Meet Birgit Iversen - houseelf

As deputy head of housekeeping at Sinatur Storebælt, Birgit is responsible for everything from cleaning to washing dishes and caring for the hotel's plants. She describes herself as a bit of a house-elf. She has been for 10 years now and she is still full of joy when she goes to work. Because as she says: "It's nice to be in a workplace that takes care of nature and doesn't just pour a lot of chemicals into the sewer."

Today, she couldn't imagine working anywhere else, but her way into Sinatur Hotel & Konference was a bit of a coincidence.

"I started in a temporary job because I have had foster children who were sent home. But before long, I was hired full-time and later as a sous chef - it creeps under your skin a bit. Not only do I have to clean 20 rooms, I also get insight into and influence on the things that happen at the hotel. Everyone who is passionate about it gets to make a difference. It can easily be a cleaning girl who gets a good idea and is allowed to try it out. Sinatur is no bigger than having this presence - both on the floor and for the directors and guests."

What is the best thing about being part of Sinatur?
"Good work colleagues. We have a really good team. Our DNA is that we must be good at helping each other and helping nature. Maybe throwing plastic in a garbage bag doesn't solve the whole world situation, but it doesn't help either."

What does it mean to you that Sinatur is working to become a more sustainable and responsible hotel chain?
"It makes me a little proud when I can say that we are working to try to become CO2 neutral, that we have a recycling rate on our waste of 72 percent - we want to exceed the 82 percent - that we are creating biodiversity areas in the hotels and that we hardly serve any beef in our restaurants. I can feel that it makes people curious and it's cool to be able to explain why we care so much about taking care of nature. And when you sort so much at work, you also take it home quite naturally, then you also make some extra sorting boxes at home and make sure not to mow the lawn where the blackberry sits on the lawn. You think a little differently."

What does nature mean to you?
"A lot. I myself have a small property with land to it, where I have seven horses and a huge garden. I'm outside as soon as I get home. It makes a lot of sense that nature takes up space both at work and at home. And it's nice not to have a bad conscience when you go home from work. You could be in a workplace where chemicals are poured into the sewer. But I know that my workplace does everything to not make a mess of nature."

Are you happy when you go to work?
"Yes, damn. I have some good colleagues and help develop something that others can use in relation to being more sustainable. It's mega-exciting and makes it fun to go to work."

What have you been most surprised by while working at Sinatur?
"It is enough that the management really means that we should think about the environment. That here at Sinatur they dare to take some chances, such as making a meat-free day where our guests cannot get meat in the restaurant. It was not received very well by our guests. But that you dare to take the plunge, even if it's a bit daring. It surprises."

If you have to recommend Sinatur to others, what would you highlight?
"If you don't care about sustainability and the environment, you shouldn't apply for a job here. But if you can see yourself in a company with a strategy of taking care of nature, then I would recommend it as a really good workplace."