEO, Bjertorp Slott.

Bjertorp Slott has reduced electricity consumption by 28.4%
Now in 2023, Bjertorp Slott focuses extra on its electricity and water consumption. The goal is to reduce electricity consumption by 20%, calculated in KWH, compared to the previous year and to reduce water consumption by 5%, calculated in KBM, compared to the previous year. Water consumption can only be measured at the end of the year but accumulated until August this year, Bjertorp Slott has reduced its electricity consumption by 28.4% compared to the same period last year.

“It feels great in our green heart that we have managed to reduce electricity consumption by such a high percentage and there are several factors that contributed to this. Both we and the property owner have invested in geothermal heat pumps, cooling systems and kitchen stoves, among other things. We have also managed to create an incredible commitment and a deeper awareness internally in how we use hot water and manage the lighting at the castle. It is now a matter of keeping up with the new habits,” says Victoria Johansson, CEO, Bjertorp Slott.

Bjertorp Slott chooses organic and local
Another requirement for Svanenbranded hotels is the proportion of organic and sustainability-labelled food. In 2022, Svensen's limit value for the number of organic products was 10%. By 2025, it will be 15% of total purchases and already in 2022 Bjertorp Slott reached 15.4%.

The swan makes demands that are mandatory. Then there are requirements that award points, where the licensee must achieve a certain number of points in order to be eco-labelled. The proportion of local production is such. Bjertorp Slott has long prioritised close cooperation with local food and beverage producers.

“We are one of the restaurants that have been part of the food network Smaka på Västsweden since its inception in the early 2000s. Then under the name West Swedish Mermak, says Victoria Johansson, CEO, Bjertorp Slott.

Taste West Sweden is a food network that aims to make it easy for visitors to find places that focus on the region's food and produce by highlighting the businesses, such as Bjertorp Slott, which works closely with local producers in Västra Götaland.

“Our location in the middle of the countryside provides a fantastic pantry with many fine local companies, which simplifies our important sustainability work. For example, it feels exclusive that we can offer our guests the castle's own beer, which is nowhere else but here, where it is also made,” says Victoria Johansson, CEO, Bjertorp Slott.

For Bjertorp Slott, the annual Swan label is an important reminder that sustainability work is an ongoing journey that requires new ways of working and new ways of thinking.

“We at Bjertorp Slott, as well as our industry colleagues, must dare to find new ways and ways to ensure that future generations also enjoy unique and exclusive experiences,” says Victoria Johansson, CEO, Bjertorp Slott.