Sustainability measures at Impact Hub Vienna

Sustainability. Carbon neutrality. Green transition. These terms are often used by companies aiming to showcase environmental responsibility. Yet, when scrutinized, many claims fall short—built on misleading CO2 accounting, funding “green” projects without changing harmful internal practices. At Impact Hub Vienna, we reject these pitfalls and commit to transparent, meaningful action. Our goal is to contribute to limiting global warming to 1.5°C by achieving net-zero in 2030. The following sections highlight our key sustainability efforts across our locations and the reasons behind why we focus on energy, waste, water, procurement, catering and food on our sustainability measures.

Sustainability initiatives do not happen spontaneously.

They result from a culture of curiosity and leadership. As mentioned in a previous blog post, at Impact Hub Vienna we aim for net-zero by 2030 and we reject carbon neutrality due to its reliance on offsets and loopholes. To meet our goal, we have a dedicated sustainability staff member who sets ambitious targets and ensures fair implementation. However, the involvement of the rest of the team is crucial. That’s why employees participate in sustainability onboardings and are asked to read a mandatory sustainability handbook. This handbook includes information on our policies, such as the business travel policy, which encourages remote event attendance and ground transport over flights, while our thermal regulation policy ensures new offices meet strict energy efficiency standards.

Talking about energy, it is a key focus for us, as our spaces are used for events and co-working. As of February 2025, none of our spaces throughout the city run on gas. Impact Hub (IH), Climate Lab (CL), and Future Health Lab (FHL) are all connected to the district heating networks. While district heating still requires fossil fuels, studies have shown that it is more efficient and less polluting than individual gas boilers (source). However, efficiency does not justify wasteful consumption. Most radiators at IH have smart thermostatic valves, predicted to cut heating-related emissions by 20%. Space cooling is also considered. Climate Lab and Future Health Lab also use district cooling, which has a lower CO2 impact than individual air conditioners or heat pumps (source). 

Operating a space for co-working and events inevitably generates waste. We strive to minimise it and divert usable items from disposal. To reduce on-site waste, we use cotton roll towels instead of disposable paper towels, avoiding low-grade paper production which has been linked to unsustainable forestry (source). Waste bins are all equally accessible to enable proper waste separation, and at FHL, we centralise waste stations to encourage sorting. When there is an excess of food stuffs after a catered event we ask our client to take as much as possible with them or alternatively offer the food to our community and team members. 

We also encourage item swapping amongst staff and visitors. Our item-sharing stations at IH and CL allow staff and members to exchange used goods. Additionally, company-owned items that no longer serve a purpose are first offered for sale, then donated if unsold, and disposed of only as a last resort. This extends their lifecycle and promotes mindful consumption.

When items must be replaced, we prioritize sustainable procurement. A lot of attention is given to purchasing from second hand online marketplaces (e.g. Willhaben) and most of our electronic devices are second-hand or refurbished to reduce e-waste. When purchasing essentials like paper, pens, and cleaning products, we ensure they carry ISO Type 1 ecolabels, offering some assurance of environmentally conscious production. While no certification is perfect, we believe ISO Type 1 labels help drive sustainability in consumer choices.

More often than not, the events held at our space involve catering and food. Hence, recognizing the importance of food in our work and event spaces, we carefully consider the sustainability of our offerings. All our offices serve Fairtrade coffee with oat milk as the default due to its significantly lower footprint (source). We also stock Sens bars made with cricket powder, an innovative step toward sustainable snacking.

For catered events, we prioritize Austrian ecolabel-certified providers thus reducing packaging waste and promoting local, seasonal ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan options are our standard, as they are well received by clients and significantly reduce environmental impact (source). Additionally, we stock Unverschwendet jams, made from fruits rejected by supermarkets, helping reduce food waste.

Water is essential in our operations, primarily for hygiene and catering. Where possible, we have reduced flush volumes on dual-flush toilets and installed flow-limiting tap nozzles (6L/min or less). In kitchens and spaces where nozzles would hinder service, or where building owners restrict modifications (e.g., Wien Energie at CL), we have made exceptions. A past attempt at 95% water-saving nozzles proved impractical due to increased hand-washing time, so we adopted an 80% savings alternative. Although water-related emissions are relatively low, we implement these measures to encourage sustainable habits and foster a culture of conscious resource use.

Certifications also play a role. All our spaces are certified green locations under the Austrian ecolabel. It assesses internal emissions calculations, energy and water conservation, independent sustainability efforts and sound quality (source). Although not perfect, this certification supports our mission to create inclusive, sustainable spaces for impact-driven individuals.

At Impact Hub Vienna, sustainability is an ongoing commitment built on transparency and continuous improvement.

While we acknowledge that we are not perfect, we aim to actively reduce our environmental impact through responsible energy use, water conservation, waste reduction, sustainable procurement, and conscious food choices. Our policies and green certifications reinforce our mission. However, sustainability is a collective effort. We invite our community to engage, provide feedback, and collaborate with us in refining these initiatives. By making mindful choices today, we can contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.