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Meeting in a climate-positive way

Conference hotel near Berlin supports UN Global Compact

The Stober estate in Nauen / Groß Behnitz has been part of the Global Compact network since December 2019. This is the largest international initiative for sustainable business management. The Stober estate expressly supports the ten principles on human rights, fair labor standards, environmentally conscious action, corruption prevention and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The United Nations Global Compact pursues the vision of an inclusive and sustainable global economy. This should serve all people, communities and markets. To date, 13,000 companies and organizations from civil society, politics and science in 161 countries have committed to realizing this vision. As a United Nations initiative, the UN Global Compact offers a unique cross-sector and cross-border framework for discussion and action. The initiative does not want to standardize or regulate, but rather offer an open forum to initiate change processes and share ideas. In national networks, the participants develop concrete solutions and thus contribute to the global vision of the UN Global Compact. In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015, the international community expresses its conviction that global challenges can only be solved together. Building on the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact, companies and organizations are called upon to promote the general goals of the United Nations, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

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The Stober estate in Havelland, Brandenburg, is also committed to the vision of the UN Global Compact. Sustainability, transparency and common good are part of the core concept of this conference hotel in the west of Berlin. Michael Stober, current owner of the estate, follows in the tradition of the Borsig industrial dynasty, which lived corporate social responsibility on this model agricultural estate from 1866 onwards. Since the purchase of the demolished ruin in 2000, this tradition has been actively continued on the Stober estate. Sustainability is practiced at all levels. The Stober estate with 300 rooms and 30 meeting rooms has a photovoltaic system to generate electricity, toilets flush with rainwater, wood heating with its own 12.5 hectare forest to generate heat. It is climate positive and almost energy self-sufficient. In addition, corporate actions are transparent; Among other things, the supply and value chains are disclosed, and 20% of the profits go to non-profit institutions.

The Stober estate stands for a new economic and value community, a vision of Christian Felber, according to which the sum of real sustainability and lived transparency leads directly to the economy for the common good. With 690 points, 2018 was the highest new certification entry so far. The estate was also awarded the Green Hotelier Award (UK) as the greenest hotel in Europe in 2012 as the first organic hotel in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. The Stober estate also won the Meeting Experts Green Award from the German Convention Bureau and the European Association of Event and Congress Centers (GCB & EVVC) in 2015 and 2019.

As a Europe-wide flagship project, the Landgut Stober conference hotel plays a pioneering role in the topics of sustainability, transparency and social responsibility.

 

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE MEASURES

Human rights

Human dignity is not violated in the supply chain of the essential suppliers. There are eco-social requirements for the supplier selection according to which the suppliers are selected. Around 95% of the products and services purchased are manufactured under fair conditions. Two thirds of the suppliers are checked directly by the management and the head chef. The proportion of regional products is 80-90% from spring to autumn and an average of 50% in winter. Since the purchase mainly involves food from the region, the risk is kept very low. The supply chain is regularly checked for risks and grievances and, if necessary, measures and/or sanctions are implemented immediately. All those involved along the supply chain are treated. 45% of the products/services and raw materials have a third-party label, and 95% have also been independently checked for risks and deficiencies. All those involved along the supply chain are treated. There is no exploitation of market power. Innovative and comprehensive solutions for an employee-oriented corporate culture, to improve health in the workplace and to promote diversity are implemented sustainably. The Stober estate was one of the first companies to integrate refugees.

Labor standards

For some employees, the reason or motivation and the significance or value of the company's efforts for the sustainable and common good orientation of the company do not yet appear to be fully understandable. There are no inhumane working conditions. A livable income that is adjusted to the regional cost of living is guaranteed. Employees are supported in establishing a conscious approach to working time and overtime practice. Employees have the opportunity to choose flexible working models. The salary spread is 1:2.25 and is very small compared to other companies of this size. Particular attention is paid to the needs of employees when organizing working and vacation times (mothers with children receive special consideration). Working time accounts are kept to compensate for seasonal overtime (time off or pay). There is no unfair design of the employment contracts.

