When we developed our environmental programme together in Ödevata in 2020, I never imagined that five years later I would be involved in reviewing it myself. Today, I am so much a part of the daily work that it is valuable to have our intern Caro helping us, bringing a fresh and independent perspective on whether we are moving in the right direction.
Looking back after five years, it is clear that we have not achieved everything we originally planned. Some goals are no longer relevant because Ödevata has changed, while others would have required more staff and resources than we have had available. In some areas, we have also realised that our influence is more limited than we expected in 2020.
At the same time, many things have become a natural part of our everyday work. What used to be goals are now simply part of how we live and work.
Ödevata has developed a great deal over the last few years. We have built the new house Udden, completed the apartments in Axelssons Gröna Längan using 80% recycled materials, installed two new solar roofs, and replaced our old heating system with ground and air-source heat pumps. We continue to develop our permaculture garden step by step, have created a forest garden and a pond for collecting rainwater, and working with volunteers has become an important part of our daily activities. Our farm shop, workshops, and study visits are also continuously evolving.
We want to keep questioning our consumption and use of resources, inspire others through what we do, and remain open to new ideas and suggestions on how we can improve.
We hope you enjoy reading our environmental statement, and we welcome any thoughts or feedback you would like to share with us.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
After five years, we have reviewed our environmental programme to reflect on what we have achieved, what has changed, and what we want to focus on in the years ahead.
Our work is built on three pillars:
- Resource conservation
- Sharing awareness with our guests
- Passing on knowledge and experience
Many of the actions we once defined as goals have become a natural part of everyday life in Ödevata. At the same time, we see sustainability as an ongoing process of learning and development.
Where We Are Today
Using resources responsibly has become a natural part of how we work and live at Ödevata.
We sort waste and building materials into more than 15 categories, prioritise products with little or no packaging, and reuse materials whenever possible. Furniture and equipment are often bought second-hand or passed on for further use.
When purchasing food and cleaning products, we focus on local, organic, and environmentally friendly alternatives. Repairing items always comes before buying new ones.
We have also made significant progress in reducing our energy use. Since 2013, all our electricity has come from renewable sources. Solar panels installed in 2022 now complement our energy supply, and since 2024 our heating system has been fully based on ground-source and air-source heat pumps, eliminating the use of fossil fuels.
Water-saving technology is standard throughout the property, rainwater is used for irrigation, and almost all vehicles and machinery now run on fossil-free HVO fuel.
Looking Ahead
In the coming years, we want to further reduce packaging and increase reuse wherever possible. We will continue updating information for guests and staff so that our environmental work remains visible and understandable.
Our purchasing principles remain unchanged: we prioritise local, sustainable, and second-hand products whenever possible. Future building projects will include better documentation of reused, recycled, and locally sourced materials.
We also aim to further improve energy efficiency, water use, and transport planning while encouraging guests to participate in these efforts.
Where We Are Today
We believe sustainability is most powerful when it can be experienced in everyday life.
Guided tours and presentations have become a regular part of our conference programmes, giving visitors insight into projects such as aquaponics, biochar, and our self-sufficiency garden. Guests staying with us also receive information about waste sorting, water use, and energy conservation.
Over the years, we have learned that some initiatives only work when there is clear responsibility and ongoing engagement. We therefore continue to adapt and improve our approaches based on practical experience.
Looking Ahead
From 2026 onwards, we plan to offer regular guided tours that are also available outside conference programmes, allowing more guests to experience our sustainability work.
Additional information in the kitchens will encourage conscious use of water and electricity, while workshops and shared activities will help raise awareness about food waste in a practical and engaging way.
Our goal is to make sustainability visible, understandable, and easy to integrate into everyday life.
Where We Are Today
Ödevata has always been a place for learning, experimenting, and exchanging ideas.
Since 2021, sustainability has had its own section on our website, and we regularly share updates through newsletters and events.
Study visits and guided tours are now an important part of our activities. Alongside aquaponics and biochar, we increasingly share knowledge about permaculture, forest gardens, and sustainable tourism.
Our collaboration with schools and universities has continued to grow through internships, summer jobs, study visits, and conferences. In 2025 alone, around 500 people participated in conferences and study visits at Ödevata.
Looking Ahead
We will continue to develop our sustainability section and integrate our updated environmental statement into the website.
Future newsletters will place a stronger focus on environmental topics, and our study visits will include even broader themes, such as permaculture, forest gardens, and sustainable tourism.
We also aim to strengthen our cooperation with schools and universities and continue offering internship opportunities that allow young people to experience sustainability in practice.
Sustainability as an ongoing Journey
Our review shows that many environmental measures have become deeply rooted in everyday life at Ödevata. At the same time, we know that not everything can be measured and that priorities change as we develop.
For us, sustainability is not a final destination but a continuous process of learning, improving, and sharing experiences.
We welcome ideas, feedback, and new perspectives—and look forward to continuing this journey together with our guests, partners, and local community.