Our journey to greater sustainability
We are shaping the future of sustainable events
A liveable and sustainable future needs companies today that think about tomorrow when making decisions. This is precisely the responsibility and guiding principle that we pursue in our thoughts and actions at OutOfOffice. Just as we were pioneers in the development of creative places, we are now setting an example by designing sustainable locations and places where forward-looking and innovative solutions for a better future are developed.
Together with our customers, employees, service providers and partners, we at OutOfOffice emphasise regionality, sustainability and respect for our environment.
‘With our locations, we offer inspiring places where new, innovative ideas for a better future are developed - creative places for sustainable collaboration, so to speak. This also includes a responsible approach to nature and our planet. That's why we were probably one of the first locations to be climate-neutral. We now want to further advance this pioneering role in the meetings and events industry with our innovative, holistic sustainability concept - Meeting sustainably, Shaping the future.’
Georg Sauter, Co-Founder of OutOfOffice GmbH
Our commitment to sustainability
When developing our sustainability strategy, we were guided by the globally recognised Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. They are a call from the global community to protect the earth, improve the quality of life around the world and end global poverty.
Specifically, we align our sustainability activities with three central SDGs where we can have the greatest impact.
Reforestation
Food & Drinks
Waste
Water
Energy
Material & Office
Our measures for sustainable events
With this measures, we at OutOfOffice show that sustainability is not just an option for us, but a matter close to our hearts. We put a lot of effort into making your events as sustainable as possible - but we want to be completely honest and transparent here - in some places we also reach our limits. We are not yet where we would like to be, but we are well on the way there. In some areas, we may never be able to reach the level of sustainability understood by some. However, we want to and will continue to work on integrating more economic and ecological sustainability at OutOfOffice and will always be transparent with you - our customers. We are open to feedback and suggestions, as this is the only way we can continue to develop and integrate as many facets of sustainability as possible.
Delicious, sustainable & regional variety: from catering to drinks
We work with local catering partners and beverage suppliers to keep transport routes as short as possible and reduce the associated carbon dioxide emissions. Whether wine or beer - we rely on regional wine suppliers and small local breweries that also source their ingredients locally. This makes the after-work beer taste twice as good! When it comes to the menus, which we have carefully selected and put together with our catering partners, we have for many years paid attention to a wide range of vegetarian and vegan alternatives so that there is something for every taste. And what would an event be without good coffee? We get it from regional coffee roasters that are 100% Direct or Fairtrade certified.
For the necessary energy boost in the morning and afternoon, we rely on ‘Zeit für Brot’ in Frankfurt. This sustainable bakery with Bioland baked goods produces exclusively with green electricity and sources all ingredients from organic farming. They are part of Slow Food Germany and bake right in the heart of the city. In Munich and Stuttgart, we co-operate with regional bakeries that also work with selected local partners and use seasonal ingredients. Even if not everything is 100% organic and plastic-free, they are committed to a better and more sustainable world, just like us.
From waste separation to the last crumb: clean and efficient
Waste separation is a top priority at OutOfOffice - nothing just ends up in the bin! At our locations in Frankfurt, Munich and Stuttgart, we ensure that waste is separated correctly in accordance with the regulations of the respective city. To ensure that our customers also separate the waste produced at their events correctly, there is a short briefing for the person responsible before the event begins. Don't worry, our event organisers always keep an eye on the correct waste separation during the event.
When it comes to catering, we try to avoid as much waste as possible. We work closely with local caterers to ensure that the portion sizes are a good fit for our customers. If there are any leftovers, we offer our customers or employees the opportunity to take the food home with them - either for their journey home or as a delicious lunch for the next day.
Conserving resources with smart water utilisation
We know that water is precious, which is why we want to minimise water consumption in our locations as much as possible. Together with our customers and employees, we rely on smart solutions: Small reminders on the washbasins help to ensure that the water does not run for an unnecessarily long time. And when it comes to washing up? Of course, we use the dishwasher's eco programme, which runs at low temperatures and thus saves not only electricity but also water. But that's not all! To further reduce the number of wash cycles, we offer our customers the option of simply labelling their glasses with names. This means that each glass can be used several times - clever and environmentally friendly!
Energy efficiency: save electricity and protect the environment
When it comes to energy efficiency, we don't do things by halves at OutOfOffice. Wherever possible, our locations are equipped with LED lamps, which not only look modern and create a special atmosphere, but also save a lot of electricity. What's more, we only use 100% green electricity. This means that we have already put the biggest CO₂ polluter on the right track and are continuing to work diligently to further reduce energy consumption in our venues.
Honesty and transparency are very important to us when it comes to sustainability: Our electrical appliances such as dishwashers, coffee machines, kettles and televisions do not yet meet the energy efficiency standards that we pursue. However, it would also not be sustainable to simply throw away the appliances that still work. We have therefore made a firm commitment to only buy energy-efficient and energy-saving models when purchasing new appliances.
Creative ideas & green deeds: Environmentally friendly materials for office, workshop & events
At OutOfOffice, we not only focus on exciting events, but also on environmentally friendly office and workshop materials. We source our office materials with conviction from sustainable office supplies suppliers. Here we find everything we need for our daily work - without a guilty conscience for the environment.
When planning and organising events, our guiding principle is: ‘Think digital solutions first’. That's why most of our event preparations and follow-up work are done digitally, which not only saves resources but also protects our environment. Speaking of resources: our workshop materials such as post-its and flipchart paper are not yet completely sustainable. But let's be honest - simply throwing away everything that is not yet sustainable would not make ecological sense either. In future, however, we will make sure that all our workshop and office materials are labelled with the “Blauer Engel” signet.
