Our Responsibility / Sustainability
We. Us. Them. Everyone.
It makes no sense not to incorporate sustainability into one’s business today. We see it as a natural and shared responsibility for everyone to contribute as best they can. Not just to a sustainable future. But to a sustainable present. We want to be among the local area’s green driving forces, constantly inspiring partners, staff, the local community and guests to make green thinking a natural and obvious part of everyday life. We firmly believe that inspiration, permeating right down to the very fabric of our business, helps to shift attitudes and awareness towards responsible behaviour – towards the environment, the economy and people. It is not a religion. It is not a patronising approach. A logical approach to running a business in open dialogue with nature, local communities, employees and the wider world – both nationally and internationally. For us, sustainability means: Us. You. Everyone.
Local collaboration. We live in the countryside, which provides the fertile ground for the production of high-quality food. It is logical and natural to collaborate with producers and pioneers in food production who are right on our doorstep. We inspire one another, and our collaboration is based on a shared approach to the seasons, knowledge-sharing, transport and the guest experience. The seasons define our menu, which conveys sustainability to our guests. Our chefs visit the producers, who share their knowledge and experience of the vegetables, which are never transported further than necessary. Once our guests have finished their meal, we encourage them to visit the producers and to grow their own produce and live sustainably. It is the small, local initiatives that can make the green movement an ingrained part of the way we live in the world. Something you don’t give much thought to. You just do it. Inspired by nature, our local partnerships move with the seasons and sow seeds wherever possible. As well as sourcing ingredients for our kitchens, we also collaborate with local suppliers in many other contexts.
Food waste. Our food waste is extremely low. This is because we take a proactive approach to making full use of our ingredients. We do not buy more than we need. We plan according to the seasons. We buy locally. Vegetables make up a large and important part of our menu. We work in close partnership with local producers, constantly striving to inspire one another to make the most of the ingredients’ full potential.
Flower field. Wild flowers help to preserve the diversity of nature, which is the foundation of all life. We support that diversity. Naturally. We have established a wildflower meadow. It is designed to help ensure that bees and other insects have the best possible conditions. It is a natural part of our view of the ecosystem that we also share this knowledge with our guests. That is why we encourage them to visit the wildflower meadow, and we also give them a bag of seeds to take home, so they can play their part in going green. The wildflowers spread beauty and joy in our restaurants, where bouquets adorn the tables.
Staff close to the business. We go to great lengths for sustainability. But our staff shouldn’t have to. We encourage them to live as close to the business as possible, and therefore offer them accommodation in nearby flats. This means less travel and therefore lower consumption. A lovely side effect is also a sense of community, togetherness and quality of life, as travel time is converted into leisure time.
Ingredients and menus. Our ingredients come from the local community. Our menu is based on the seasons. This means making the most of the quality of the ingredients. But it also means that we do not import ingredients out of season. Nature’s annual cycle defines the menu. We buy organic produce whenever possible and whenever it makes sense. Buying locally enhances sustainability in several ways: reducing transport, supporting local jobs and fostering local collaboration. It’s a logical approach to local sustainability.
Products used in the business. For Mindeværdig, it is entirely natural that the products we use in the business should not have a negative impact on the environment. This applies to ingredients. It applies to production methods and quality. And it applies to packaging. Our approach to sustainability in product selection is based on good durability and a low environmental footprint. We focus on and prioritise these aspects. Our textiles are made from high-quality cotton, which means they are long-lasting. Our hand soaps and creams are organic, and our cleaning products carry the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. We constantly strive to improve our sustainability efforts. That is why we have started our own production of personal care products. This gives us 100% control over what our products contain. And we can refill packaging. We also want to inspire our guests to do the same. We want to make it accessible and clearly easy to live sustainably. The aim is for our products to be 100 per cent integrated into the business.
We work together as a team. The world is a diverse place. So is our business. For us, it’s only natural to support people who need a helping hand to make their lives work. People thrive best in communities. We strive to ensure our guests feel at home when they visit us. They can only do so if our staff feel part of a family. Human diversity is a key part of our corporate philosophy – the philosophy we wish to bring to the world. For us, human sustainability is the only logical and responsible approach to running a business.
Society and politics. Sustainability is one of our society’s key priorities. We can only develop our business sustainably if we help to inspire the wider world and decision-makers to make sustainable choices. This applies to the regulatory framework in areas ranging from waste sorting, education and outreach to transport, business operations and economic conditions. We believe in ongoing dialogue with society and politicians and are keen to engage in a spirit of generous collaboration towards a green present and future. We take part in many local initiatives where we believe we can contribute knowledge and support that can help drive the sustainable development of our local area.
Outreach and communication. We view sustainability as a shared responsibility. No progress is made without dialogue, knowledge-sharing and generosity. We wish to share our knowledge of sustainability at all levels. We want to be a driving force for inspiration towards sustainability at several levels: internationally, nationally and locally, in dialogue with colleagues, residents, visitors, educational institutions, businesses and politicians. If we come up with a good idea for reusing food waste, we share it. If we want to see social change, we join the conversation. If others want to collaborate, we listen.
We. Us. Them. Everyone. We see ourselves as part of a movement. A movement in the present that secures the future. We are a company that forms part of the experience economy. We believe we must move away from ‘silo thinking’ to ensure a constant and open dialogue with all sections of society about a sustainable present and future. We want to be the ones to communicate the ideas and fundamental principles of green thinking, and to be able to put those ideas into practice competently. We. Us. Them. Everyone. Let’s put green thinking into practice. Together.
