Stay Green
CSR and Environmental Initiatives
At Kolding Hotel Apartments, we continuously work with how we operate our hotel and apartments, including our use of energy, water, materials and cleaning products, as well as food waste and waste sorting.
Our initiatives consist of specific measures in our daily operations. We monitor our consumption and processes and assess where changes can be made.
Below, we describe some of the measures we have implemented and the certifications and labels that apply to our operations.
Green Key
Kolding Hotel Apartments is certified with Green Key.
Green Key is an international environmental certification programme for tourism businesses. Certified businesses must meet a range of specific criteria relating to areas such as energy, water, waste, cleaning and daily operations. Compliance with the applicable criteria is reviewed as part of the certification programme.
We continuously work with the requirements and criteria applicable to our certification.
Measures implemented in 2025:
- We lock the doors to rooms in apartments that are not booked.
- We provide information to guests about relevant measures concerning consumption and daily operations.
- LED lighting has been installed in all stairwells.
- Motorised valves and dampers have been installed in cooker hoods in all apartments to regulate ventilation and reduce unnecessary heat loss.
Measures implemented in 2024:
- We established an area focused on biodiversity/"Wild with Willingness" at the rear of our car park.
- Windows and doors were replaced in 6 apartments.
- 25 bathroom fixtures were replaced with LED lighting.
- 74 floor lamps in the hotel apartments were replaced with LED lighting.
Measures implemented in 2023:
- 3 charging stations for electric vehicles were installed.
- 27 light fixtures were replaced with LED lighting.
- Night-time temperature reduction and optimisation were introduced for 3 ventilation units.
- 12 apartments received new doors, windows and LED lighting.
- The CTS system was optimised with the aim of reducing heating consumption.
The Organic Cuisine Label
Our breakfast is certified with the Danish Organic Cuisine Label at the bronze level.
The bronze label means that 30–60% of the food and beverages purchased by the business, calculated according to the rules of the labelling scheme, are organic.
The Organic Cuisine Label is a Danish government-controlled labelling scheme documenting a business's proportion of organic food and beverage purchases.
We monitor our purchases and the proportion of organic products as part of our ongoing work with breakfast operations.
Food and Organic products
Our breakfast buffet includes a selection of seasonal and local or Danish products where relevant and available. We also work with the proportion of organic products in our breakfast selection.
We focus on:
- adjusting purchases to the number of breakfast guests
- keeping stocks of perishable goods at a low level
- serving smaller quantities at a time at the breakfast buffet
- making it easy for guests to take smaller portions and return for more if needed
- selecting local or Danish products where relevant and available
- increasing the proportion of organic products over time.
We sort food waste separately from other waste. Food waste is collected for treatment at a biogas facility, where it can be used in the production of, among other things, biogas and biofertiliser.
Guests who have surplus food from their own purchases during their stay can hand it in to us. Where possible, we pass the food on to Kolding Food Aid.
By passing on surplus food, we contribute food to a local volunteer organisation that distributes donated food to people who need it.
Waste sorting
We sort waste into at least 10 fractions and encourage our guests to do the same at one of our two waste stations.
Instructions for waste sorting are available in both English and Danish and include illustrations.
Hazardous waste, electronic waste, light bulbs, broken glass and porcelain can be handed in at reception. Our technical staff then ensures that the waste is handled according to the applicable sorting and disposal procedures.
When furniture is no longer suitable for its original purpose, we assess whether it can be repaired, reused or used for another purpose. Where this is not possible, we may sell or donate the furniture so that it can be used elsewhere.
Sharing and reuse
Our "Borrowing Box" allows guests to borrow various items during their stay, such as whisks and exercise equipment.
The purpose is to give guests access to items when they need them rather than having one of each item in every apartment.
We also provide reusable fabric bags in the apartments for guests to use during their stay.
Digital solutions
We use digital solutions to reduce the need for paper in our daily operations.
Our digital guest book provides practical information about the stay and information about available services and options.
We offer digital receipts and generally do not print receipts unless a guest requests a physical receipt.
For employees, we use digital systems for tasks such as staff scheduling and cleaning management.
In our administration, we aim to limit printing to documents that are necessary and store documents digitally where possible.
Apartments and cleaning
We use De 5 Stjerner A/S for cleaning our apartments.
When selecting and using cleaning products, attention is paid, among other things, to certified or labelled products and correct dosing.
For stays of less than one week, cleaning is normally carried out upon departure. For longer stays, cleaning is carried out weekly.
Elis supplies and launders bed linen and towels used in the hotel apartments.
Where products or services are covered by environmental or other relevant certifications, we use products or services with the applicable certification.
Bed linen and towels are changed weekly during longer stays and otherwise upon departure.
In the apartments, we use refillable dispensers for soap and shampoo. The dispensers are refilled when empty rather than replaced.
Water and energy consumption
We regularly monitor water and heating consumption. This allows us to identify unusual changes and potential faults and to follow developments in our consumption.
Heating, alarms and ventilation in the apartments are automatically controlled.
When an apartment is scheduled for arrival, the heating is adjusted to the desired level before the guest arrives. When the apartment is not in use, the heating is set to a lower level.
All apartments have LED lighting in living rooms, bathrooms and kitchens.
Employees
We aim to provide a good and supportive working environment for our employees.
We hold annual development meetings with employees and work with communication, collaboration and professional development.
We employ a significant number of students and give them opportunities to gain responsibility and experience as part of their employment.
When recruiting, we focus on qualifications and suitability for the position and work to provide equal opportunities for employees.
We comply with applicable rules concerning working conditions, human rights and anti-corruption.
We cooperate with our industry organisation, Horesta, and reception staff are covered by a collective agreement with 3F.
Partners and suppliers
We cooperate with local suppliers and producers where relevant and possible.
Our hotel boutique offers a selection of local and/or organic products.
When selecting suppliers, we consider factors such as quality, experience, certifications and reputation.
We aim to increase transparency in our supplier relationships and consider relevant social and environmental factors when assessing suppliers.
Our approach
Our work with operations, purchasing, energy, waste, food waste and working conditions develops continuously.
We aim to communicate openly about the specific measures we implement and about the certifications and labels that apply to our operations.
We update this page when we implement significant new measures or when our certifications, labels or procedures change.