Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at Sommerro. As the former headquarters of Oslo Lysverker (the city’s electric company), our building has always had a strong connection to clean energy — a legacy we proudly carry forward through our commitment to the environment, people, and the neighborhood. Our vision to "energize the city" means more than electricity. It’s about creating inclusive spaces, meaningful experiences, and an operation that sparks positive ripple effects.
THE SOMMERRO STANDARD
Our Commitments to Sustainability
To ensure we live up to our ambitions, we’ve developed the Sommerro Standard — nine guiding principles that shape everything from daily operations and procurement to how we care for people and the planet. This is our promise for a more sustainable future, and it’s embedded in our staff training and the experiences we offer our guests.
1. Recharge: 100% Renewable Energy
Sommerro is powered exclusively by renewable energy and certified BREEAM Very Good. Our energy systems are optimized using natural refrigerants, advanced ventilation, and heat storage in our pools.
2. Forget Trends
Sustainability is about longevity. The restoration of Sommerro focused on preserving the 90-year-old building and designing interiors that don’t need replacing with every trend. We chose durable materials that can be repaired instead of discarded.
3. Embrace the imperfect
Traces of a life well lived make both people and places more beautiful. At Sommerro, we celebrate what isn’t flawless. We value longevity over replacement, allowing materials and interiors to reflect the passage of time. Imperfection tells a story — adding soul and character to every room and every person.
4. A Sustainable Food Philosophy
Our food philosophy, “Colorful Food,” highlights healthy, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients. All seven of our restaurants offer delicious vegetarian options, sustainable seafood, and house-made alcohol-free mocktails. We track and reduce food waste using smart tools, and all food scraps are composted and used as fertilizer in our gardens.
5. Pure water, fresh air
We have removed all bottled water from minibars and restaurants. Instead, we provide our own water carafes, water stations on each floor, and reusable Sommerro bottles for guests.
6. Reuse and recycling
Quality, reuse, and recycling are part of our daily operations. We collaborate with Sisters in Business, a social enterprise that provides work for women with immigrant backgrounds, to reuse textiles for pillows, shopping bags, and uniform repairs.
7. Caring for people
We care about everyone who works with, visits, or collaborates with us. That’s why we invest in an inclusive and safe work environment and create space for well-being and personal development.
8. Support local businesses
We are proud to be part of Frogner and work closely with local partners such as Bendik Kaltenborn, Kaja Dahl, Jan Thomas Studio, Den Dama, and Åpent Bakeri. By shopping locally, we support small businesses that give the neighborhood its unique character.
9. Experience nature
Sommerro is a fantastic place to be, but we encourage all our guests to explore Oslo’s parks, fjords, and forests. Nature is part of the Sommerro experience—so go out and enjoy it!
More Than Just a Hotel – Our Sustainability Initiatives
Our sustainability efforts go beyond the hotel walls. Here are a few initiatives we’re proud to support:
🌊 OASEN – Free Swimming Lessons for Youth
In collaboration with Norwegian People’s Aid, we offer free swim lessons at Vestkantbadet for youth who haven’t had the opportunity to learn.
🔗 Learn more
🍽️ Fighting Food Waste with eSmiley
We use eSmiley to monitor and reduce food waste, helping us minimize our environmental impact.
🔗 Learn more
🌿 Eco-Friendly Chemical Handling
Through EcoOnline, we ensure that all chemicals we use are environmentally friendly and safely managed.
🔗 Learn more
🎄 The Lonely Christmas Tree – Giving Back for the Holidays
Our “Lonely Christmas Tree” initiative supports those in need during the holidays through donations and shared community.
🔗 Learn more
🏆 Certified Sustainability
Sommerro is ISO 14001 certified through Nordic Choice Hotels, and we are constantly working toward a more sustainable future.
♻️ Ureist – Composting for a Greener Future
All organic waste at Sommerro is composted through Ureist, turning it into nutrient-rich soil for local gardens.
🔗 Learn more
See how composting at Sommerro works in practice in the video below.
Red, Yellow, and Green List – Why It Matters
We are committed to serving food you can feel good about.
🐟 Animal welfare, sustainable farming, and the climate impact of food are more important than ever.
🌍 Climate change is accelerating biodiversity loss, creating dangerous living conditions for countless species, and drastically reducing plant and animal populations on Earth.
To make responsible food choices, we follow a red, yellow, and green list that helps us avoid the least sustainable ingredients and promote those that are better for the environment and future generations.
🔗 See our sustainable food list
