Sustainable Supplier of the Month

Sustainable Supplier of the Month

Sustainability in its many forms is a huge part of the BDP DNA and as such, we are always curious about the interesting sustainable actions being taken in the world today.

Our curiosity led us to the idea, that we would pay tribute to those of our suppliers who are doing something special in regards to sustainability.

This is why, every first week of the month, we will be announcing a new “Sustainable Supplier of the Month” in this blog post and on our social media.

 We hope you will like (read: love ❤️) the concept and feel inspired by the many creative sustainable projects out there! 💡

#8 – March 2020

Kadetten

If you visit Kadetten’s café, bakery or meeting locations in spectacular surroundings at Kronborg Castle, you will not only get the chance to treat yourself with delicious coffee and meals but also support to troubled teenagers and young people stepping on the job market.

The building where the cadets used to get their stripes on the shoulders when they advanced in rank and became officers now serves as the place where all the café’s cadets make sure that the guests get a memorable experience. Both culinarily, service-wise and historically – considering the restaurant’s unique area.

Kadetten is owned by a non-profit social-economic foundation whose purpose is to create a place in the labour market for people with special needs. Their ambition is to develop their cadets professionally, socially and personally so that special needs become special skills – and real jobs. The café offers organic meals. The most special of them is the organic rye bread which is also included in many dishes. The soldiers in their time were given rye bread as part of their salary. At Kronborg, there are several walled ovens where the rye bread was baked. The items on the menu are home-made and many of the raw materials were grown in the area by the cadets.

Sustainability is not only all about environmentalism but also to contribute to society and focus on the development of the individual. Kadetten sets an example of how to incorporate CSR into the business model yet stay profitable, BDP salutes such dedication.

#7 – February 2020

Totem Entertainment

It is our greatest pleasure to announce that the Sustainable Supplier of the Month in February is Totem Entertainment.

Totem Entertainment combines breath-taking dance, lightshow, fire and body paint with utmost professionalism and sustainability. With the aim of being the leaders in creating sustainable performances for the event industry in Denmark, they change their operations and the design of the shows.

Latest initiative is the partnership with Mike Bloomberg Philanthropies NYC to produce and co-create the Climate Awards, which were held at the end of last year, during the C40 Climate Conference in Copenhagen was the biggest step for Totem Entertainment. The purpose of the awards is to recognise world leaders who are managing climate change in their cities. The story weaved many of Denmark’s climate friendly initiatives into the introduction to each of the awards, including the electric boats on the harbour, bicycle bridges and clean energy.

Creating costumes from waste decoration materials and the sustainability-themed shows are the first step of this precious journey, BDP is proud to support and recognize. We welcome the new astonishing performances and creative ideas to take of the environment!

#6 – January 2020

COMWELL HOTELS

2020’s first Sustainable Supplier of the Month is … drumroll … Comwell Hotels! The chain deserves the acknowledgement for providing award-winning guest experiences yet have sustainability as their highest priority.

Their efforts, called Comwell Care are recognised nationally and internationally by the REFOOD label, the Green Key label and the Organic Cuisine Label.

They have increased the amount of vegetables and use less but better-quality meat in their kitchens. They also bake, pickle and produce more food from scratch. In their spa facilities sustainable, paraben-free products up to 70% ecology in certain products, natural and essential oils are used. Spas focus on bathrobe and towel consumption and use soya candles with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel instead of scented candles and fragrance sticks. As per housekeeping, perfume-free and environmentally friendly, non-allergic materials and chemicals are used with the aim of purchasing products only with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

 

To BDP’s greatest enthusiasm, a newly built green hotel will be opened in 2021 100 meters away from the new metro line in Copenhagen’s new, upcoming trendy neighbourhood, Nordhavnen. Nordhavn has a special place in BDP’s heart as cruise vessels dock in this area as well, so a great collaboration is expected with Comwell Copenhagen Portside.

#5 – DECEMBER 2019

KØBENHAVNS cYKELBØRS

Copenhagen is without a doubt amongst the best cycling cities in Europe and cycling plays an important role in Copenhagen’s plan of becoming CO2 neutral by 2025.

We would like to share the Copenhageners’ enthusiasm for biking with visitors. Getting around by bike is an essential part of understanding the Danish lifestyle.

Our long-established and beloved partner, Københavns Cykelbørs has provided bikes for us for many seasons and enhanced the variety of tours and opened new horizons in tour-designs. Københavns Cykelbørs has been around since 1881 and has played an important role in Copenhagen’s biking history. The shop both rents; sells and repairs bikes. The service of delivering bikes has been a great help, especially for the Cruise Department. Safety is the first priority both for BDP and Københavns Cyklebørs, so helmets, high-visibility vests and locks are included.

