Climate action from night one: The Fürstenfelder Hotel is ClimatePartner certified

When the Kohlfürst family opened the Fürstenfelder Restaurant in 2001 in the former cowshed of Fürstenfeld monastery, they laid the foundation for a success story that goes beyond culinary experiences. In 2008 the family opened a four-star hotel, expanded the existing offerings of restaurant, beer garden, and event catering.

"We act in an environmentally sustainable, economical, and socially responsible way". This guiding principle has shaped the hotel's strategy from the very first night stays. The hotel generates a large part of its own energy with heat pumps, a combined heat and power plant, and photovoltaic systems. Furniture made from local oak, regional organic foods, and short transport routes conserve resources and strengthen the local economy.

A focus on energy-saving solutions

© Sascha Kletzsch 

• Door and window contacts prevent energy loss
• Waste heat from cooling systems is used to heat water
• Groundwater heat pumps cool in summer and heat in winter
• Energy-saving lighting systems reduce electricity consumption

The challenge: Carbon accounting across the value chain

The hotel is already setting standards in the hotel industry in terms of sustainability. However, it was clear to the family-run business that sustainability is a competitive factor and determines future viability.

The main challenge: How can carbon emissions be calculated, reduced, and communicated transparently across the entire value chain?

The solution: Systematically tracking and calculating climate action

Since the beginning of 2023, the Fürstenfelder Hotel has worked with ClimatePartner to make its climate action quantifiable and more sustainable. Since then, the hotel's Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) has been calculated annually. In addition to scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, scope 3 emissions have also been included, such as business travel, employee commuting, operational waste, purchased goods and services, fuel and energy-related emissions, and upstream transport and distribution.

On this basis, the family-run business has defined concrete reduction targets:

• Reduction of scope 1 and 2 emissions by 5% by 2030
• Reduction of scope 3 emissions by 10% by 2028.

Reduction measures with real impact

The Fürstenfelder Hotel has already implemented several reduction measures. The business sources 100% renewable electricity, uses electric vehicles, defines procurement guidelines for purchasing, optimises product design, and informs employees and guests about its climate action.

But climate action doesn’t stop at check-out. To contribute to global emissions reductions, the Fürstenfelder has been financing climate projects since 2023. They currently support projects in Asia that expand renewable energy, reducing dependence on energy imports, which also creates jobs and strengthens the regional infrastructure.

More recently, Fürstenfelder has supported energy projects in Africa and an ocean protection project.

Climate action pays off

For the Kohlfürst family, climate action is an ongoing journey. The team tries out new things, questions the status quo, and keeps improving.

The positive feedback from guests and recognition from independent third parties show that this approach is worthwhile. The restaurant received the MICHELIN Green Star, an award given to establishments that take responsibility for the environment and society and credibly integrate sustainability into their gastronomy.

© Toby Binder 

 

Working with ClimatePartner enables us to credibly integrate climate action into our corporate strategy. Thanks to their sound advice and transparent solutions, we’re creating real added value for our company, our customers, and the planet.

— Uschi and Gerhard Kohlfürst, Managing Directors