SUSTAINABILITY AT BJØRNFJELL
Staying Close to Nature
At Bjørnfjell Mountain Lodge, our connection to nature is at the heart of what we do. We want to preserve the character of our surroundings and operate our lodge with care for nature, our guests, our employees and the local community.
Eco-Lighthouse / Miljøfyrtårn
The Eco-Lighthouse is Norway’s most widely used certificate for businesses that want to document their environmental efforts and demonstrate social responsibility. The certificate is recognized by the authorities for public procurement.
The businesses meet requirements and implement measures for sustainable operations and a better working environment.
Learn more about the measures we have and our values regarding sustainability as a hotel.
The Bjørnfjell Sheep
Just outside the main lodge, you’ll find a fenced area where our flock of Norwegian wild sheep spend the winter. During summer, they roam the nearby ski slopes, grazing on the vegetation and helping to keep the landscape open before the snow returns.
In May, we welcome adorable newborn lambs and get to watch them thrive and play throughout the summer. By keeping Norwegian wild sheep at the lodge, we also contribute to preserving and passing on a traditional breed that is well adapted to the Norwegian landscape.
From October, we are proud to serve meat from our own sheep in our restaurant. This gives us the opportunity to bring our own local produce from pasture to plate.
Our sheep spend much of their time grazing freely in the surrounding forest and hills, nourished by the natural pastures. They are also given suitable leftover vegetables and bread from our kitchen, helping us make use of food that might otherwise go to waste.
For us, this is a small but meaningful part of working with what we have close to home – reducing waste, supporting a more circular approach to food and giving our guests a taste of Bjørnfjell.
Come by and say hello when you’re visiting us! They’re always happy to see you, especially when there’s a little snack involved.
Photos: Dànil Røkke
Photo: Zerah Media
Local & Organic Ingredients
We believe that good food starts close to home. Whenever possible, we choose local and seasonal ingredients, supporting producers in our region while keeping more of the value within the local community.
Our menus feature meat from our own sheep, reindeer from Finnmark and fish from Sørøya. We also harvest berries, mushrooms and herbs from the surrounding landscape, and use seasonal Norwegian fruit and vegetables whenever available.
We are continuously working to increase the share of organic ingredients we use, choosing organic products where possible. Organic farming can support biodiversity and healthy soil and water, making it a natural part of our approach to more responsible food choices.
For us, choosing local, seasonal and organic ingredients is about more than reducing our environmental footprint. It is about knowing where our food comes from, making use of what the land around us provides, and sharing a genuine taste of Finnmark with our guests.
Small Details – Big Impact
At Bjørnfjell, we believe that sustainability can be found in the small things – and sometimes, a little creativity can give something old an entirely new life.
Worn-out bed linen and linen tablecloths from the lodge has been carefully turned into beautiful bedspreads by five local women, now adding warmth, character and a story to our rooms.
For us, this is what reuse is about: looking at what we already have and finding new ways to make use of it before it becomes waste. By extending the life of our textiles, we reduce waste, make better use of our resources and create something unique for our guests.
Even the simple routines matter. We do our own laundry at the lodge, and whenever the summer weather allows, we hang our bed linen, towels and other textiles outside to dry in the fresh Arctic air. A simple, natural way to reduce energy use and make the most of the resources around us.