Environmental protection

Ecological purchasing management is part of the company's identity and positioning. Processes for ecological procurement and reduction of the ecological risks of purchased products are implemented innovatively. The selection is based on regionality, season, organic quality and responsible producers/suppliers. The proportion of ecologically higher quality products varies depending on the season and is 70% - 90%. There are no disproportionately high environmental impacts in the supply chain. The food during working hours comes from the same kitchen as the guests and is therefore predominantly organic, seasonal, regional and meat-reduced. A shared lunch is offered to all employees. Small proportion of employees traveling by car. Further training programs with ecological aspects are supported within the company. There is no instruction on unecological behavior. The business model and product portfolio are continuously and innovatively optimized with regard to ecological impacts. There is a clear, comprehensible strategy for optimizing the product portfolio and business model with regard to ecological impacts. Extensive measures to reduce ecological impacts have been implemented. Products and services consistently have a lower ecological impact than comparable alternatives.

Corporate communications provides visitors/customers with comprehensive information on the ecological impacts of products and services. There are already ideas for mobility and for ecological development. The greening of business operations is a core part of the owner's business idea and vision. Sustainability is practiced at all levels. The Stober estate with 300 rooms and 30 meeting rooms has a photovoltaic system to generate electricity, toilets flush with rainwater, wood heating with its own 12.5 hectare forest for heat generation. It is climate positive and almost energy self-sufficient. The Stober estate stands for a new economic and value community, a vision of Christian Felber, according to which the sum of real sustainability and lived transparency leads directly to the economy for the common good. With 690 points, 2018 was the highest new certification entry so far. Furthermore, in 2012 the estate became the first organic hotel in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. Awarded the Green Hotelier Award (UK) as the greenest hotel in Europe in 2017 and again this year in 2021. We have also been Co² neutral since 2013 and climate positive in 2018. The Stober estate also won the Meeting Experts Green Award from the German Convention Bureau and the European Association of Event and Congress Centers (GCB & EVVC) in 2015 and 2019. As a Europe-wide flagship project, the Landgut Stober conference hotel plays a pioneering role in the topics of sustainability, transparency and social responsibility.

Fighting corruption

The proportion of purchased products and raw materials with a label for transparency and co-decision is 70%. The proportion of suppliers with whom transparent and participatory dealings with stakeholders was discussed or who were selected on this basis is also 70%. In addition, corporate actions are transparent; Among other things, the supply and value chains are disclosed, and 20% of the profits go to non-profit institutions. The equity share exceeds the industry average. The main part is financed through a loan from Triodos Bank. Which specializes exclusively in ethically sustainable financial services. The owner Michael Stober gives great priority to the further development of the company and has so far foregone a managing director's salary and capital gains in favor of the company. Within the reporting period, the resulting profits were used entirely for future expenses, company development, for employees and to repay loans. There was no distribution of capital gains. The necessary expenses for future expenses are known and have been fully covered. The losses are borne solely by the owner. There was a fixed budget for marketing/campaigns and advertising measures. Sales employees receive a fixed salary (no bonus for the number of sales). There is an active engagement with customer needs with regard to the range of services, customer acquisition and customer care. The focus is on authentic interpersonal interaction (employees are asked to: “...please don’t leave your character in the cloakroom in the morning, but bring it in with you...*”), which creates contact at eye level. The company's overall very high standards are also reflected in the barrier-free design for disadvantaged customer groups in many areas of the estate. Unethical advertising measures do not take place.

 

The entire text as a PDF for download

 

3. MEASURING RESULTS

Average length of service is 2.8 years. The health/sickness rate is significantly below the German average (depending on the demographic distribution). The number of days on which employees come to work despite being sick is zero. This question is nonsense - at least in Germany - it doesn't work at all from an insurance perspective. Of course, this does not apply to management, who have been absent less than ten days due to illness in the last seven years. The average age is 38 years, 75% are women (we would rather have a male quota), many single mothers, two “disabled people”, a few homosexuals, the first company in Brandenburg to permanently employ refugees, some freelancers are followers of other religions. Through constantly recurring tests and certifications, the results and improvements become more auditory.

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