Sustainability Code

Environmental protection and social commitment have a long tradition on Mainau: one of the first German sustainability documents - "The Green Charter" - was adopted on the island in 1961. It is still our guiding principle for our actions today. An environmental management system was introduced as early as 1998 and Mainau was the first tourism company to be certified in accordance with EMAS. Since 2015, we have been reporting on our environmental performance and our social commitment in a sustainability report. As part of the further development of the environmental management system into a sustainability management system, the Environmental and Energy Policy 2025 was rewritten as a sustainability code. 

"I hereby present the Green Charter of Mainau. It is intended to make it urgently and clearly clear to all those responsible in town and country that individual and ultimately also political freedom can only flourish in a living space with a healthy order of existence."
Lennart Count Bernadotte

Our guiding principles

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Responsibility towards people and nature

We inform and inspire our guests, business partners and employees on topics relating to sustainability, thereby raising awareness of the value of an intact environment.

We consider it an important task to inform our guests about ecological issues with trained employees, to advise them and to encourage them to take positive action. Employees at all levels of Mainau GmbH are encouraged and motivated in their sense of responsibility for environmentally friendly actions that serve to preserve an intact natural and cultural landscape. We provide regular information and training to this end. Managers act as role models in this respect.

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Reduction of harmful environmental impacts

We are committed to the continuous reduction of harmful environmental impacts in all areas by monitoring all significant effects of our actions, setting ourselves ambitious targets and constantly reviewing these for potential improvements.

We take appropriate measures to avoid or eliminate the impact of tourism services and the resulting consequences for the ecosystem. In environmental areas where this cannot be achieved, we try to minimize the impact and conserve natural resources. The improvement of environmental performance is regularly monitored as part of internal and external audits and corrective measures are introduced where necessary. For environmentally critical activities and processes, we draw up emergency plans with the relevant institutions or authorities and take the necessary organizational and technical measures to prevent the unforeseen release of substances.

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Energy strategy

We are committed to a conscious approach to energy consumption and to increasing the energy efficiency of our infrastructure. We protect the climate by switching to renewable energies.

Our goal is to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2030 in Scopes 1 and 2 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This means that we aim to produce no direct emissions and continue to purchase only green electricity. To achieve this goal, we are pursuing two action strategies: 1. increasing energy efficiency: energy saving and energy efficiency are decisive criteria when selecting products and services and are a key point in the design of processes, systems and buildings. 2. use of renewable energies: Steadily increasing the proportion of renewable energy is an important element in bringing us closer to our goal of greenhouse gas neutrality by 2030.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

We are committed to complying with all legal regulations, voluntary commitments and official requirements for environmental and resource protection and monitor this regularly.

Compliance with all laws, standards and requirements on the part of the authorities represents a minimum standard for us, which we exceed, not least through a large number of voluntary commitments.

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Foundation of values in the company

With the help of our value-oriented corporate culture, we create a suitable environment for our employees to make their contribution.

More than 300 employees contribute their strengths every day during the season to create an inspiring experience for our guests every time they visit the island. We achieve this through a shared foundation of values: Courageous: In a constantly changing environment, we gain clarity about our options for action with confidence, speed and foresight and make bold decisions. We use mistakes as an opportunity to continuously improve. Integer: We are honest and fair with ourselves and others. We are true to our values and convictions, act honestly and reliably and thus prove to be trustworthy partners. Consistent: We derive concrete measures from our decisions that are comprehensible to all those involved and achieve our ambitious goals sustainably by implementing them. Appreciative: We treat all people and nature with attention, sincere interest and respect. Different opinions enrich us. We seek open dialog to reach an understanding.

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Appreciative cooperation

For us, our employees are the most important resource for a successful company, which is why occupational health and safety, good working conditions and respectful cooperation are essential core elements for us. 

Only healthy and satisfied employees who can develop in an appreciative environment can do their best for our guests. We are convinced of this and offer our employees various health-promoting services such as psychosocial counseling, various check-ups, HanseFit and JobRad.

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Promoting encounters

We maintain an open dialog with our internal and external stakeholders, offer a platform for international encounters and allow these impulses to flow into the development of Mainau GmbH.

Communication with employees, suppliers, service providers, guests and other interest groups is a matter of course for us. We therefore provide information about our activities and progress in the area of sustainability in an annual report. For our interested guests, we offer guided tours with insights into specific sustainability efforts. As a place for international encounters, we want to promote the transfer of knowledge and inspire creativity.

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Regional cooperation

We have close ties with the region and focus on regional value creation and strong partnerships.

We want to set an example in the international Lake Constance region and work constructively with the relevant associations, authorities and suppliers in line with the "Green Charter of Mainau" from 1961. In addition to close cooperation with trade associations and official bodies, this also includes strengthening the regional economy by sourcing high-quality, regional products wherever possible.