A green future

We have been awarded the GOLDEN GREEN KEY 2025 certification!

We are proud of all our employees because everyone contributes their bit to corporate social responsibility.

Green Key is the international certification for businesses in the tourism and recreation industry, and for meeting and conference venues, that are seriously and verifiably committed to sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), caring for the environment on their premises and the natural surroundings.

Green Key guarantees the voluntary commitment of the entrepreneur to do more for the environment than laws and regulations require. It is a way to communicate the company's sustainable image to guests, authorities and business partners.

To be eligible for the Green Key, businesses must take many measures regarding environmental management and corporate social responsibility (CSR). These measures are partly mandatory and partly optional. Green Key Netherlands has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The more optional measures a business implements, the higher the final rating will be. Van der Valk Hotel Arnhem has a Gold certificate.

Source:www.greenkey.nl

Dear guest,

The unique location of Hotel Arnhem makes a major contribution to the success of our business. Situated in the heart of nature, on the beautiful Veluwe, we have been welcoming guests for nearly 40 years, and we hope to be able to continue doing so for decades to come. Nature is very important to us and for that reason sustainable business practices are high on our list of priorities.

We strive every day to minimize our environmental impact as much as possible and to act as consciously as possible toward our surroundings. Some initiatives we have implemented are:

• Our guests, colleagues and suppliers are informed about our sustainability policy;

• We supervise waste separation by staff and encourage waste separation by our guests;

• We contribute to various social causes through donations and sponsorships. For example, we sponsor the charity KidsRights and organize an annual Christmas dinner for the National Elderly Fund.

• We continuously work to improve our own procurement process and prefer responsible products with an environmental and/or social label, such as cleaning products, hand soap, and print, toilet, and kitchen paper;

• Our kitchen uses organic products where possible, preferably from the local area.

• The coffee grounds waste is separated and processed into pellet fuel.

• The carpeting in the hotel is made from recycled fishing nets;

• As a partner of 'Vis & Seizoen' we promote sustainable fishing;

• We have signed a sustainability declaration with our major suppliers, and we have drawn up a sustainable procurement policy which can be found on our website.

• There are several charging points for electric cars, bicycles and scooters.

• We place great value on nature. That's why we promote cycling and walking routes and a visit to the Hoge Veluwe.

Do you have any tips or suggestions for becoming more sustainable? We would love to hear them!

Currently the "4" is set.^e"generatie Valken" at the helm in Hotel Arnhem. By conducting business in a socially responsible way and continuously anticipating the environment and surroundings, we hope that the 8^eThe Valken generation may still welcome your great-grandchildren at Hotel Arnhem 100 years from now!

On behalf of the board of directors and the management team,

Bart van der Valk
Arnhem, February 2023

Overview

At Van der Valk Hotel Arnhem we strive for a sustainable procurement policy that also encourages the market to adopt a more innovation-oriented and sustainable approach to purchasing. We do this by making a conscious choice with every purchase, by examining the entire product life cycle—from production to end-of-life—and by considering the possibility of fair-trade, organic-certified and/or regional products. When choosing products to procure we take into account their impact on the environment and on people. We assess each product and service individually, so that the selection of suppliers and products is based on what is best for the local area and the environment.

Policy

As part of our CSR policy to create a healthier and better living and working environment, we strive to procure products and materials that are certified with an eco-label or that are fair trade, recyclable, organic-certified, energy-efficient, or locally sourced. We aim to minimize our waste as much as possible by using compostable materials and by separating multiple waste streams. With our largest suppliers we have signed a sustainability declaration in which we have made concrete agreements regarding the development of a more sustainable policy and sustainable cooperation. We also give preference to suppliers who have a sustainability policy and supply sustainable goods.

Goal

The aim is to map out guidelines that encourage the procurement of sustainable products and services without compromising the hotel's performance. When purchasing products, long-term savings are taken into account rather than short-term cost reductions. We acknowledge that waste can be reduced by using reusable products and compostable and recyclable materials. By buying organic products we contribute to creating a pesticide-free world, and by sourcing local products we aim to reduce the CO2 emissions generated by transport. To support this initiative, the hotel will, as an integral part of the procurement process, ask suppliers to indicate when an alternative product on the market is fair-trade or eco-certified.

Guidelines

Responsible

• Procurement Manager & Head of Technical Services

• Green Team

• Hotel manager

The procurement objectives are reviewed and assessed at least annually. Performance is evaluated and new objectives will be formulated.

Procurement guidelines

Selecting less environmentally harmful and socially responsible food & beverage products*
Reducing the use of environmentally harmful components. This is done by using:

• Cleaning and dishwashing products with an eco-label (EU Ecolabel, EcoCert)

• Fire extinguishers with the Milieukeur eco-label

• Reducing packaging material by minimizing single-serve packaging for sugar, coffee creamer, deli meats, cheese, yogurt, muesli, cornflakes and coffee biscuits.

• Give preference to local suppliers, suppliers that provide sustainable goods, or suppliers with whom a sustainability declaration has been signed. By signing the sustainability declaration, the supplier indicates that they are committed to responsible business practices and to a sustainable partnership.

• Inquiring about sustainable building materials during new construction, remodeling and/or renovation.

• Ensuring less harmful production processes by purchasing less environmentally damaging paper with an eco-label such as the EU Ecolabel, the Nordic Swan or

• Blue Angel, FSC or PEFC, provided these are ECF/TCF

• Reducing residual waste by separating waste fractions (paper, cardboard, glass, small hazardous waste (KGA), cartridges and toners, swill and cans)

• Implement energy-saving measures by purchasing energy-efficient lighting such as LED, PL, TL (fluorescent tubes) and compact fluorescent lamps (as opposed to halogen and incandescent bulbs). Energy-efficient equipment with an A rating is also being procured. We are currently in the process of replacing the last remaining inefficient lighting.

• Apply water-saving measures by ensuring a maximum flow of 9 liters per minute for showers, 3.8 liters per minute for taps, and 6 liters per flush for toilets. To achieve this flow, water flow restrictors will be purchased.

• When purchasing new equipment, preference is given to energy-efficient and water-saving equipment.

Less environmentally harmful or socially responsible products are understood to mean products with recognized certifications, such as EKO, European organic label, Label Rouge, Fair Trade, Max Havelaar, UTZ, Rainforest Alliance, MSC (Marine Stewardship Council), USDA Organic, Soil Association, Krav, Bio-garantielabel, Bio-Siegel, Demeter, Milieukeur, the European Ecolabel, Biologique (AB). This also includes regionally produced (local) products.

Hotel Arnhem owns a so-called CHP (combined heat and power) installation. Combined heat and power technology converts gas in a single process into both electricity and heat. This means double efficiency. For that reason, this proven technology is recognized worldwide as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional centralized forms of power generation. It also offers numerous financial and operational benefits:

• Reduction of primary energy costs by up to 30%

• Savings on investments in, for example, boilers.

• Government subsidies

• Tax benefits

• Increased reliability of energy supply

• Efficient use of fossil fuels (overall efficiency of over 90%)

• Option for an independent backup power supply

• Lower CO2 emissions

You can charge your electric car at Hotel Arnhem. Our charging points allow for fast charging (DC) and standard charging (AC).  

Van der Valk Hotel Arnhem has a total of 8 chargers: two ultra-fast chargers serving up to four cars, one fast charger for two cars, and two stations for standard (AC) charging, all from the brand Allego. Your car can be charged within half an hour while you enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner with us.