This is how the tourism industry in Bergen is working towards reducing their environmental footprint

The tourism industry in Norway is growing, and there is an increasing number of people who want to visit Norway to experience our nature and culture.

If we want growth in tourism to be in line with the sustainability development goals, it is important that the tourism companies do what they can to reduce their environmental footprint. Customers and clients are also increasingly looking for companies that are working proactively with sustainability. So which measures have been implemented by the tourism suppliers in Bergen? 

More Environmental Certified Suppliers

An environmental certification is a great way to show clients that the company is working systematically to become more sustainable. A certification lays the groundwork for a process in which there are feasible goals towards a more environmentally sustainable operation of the company, which are verified by an independent third-party before one achieves the certification. Visit Bergen’s aim is to have more tourism suppliers holding a third-party environmental certification in Bergen and the surrounding areas.  

26% of the tourism companies in Bergen have a third-party environmental certificate.
 
One fourth of all tourism companies in Bergen state that they have an environmental certificate. 

The hotels in Bergen are in a unique position where 89% of all hotel rooms in Bergen hold an environmental certificate.
Approximately 9 of 10 hotel rooms in Bergen have an environmental certificate.

Bergen is an important city for meetings and events, with more than 1000 international meetings hosted annually. We are therefore proud that all of Bergen's major congress centers hold an environmental certificate.

100% of the congress centers in Bergen have an environmental certificate.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A central part of most environmental certificates is a requirement to document and reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions. Several tourism companies have implemented policies to reduce their emissions. 
 
In Visit Bergen’s member survey from 2022, 75% report to have implemented measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions the last three years.  

Another part of the tourism industry’s environmental work is to encourage visitors to choose more environmentally friendly modes of transport. 34% of the tourism suppliers in Bergen report having put into effect measures to reduce visitors’ emissions or transport needs when travelling to and from Bergen, as well as internally in Bergen.  

Three of ten suppliers' reports having implemented measures to reduce guests’ emissions in Visit Bergen’s member survey from 2022.

Some examples the tourism suppliers have done are to offer discounts for guests using public transport, to promote products that are within walking distance or available by public transport. For visitors the use of public transport is included in the Bergen Card.

Better Waste Management and Recycling 

A lot of our waste contains raw materials and resources which can be reused. Recycling is all about taking care of the resources which are already taken from the earth and reusing them in new products. In Bergen most of the waste is incinerated and reused for district heating and the city has a huge potential to increase the reusage of resources that could be recycled. The tourism industry wants to be a part of this change.

90% of tourism companies in Bergen recycle and on average they recycle six different categories of waste. 51% of tourism companies have also reduced their usage of plastic.
 
Circa nine of ten Visit Bergen’s member companies report in the member survey from 2022 that they sort their waste.

In Visit Bergen’s member survey from 2022 51% report to have implemented measures to reduce plastic waste.

Minimizing Food Waste

In Norway 450 000 tons of edible food is thrown away every year. Food production demands considerable amounts of water resources and land areas, because of this food waste is a problem worth tackling to better utilize the resources we have.

Fortunately, 86% of Visit Bergen’s member companies within the food service industry have taken measures to reduce their food waste.

 
Approximately eight of ten member companies report in Visit Bergen’s member survey from 2022 to have implemented measures to reduce their food waste. 

One popular measure is to use the app “Too good to go” where several of Bergen’s restaurants, cafés and other food establishments sell their left-over food from that day for a cheaper price. 

Another measure implemented by the food service industry is the usage of locally produced food. By cutting transportation of products they are also decreasing their carbon footprint. If you want to read more about the local food services in Bergen you can do so here. 

Even though tourism companies in Bergen are already doing a great deal to be more sustainable there is still a lot of work remaining. Visit Bergen wishes to work together with the city’s tourism companies to develop a more environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism industry.