About us

Vision & mission
Our story
Our team

The GreenSign Institut has been assessing sustainability performance with the GreenSign certificate since 2015. Originally developed for the hotel industry, the conformity assessment program now covers other sectors, taking into account the specific characteristics of each. GreenSign is practice-oriented and takes into account specifications from standards such as EMAS, DIN ISO 14001 or ISO 26000. The conformity assessment program evaluates and documents the status of a company’s ecological, social and economic measures.

The results from more than 130 criteria in ten core areas contribute to the 17 SDGs. The result, which is evaluated and confirmed by an audit, is presented in a certificate – GreenSign – showing the degree of conformity. The transparent assessment program allows companies to demonstrate their sustainable business practices to the market. The GreenSign Institut also offers the calculation of a CO2 footprint for the company.

This is often in demand in business with corporate customers in addition to the company’s own orientation. The GreenSign certificate for hotels, which is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), is the market leader in Germany. In total, more than 900 establishments are already certified, mainly in Germany but also in 18 other countries.

Our vision

We create transparency about sustainable business management by providing companies and consumers with verified information in the three pillars of sustainability – ecology, economy and social issues – in order to shape a responsible future.

Our mission

We want to help to find sensible solutions and alternatives with economic incentives and to keep the company innovative and profitable in the long term with an environmental strategy. At the same time, we want to support entrepreneurs on their way to continuously improving their sustainability performance. We see our GreenSign Community as a network in which we inspire each other, learn from each other and provide mutual support. Sustainability is most enjoyable when it is driven forward together.

Inclusion in the context of sustainability and social responsibility

The GreenSign Institute is actively committed to an inclusive society in which all people experience equal opportunities and participation in social life.
For us, inclusion means breaking down barriers – be it by promoting accessibility, by creating working environments that support diversity or by sensitising and training our partners. We see inclusion as a process that goes beyond mere integration and promotes the active participation of all people.

Our story

Over 20 years ago, our Managing Director Suzann Heinemann founded the GreenLine Hotels platform as a marketing cooperation for hotels located in green areas. Due to the name, the team was approached very early on about the topic of sustainability, even if this was not actually the intention at the beginning.

However, as the topic became increasingly topical and important over the years, Suzann and her team decided in 2014 to focus the concept entirely on sustainability. However, when the GreenLine team was looking for a suitable certification for the GreenLine hotels, they quickly realized that the ideal (sustainability) certification did not yet exist. The solution was simple – at least for Suzann and her team.

With her motto: “All or nothing!”, she founded the InfraCert Institut (now GreenSign Institut GmbH) with great motivation in 2015 and developed her own certification – the GreenSign – together with partners from science and the hotel industry.

Our team

Just as we value our customers, we also focus on our employees. It is particularly important to us to work for their well-being. We are convinced that only with a committed and motivated team can our company continue to compete successfully.

GreenSign Team