Environment & Nature
Sustainability is more than just a word
Preserving our beautiful surroundings and improving the quality of life means protecting our environment. That is why we are committed to the Austrian Ecolabel.
The Garten-Hotel Ochensberger was also the first business in Styria to be awarded the European Ecolabel – the EU Ecolabel. You can feel the ecological focus in many areas of our activities and actions. Cosy warmth guaranteed by local heating from biomass. Our cleaning professionals use a certified, environmentally friendly cleaning system. Traceable processes, regionality, tolerance, fairness and social commitment – this is how we want to create awareness.
Green time out
What does a sustainable holiday at the Garten-Hotel Ochensberger mean?
“Sustainability” is what comes after us, and we are taking big steps to achieve this, for carefree holidays with positive emotions that last.
We are passionate about this topic and are constantly driven by it. The result is our lived philosophy, heartfelt – honest – genuine, that’s what we stand for, that’s our promise to everyone who comes. Our garden hotel, which has been awarded the European Ecolabel, the EU-Eco Label, shows how sustainability can be lived and communicated with passion and a sense of regionality.
We are not a “renovated to death” off-the-peg hotel, but a place of longing and a gem for garden lovers.
What fascinates our guests most is the nature in the middle of our hotel landscape, the HotelSpa STEIERNESS with garden accents and panoramic views of the greenery, the authentically prepared, regional specialities that land on the plates every day nnot always organic, but genuinely regional & fair and countless natural concepts and stories that accompany our guests at every turn and inspire them to reflect!
In the RestoBar “Die Gärtnerei”, we offer Styrian hospitality in an oversized greenhouse as well as an exhibition and the sale of individual pieces made by regional craftsmen. Payment is made according to the price tags at the “Honesty” cash desk.
7,500 m² of green spaces are labelled by “Natur im Garten”. The gardens are cultivated without the use of pesticides, chem. fertilisers and peat. The power garden with koi and natural swimming pond, sea air inhalatorium are also sustainably designed and ecologically maintained. A huge meadow orchard with apple trees and newly planted “old” fruit varieties are also cultivated naturally. We press our own apple juice from the harvested apples.
The in-house delicatessen range “Steierness-Selection” with purely natural ingredients from the region is created and produced by the head chef, Johann Unger himself.
Green thought
Why is sustainable management so important to you?
As an entrepreneur and employer with around 50 employees, we see the topics of sustainability and environmental friendliness as our most important mission, as a great responsibility to contribute and pass on many things in order to conserve resources and preserve our beautiful environment in our home country.
We see our profession as a vocation – it’s where we grow and constantly develop, and we never stop improving – even after more than 30 years, this still gives us great pleasure.
We also want to pass on these sustainable ideas to our younger generation in the team.
“wholeness” in life – it makes us balanced, happy and active. In addition to family and leisure time, which are particularly important today, we also have our professional activities. It should be fun, arouse interest, spur us on, challenge us, allow us to master many an endeavour, help us progress and make us successful.
Ultimately, it is up to all of us to make a contribution so that we can continue to live in prosperity, safety and security in a country like Austria.
How long has the Garten Hotel Ochensberger been focussing on sustainability?
Fifteen years ago, we were the first hotel in Styria to be awarded the Austrian Ecolabel. After the last reclassification in 2023, the Austrian Ministry of Climate Protection confirmed our “excellent success” with one of the highest fulfilment rates of all hotels in Austria.
Green accents
The list of implementations in the background is long:
- Hotel furnishings with natural materials from local companies
- LED lighting throughout the hotel
- 3 charging stations for electric and hybrid vehicles
- Local heating through biomass
- Best values for thermal insulation in all buildings
- Cooperation with suppliers with a sustainable focus:
- Packaging-reduced food, Fairtrade and organic food, environmentally certified cleaning agents and detergents, environmentally friendly paints throughout the building, 100% green electricity
- Hotel’s own waste management system
- Energy recovery through compound cooling system, heat recovery through exhaust air
- Exhibition and sale of unique pieces made by regional craftsmen
- Our own delicatessen range “Steierness-Selection” with purely natural ingredients from the region, created and produced by chef Johann Unger
- Room fragrancing with pure essential oils – customised together with aromatherapist Lidija Zinggl and adapted to our garden hotel
- Seminar room and office equipment with “Energy Star certified” devices (eco-label for energy-saving devices)
- Use of stationery (photocopier, flipchart, pin board, etc.) with “Blue Angel” certification
- Harmonisation of electrosmog, water veins and radiation through the use of “Fostac”
- All conference rooms have direct access to the seminar garden
- Balanced seminar catering for more energy. With many delicious ingredients, you can achieve mental power, motivation, increased learning ability, increased resilience, flexibility and solution-orientated thinking with “Brainfood”. We have deepened our knowledge together with dietician Angelika Pinter from the company biolog – preventive health concepts, and fitness & nutrition expert Toni Klein, and will be happy to apply our experience for you
- Best public transport connections on weekdays; Weekends: pick-up of guests from Gleisdorf train station with the hotel’s own electric car
The responsibility
Our actions pursue the goal of continuously improving environmental protection.
As an ecologically oriented company, we take our responsibility for the environment very seriously and endeavour to achieve improvements in all areas in order to preserve a beautiful and healthy landscape for future generations.
The Garten-Hotel Ochensberger in St. Ruprecht/Raab fulfils all the requirements of the Austrian Ecolabel and the European Ecolabel for accommodation establishments. As a holder of the European eco-label, we are considered a true pioneer, with a commitment to combining an environmentally friendly approach and sustainable business practices with entrepreneurial success.
The criteria of the Austrian and European Ecolabels are used to minimise the greatest environmental impact that arises in everyday working life. In addition to the reduction of energy and water consumption, exemplary waste separation and the reduction of waste, renewable energy sources and materials – such as LED lighting, heat recovery from exhaust air and the conversion of all detergents and cleaning agents to environmentally friendly products – are favoured.
INNOVATION & ECOLOGY ARE HARMONICALLY IN TOGETHER!“The environmentally friendly philosophy has been practised at the Garten-Hotel for a long time. We see it as our mission as entrepreneurs and employers to create an environmentally friendly environment for our team and all guests and to feel sustainability in all areas. It’s great to see how many people involved in our hotel have already made an absolute change in awareness. In the future, we will continue to do everything we can to actively involve our employees and guests in the environmental measures we have implemented and bring them closer to the importance of environmental protection.”REGIONAL AND FAIR
“By consciously purchasing products, we avoid waste and prioritise regional products. We also prioritise food from the region and from organic farming and increasingly buy products that carry an eco-label. Choosing regional products is not only good for the environment. With shorter transport routes, the ingredients stay fresh – an important quality feature that is reflected above all in the flavour. We want to raise awareness of our environment and our health. We also assume social responsibility towards our employees, who are encouraged to play an active role in shaping our environmental programme through regular training. Tolerance and fairness not only play a major role in the selection of our materials and products – social interaction is also an important social aspect at the Garten-Hotel.”
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