SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability at Charmante

At Charmante Skostredet Hôtel, sustainability is not a separate initiative. It is an integral part of how we welcome our guests, how we work with our partners and how we make decisions every day.

As a local business, we have a strong connection to Bergen and the region around us. We believe that a meaningful guest experience should also make a positive contribution to the local community. Wherever possible, we therefore work with local and regional suppliers, particularly when it comes to food and drink. Our ambition is always to source directly and as locally as possible before looking further afield. In doing so, we reduce the need for transport, support local producers and, at the same time, offer our guests authentic flavours from the region.

We are also working towards becoming certified under Miljøfyrtårn, Norway’s most widely used environmental certification scheme. Miljøfyrtårn helps organisations document their environmental efforts, work systematically towards improvement and demonstrate social responsibility. For us, the certification process is a natural continuation of the work already underway, helping us make sustainability both measurable and practical in our day-to-day operations.

For us, sustainability is also about preserving stories, craftsmanship and cultural heritage. Many of the furnishings and decorative elements throughout the hotel, including books and other interior details, are carefully selected antiques that have been given a new life here at Charmante. Among them is a particularly special table from the home of Edvard Grieg — a piece that connects our guests with Bergen’s history while reminding us of the value of reuse, preservation and appreciating what already exists.

Throughout the guest journey, we continually look for ways to reduce unnecessary waste and the use of resources. We limit paper consumption through digital room guides and considered communication. Behind the scenes, we use ozonated water as part of our cleaning routines, reducing the need for chemicals while maintaining high standards of hygiene and comfort.

People are an important part of our approach to sustainability. Wherever possible, we aim to recruit locally, creating employment opportunities within our community and building a team with a strong sense of local knowledge and pride. In our kitchen, we also help nurture the next generation of hospitality professionals through apprenticeship programmes, giving young talent the opportunity to develop skills and build a career for the future.

Our approach is practical and rooted in consideration — for our guests, our colleagues, our partners and the place we are proud to call home. We know that sustainability is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to becoming a little better, step by step, across every part of the Charmante experience.