Relationship with the environment
Environmentally friendly hostels are a must for us
We are mindful of our Earth. This is why we have been committed to environmentally friendly tourism for decades. We build our youth hostels in an environmentally friendly manner, promote renewable energies, support environmental protection projects and offer our guests an environmentally friendly dining experience. We leave as few traces as possible in nature.
We want to play a far-reaching pioneering role in environmental and climate protection. We thus pursue the implementation of effective measures in the interests of a circular economy and act responsibly and out of conviction.
Interlaken Youth Hostel
The environmentally friendly operation of youth hostels begins at the stage of construction. Through Minergie, they save energy, through Eco, they are constructed with environmentally friendly materials and are heated using renewable energies (sun, wood, waste heat). Since 2009, we have consumed 100% electric energy from renewable hydropower. Thanks to the ibex fairstay label, efforts are being pursued with the same consistency in the hostels; in purchasing, in avoiding food waste, in recycling reusable waste and much more. With the introduction of the new gastronomy concept «Yoummi», a CO2 reduction of around 40% was achieved in the food area.
ibex fairstay
All hostels are run using a comprehensive management and quality system and certified with the ibex fairstay label.
ibex fairstay certified hostels
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Platinum | 12 | 16 | 20 |
Gold | 22 | 19 | 16 |
Silver | 5 | 4 | 2 |
Bronze | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2023 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
Platinum | 16 | 20 |
Gold | 19 | 16 |
Silver | 4 | 2 |
Bronze | 0 | 0 |
The figures above confirm the gratifying development and increase in performance of the Swiss Youth Hostels in all five sustainability dimensions of ibex fairstay (ecology, social matters, regionality, management and finances).
Thanks to the dedication of all employees in the youth hostels, the Swiss Youth Hostels were able to award the highest certification level ibex platinum to a total of 20 hostels with the recertifications in 2023, which corresponds to more than half of all certified youth hostels.
Thanks to the tremendous effort in all sustainability areas, five youth hostels, in Davos, Richterswil, St. Gallen, Zermatt and Zug, were able to advance from the certification level ibex gold to the highest certification level ibex platinum in 2023.
Ecological services
Options for avoiding and reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption for heat, electricity and water have been used consistently since the mid-1990s.
In winter 2022/23, a cross-departmental Task Force was set up due to the impending energy deficiency situation. Three measures were defined each in the areas of heating and electricity, which were consistently implemented in the youth hostels. Even though the services offered by the Swiss Youth Hostels were not restricted, guests were made aware of savings potential. Thanks to these efforts, consumption was noticeably reduced. Thus, for example, the power consumption of 5.1 kWh per overnight stay could be reduced to 4.7 kWh per overnight stay. We would like to thank all employees and guests very much for their commitment.
Electricity, water, climate protection contributions by guests
Electricity consumption per overnight stay (kWh)
No Data Found
Water consumption per overnight stay (litres)
No Data Found
Share of contributions to climate protection in %
No Data Found
Reduction in specific CO2 load (space heating oil/gas)
The second period of the target agreement with the Energy Agency of the Swiss Private Sector (EnAW) was extended to the end of 2024. The binding target figure of 14.4 tonnes of CO2 per square metre agreed with EnAW for 2023 was not only met, but significantly undercut at 10.9 tonnes. By 2023, we had reduced specific CO2 emissions for space heating by 67.7% compared to 2000 (prior year: 65.7%).