Cykel Ole has been nominated to be our Sustainable supplier of December because he and Cykelbørsen truly complement and augment BDP’s sustainable preferences. Cykelbørsen doesn’t only help us save the environment from the pollution of diesel-run engines but also shares our values regarding business integrity and responsible labour practices.

#4 – NOVEMBER 2019

COFOCO

Say hello to Novembers Sustainable Supplier of the month: Cofoco!

In the fall of 2019, Cofoco officially introduced “Carbon Free Dining”. This means, that all the menus at Cofocos Restaurants have increased by 5 DKK per person. The money is donated directly to a tree-planting project in collaboration with Green Earth Appeal.

Among other things, Green Earth Appeal works to establish ecosystems and sustainable forests and agriculture in the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania.

With this new project, Cofoco invites their guests to take an active part in a greater purpose and to contribute to a better future for our fellow people, the environment and climate.

#3 – OKTOBER 2019

ANNETTE VON EINEM

Octobers nomination for Sustainable Supplier of the month goes to Annette Von Einem.

In October, Annette Von Einem is awarded Sustainable Supplier of the month because she is one of the first flower designers to work with sustainably grown flowers, paper wrapping instead of plastic cellophane and biodegradable oasis (that funny green foam used for decorations).

Annette von Einem is located in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. She and her team deliver exciting and creative decorations and bindings for larger events. Annette has no less than 18 years of experience behind her and it shows – now also in a sustainable fashion!

#2 – SEPTEMBER 2019

NORDIC CHOICE HOTELS

Septembers Sustainable Supplier of the month is awarded to Nordic Choice Hotels for their initiative ”Sweet Dreams Stay”. The idea is simple but powerful: if a customer chooses not to get their room cleaned for one night, Nordic Choice Hotels will donate money to UNICEF’s work against child trafficking.

At BDP we find this concept unique in many ways, not least because child trafficking is a subject can be difficult to address.

Sweet Dreams is one of 6 We-Care concepts that Nordic Choice Hotels work with.

#1 – AUGUST 2019

BYBI

Our very first Sustainable Supplier of the Month is Bybi. Bybi produces honey from beehives in different areas of Copenhagen. Besides being a green and sustainable company, Bybi enriches the local community and environment by the socially excluded in honey production, sale and bee reproduction.

At Bybi you can get an exceptional taste of honey ice cream, honey rum or even honey beer. BDP has supported Bybi’s fascinating and sustainable honey production concept since 2012 and has only grown more fond of it over the years. Apart from sponsoring 140.000 of the City Bees, we also plan tours and events with Bybi.

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BDP the first Danish Incoming Agency to become Travelife Certified

After six months of intense work, BDP has now become fully sustainability certified through Travelife. To achieve the certification BDP complies with 200 criteria related to an operators’ office management, product range, international business partners and customer information.

Travelife is a three-stage certification program for tour operators and travel agents: (1) Travelife Engaged; (2) Travelife Partner and (3) Travelife Certified. We were awarded the Travelife certified (stage 3). The Travelife Certified award is a recognition of our excellence towards social and environmental sustainability. We comply with more than 160 criteria related to sustainability management, office operations, working with suppliers and customer communication. Travelife is a certification body that is formally Accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), the highest global body for sustainability in tourism, supported by the United Nations.

As early as June, BDP was awarded Travelife Partner, the second step on the certification ladder. To become a Travelife Partner was just the beginning and soon after, BDP started taking the next step to graduate to the last and most important step in the Travelife auspices: becoming Travelife Certified as the first incoming agency in Denmark.

Mr Naut Kusters, manager of Travelife for tour operators, “I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operators’ sector is obtaining momentum. The award of the front runner BDP will inspire other companies in Denmark to follow the same path.”

“We are proud and truly happy that we have received the certificate, as this is an important milestone. We do hope that fellow industry colleagues will join the same path. Especially in times where expressions as “over-tourism” and “hordes” are heard more often, it is important that we all take responsibility, “ says Hanne Nehmar, CEO & owner of BDP.

Amongst some of the action we have taken to get the certificate was:

  • Involving the community in developing more sustainable products
  • Logging and reflecting upon our CO2-emissions when we travel
  • Focus more on sustainability when choosing suppliers

BDP look forward to continuing the work with these – and new – sustainable actions in the future!

About Travelife

Travelife, which has been established with the support of the European Commission, is the leading international sustainability certification for the travel sector. More than 35 national travel associations are promoting the scheme to their members including ABTA, The British Travel Association and the Danish ReiseVerband (DRF). In 2017 Travelife for Tour operators have reached the GSTC Accredited status from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).