Sustainable Takeoff: Why 2025 is the Perfect Time to take the First Step

In 2025, the hospitality industry faces new challenges, but also many opportunities. Sustainability remains a key focus. With increasing regulatory requirements and demand for sustainable offerings, hoteliers must position themselves for the future. Even small steps toward sustainability can reduce environmental impact, increase economic success, and improve guest satisfaction.

In this newsletter, the GreenSign Institute reflects on the year 2024 and gives a voice to hoteliers who are already on the path to sustainability. The message is clear: there is no need to wait for the perfect sustainable concept to get started. Every step counts. Starting the GreenSign certification process can be the first step toward positive change – for business and for the environment.

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Sustainability as an Opportunity for Hoteliers

The requirements for sustainable business practices are becoming increasingly clear and precise. The EU has plans for stricter regulations on sustainability certification starting in 2025, and the hotel industry must also prepare for new regulatory requirements. These changes present a chance for hoteliers to position themselves as leaders and gain a competitive advantage.

There are many opportunities in the hospitality industry to gradually implement sustainability. However, one thing that is often missing when taking the first step is a clear plan or support. Not so with GreenSign on hand: With a structured certification process that is transparent and understandable from the start, the GreenSign Institute provides a clear framework for sustainable development. The process should not be seen as a one-time event but as a continuous learning and development path.

Suzann Heinemann, founder and CEO of the GreenSign Institute, points out: "Sustainability does not have to be perfect from the start. It is much more important to take the first step and move in a clear direction. Every small step forward counts and brings us closer to our goal of protecting our environment and creating a future worth living." This philosophy is not an empty promise, but rather an invitation to all who are still hesitant to embark on the path of sustainable transformation.

Practical Experience: Positive Synergies through Certification

For many hoteliers, starting the certification process not only has a positive impact on their environmental footprint but also on their corporate culture and operations as a whole.

Marie Krause, operations assistant at Urban Nature St. Peter-Ording, points out: "The certification process creates a lot of synergies. All teams are working intensively on sustainability in their areas. The resulting awareness is an important milestone for future-oriented management – something all employees can feel and that benefits every guest journey." Through the intensive exchange that has taken place as part of the certification process, employees have developed a deeper understanding of sustainable practices, which has positively affected cooperation and the working atmosphere.

Georg Raudaschl, Sustainability Manager at Classic Hotel Collection GmbH, is also convinced of the importance of sustainability certification: "Just as I regularly go to the doctor to check my health, I want to make sure that our hotels remain 'healthy' in the long term. With GreenSign, we perform this check-up for each of our hotels. It evaluates the status quo and together we develop how we can live and experience sustainability even more". The medical check-up analogy is appropriate: sustainability is not a one-time process, but an ongoing journey that needs to be reviewed and adjusted regularly.

Sustainability 2025: A Journey that never ends

GreenSign is not just about getting a certificate. Rather, the team's goal is to motivate the hotel industry to move to a more sustainable and future-oriented level. The path to greater sustainability is a long-term process that does not produce perfect results immediately but makes a valuable contribution to environmental protection through continuous improvement. For hoteliers, this means not waiting until everything is perfect but acting now, getting started, and continuing to evolve.

For those striving for change in 2025, GreenSign certification is the ideal way to officially document and raise awareness of sustainable practices and development. Each step matters.

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Motivation Kick for 2025: The First Step to Sustainability - GreenSign Certification.

2025 is the year of change - for the hotel industry and guests. The following playful "Sustainability Challenge" gives hotel organizations (as well as guests and the press) an initial orientation on how serious they are about sustainable practices and how they can approach GreenSign certification. The more "yes" answers a hotel collects, the closer it is to achieving GreenSign certification. This checklist is a motivating way to assess the status quo and plan the next steps toward sustainable development.

1. Energy & Resource Conservation – The Green Power Check

• Has the hotel already installed energy-efficient LED bulbs throughout the building?
  ✅ Yes, all lighting has been converted to LEDs.
  ❌ Not yet, but it is on the agenda.
   
• Does the hotel allow guests to change towels and linens only upon request?
  ✅ Yes, this option is actively offered.
  ❌ Not yet implemented but planned.
   
• Do you use renewable energy such as solar or wind power?
  ✅ Yes, renewable energy is used. 
  ❌ Not yet, but it is under consideration.

2. Waste & Recycling

• Does the hotel separate waste (paper, plastic, glass)?
  ✅ Yes, waste management is organized according to clear recycling guidelines.
  ❌ Not yet perfect, but there are improvement plans.
  
   
• Does the hotel use environmentally friendly packaging and products (e.g. cleaning and maintenance products)?
  ✅ Yes, sustainability is taken into account.
  ❌ Not yet fully implemented but on the radar.

3. Purchasing & Procurement

• Does the hotel prefer local or sustainably produced products (e.g. organic food and fair-trade products)?
  ✅ Yes, local and sustainable products are a priority. 
  ❌ Not yet on a regular basis, but it is a goal.
   
• Does the hotel use environmentally friendly cleaning agents and hotel products?
  ✅ Yes, all cleaning products are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. 
  ❌ Not yet, but we plan to change.

4. Communication & Transparency

• Does the hotel actively inform its guests about sustainable measures (e.g. on the website or in the room information)?
  ✅ Yes, sustainability is clearly emphasized in the communication. 
  ❌ Not yet systematically but planned.
   
• Does the hotel have a transparent sustainability strategy that is communicated to guests?
  ✅ Yes, the hotel has clear goals and communicates them openly. 
  ❌ Not yet transparent in all areas, but in progress.

5. Employees & Training – The Team for the Planet

• Does the hotel provide regular training for employees on sustainable practices?
  ✅ Yes, sustainability is part of the corporate culture. 
  ❌ Not yet in all areas, but in the planning stages.
   
• Does the hotel encourage creative ideas from employees to implement sustainable practices?
  ✅ Yes, employees can actively make suggestions. 
  ❌ Not yet formalized but planned.

Evaluation:

• 0-3 "Yes" answers:
  🌱 Small start, big potential! The hotel has a long way to go, but starting the path of sustainability is easy. Now is the perfect time to take the first green steps and choose GreenSign certification. Every step matters!
• 4-6 "Yes" answers:
  🌿 On the right track! You already have some sustainable practices in place. GreenSign certification could help deepen and broaden these efforts and enhance your hotel's credibility. 
• 7-9 "Yes" answers:
  🌍 More than ready for certification! The hotel has made significant progress. GreenSign certification is the next logical step to document these efforts and make them more transparent to guests. Congratulations!

About GreenSign

Since 2015, the GreenSign Institute has been developing sustainability standards for hotels and providing comprehensive support for their implementation. With over 900 certified companies in Germany and 18 other countries, GreenSign stands for environmental awareness, authenticity, and credibility in sustainable business practices.