Sustainability
Since its foundation in 1812, the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien has pursued the goal of “the advancement of music in all its branches”. In carrying out our diverse tasks, we at the Musikverein are committed to taking responsibility for the environment. We want to make our operations in the Musikverein building more sustainable and minimize our ecological footprint. Certification by the Austrian Ecolabel is an essential step in this direction.
The Musikverein is committed to harmonizing culture, nature and society within the scope of its possibilities.
As a cultural institution at the heart of society, we see it as our responsibility to actively contribute to social sustainability to enable a healthy and liveable future for all. We are committed to providing our employees with a nutritious and safe working environment characterized by respect, fairness, and equality and in which everyone can feel free from harassment and discrimination. We actively strive to respect and protect the rights of all people—both within our institution and our concert operations and in society.
ECOLOGICAL RESPONSIBILITY
We strive to contribute to conserving our planet’s resources. We have therefore taken important steps, such as
Renewable energies
We use 100% green electricity and thus contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
Efficient lighting
The lighting systems in our event halls, backstage areas and offices are constantly being converted to energy-saving LED technology. Our exterior LED lighting automatically adjusts to daylight.
Optimization of heating and cooling systems
District heating, a heat pump, and heat recovery from the chiller cover our heating requirements. To minimize energy consumption further, we use modern, energy-efficient technologies and pay attention to regular inspections and maintenance.
Mobility and transportation
Promotion of sustainable travel
On our website, we recommend that visitors travel by public transport. Our central location makes us easy to reach, and we also offer bicycle parking directly in front of the Musikverein building.
Ecological business trips
Our employees prefer to travel by train, and we avoid short-haul flights wherever possible.
Management and communication
Invite visitors
Sustainability affects us all. Our website raises our audience’s awareness of environmentally friendly behavior by providing information about traveling by public transport, staying in environmentally certified partner hotels, and separating waste in our buildings.
Employee training
Internal training courses and workshops promote employees’ awareness of ecological responsibility. We encourage them to use resources carefully and sparingly – water, packaging, office materials and energy.
Service providers and suppliers
Together with our business partners, we develop solutions to promote sustainability along the value chain.
Cooperation with environmentally certified partners
Our tenant in connection with the catering for our entire building has been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel. Our print shop and the hotels with which we work closely are also certified with the Austrian Ecolabel and share our high sustainability standards.
Waste management and recycling
Numerous bicycle stands are available at Musikvereinsplatz and Karlsplatz.
Avoiding waste
As a concert venue, we do not generate any significant waste. However, we are aware that we still consume resources. For example, e-tickets reduce paper consumption, and we sensitize our employees to prefer tap water to water from (reusable) containers.
Waste separation and recycling
We have a comprehensive waste separation system throughout the building. Our employees are trained to behave in an environmentally friendly manner and to dispose of waste separately so that it can be recycled well by the respective waste treatment facilities.
Reduction of disposable products
Sustainable alternatives, such as reusable tableware and containers, are used at our events. Reusable tableware is available to employees.
Reductions in purchasing
Regional suppliers
We work with regional partners to shorten transportation routes and promote the local economy where possible.
Environmentally friendly materials
When making purchases, we focus on sustainable materials and select environmentally friendly products. We prefer to buy products certified with the Austrian, German, or European Ecolabel. This applies to products for everyday office use, such as copy paper, and for cleaning. Our IT devices are energy-efficient and durable models to reduce our energy consumption.
Our future prospects
We are delighted to announce that we have now officially been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel after successfully obtaining certification. We inform our employees, concert visitors and partner companies about this award and would like to invite our environment to behave in an environmentally friendly manner. Our commitment to sustainability is an ongoing process. We will continue to scrutinize structures and processes, analyse potential for improvement and take measures to improve our environmental footprint. In the long term, we aim to make our operations as climate-neutral as possible. We are therefore constantly looking for new ways to promote sustainability in all areas of our business. We look forward to receiving feedback at office@musikverein.at on how we can make our business even greener.
