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.
Burgdorf Castle 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% of our electricity 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 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
2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Platinum | 20 | 23 | 24 |
Gold | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Silver | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Bronze | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
Platinum | 23 | 24 |
Gold | 15 | 14 |
Silver | 0 | 0 |
Bronze | 0 | 0 |
The figures show impressively how strongly sustainability is anchored at the Swiss Youth Hostels. In 2025, a total of 24 youth hostels were newly certified with the highest ibex fairstay platinum award, with a further 14 youth hostels bearing the ibex fairstay gold label. There are no longer any hostels at the lower levels of silver or bronze.
The hostels recertified in 2025 impressed with their high level of broad-based commitment to all five sustainability dimensions of ibex fairstay (ecology, social issues, regionality, management and finance). In particular, their systematic development since the last certification, the high level of expertise of the hostel managers and their teams as well as the authentically practised understanding of sustainability are highlighted and praised in the audits. Several youth hostels were able to significantly improve their services or successfully confirm their existing very high standards. The commitment to energy, water, social responsibility and sustainable business management is particularly visible.
Thanks to its outstanding commitment and continuous development in all areas of sustainability, Mariastein Youth Hostel was able to make the leap from gold to platinum in the reporting year. It is also worth noting that nine youth hostels (Davos, Grindelwald, Interlaken, Mariastein, Saas-Fee, Scuol, St. Moritz, Trin and Valbella) achieved or retained the highest award ibex fairstay platinum during the 2025 recertification process.
We extend a big thank you and heartfelt congratulations to all hostel managers and their teams for their exceptional commitment and the outstanding results. These services form a fundamental basis for the sustainable development of the Swiss Youth Hostels.
Ecological services
Options for avoiding and reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption for heat, electricity and water have been consistently used since the mid-1990s. As a result, consumption has significantly declined over the years. In 2025, electricity consumption per overnight stay remained stable at 4.7 kWh (prior year 4.8 kWh). Water consumption per overnight stay fell slightly from 146 litres in the prior year to 136 litres in 2025.
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
“Cause We Care” climate protection contribution
Guests paid a climate protection contribution of 30 centimes for 56% of overnight stays. The Swiss Youth Hostels will use the resulting amount of CHF 149,400 as part of the myclimate “Cause We Care” programme for the climate protection project REDD Yaeda Tanzania and to co-finance internal sustainability measures. In 2025, a photovoltaic system was implemented at Zermatt Youth Hostel, and in addition the roof of Brienz Youth Hostel was replaced with thermal insulation, insulating windows were installed in Davos Youth Hostel and a modern heating management system was set up in Zurich and Lucerne Youth Hostels for a test phase.
Reduction in specific CO2 load (space heating oil/gas)
Since 2008, the Swiss Youth Hostels have committed themselves to reducing CO2 emissions to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). A reduction path with a reduction obligation was followed for the period from 2008 to 2024. The target agreement with the Federal Office for the Environment expired at the end of 2024. An application has been submitted for a new target agreement running until 2040. The exemption from the CO2 levy will therefore continue to apply. Similar to previous periods, a reduction path with binding target values is to be drawn up. For example, emissions from the areas of Scope 1 and 2 will continue to be tracked annually and systematically reduced.
Specific CO2 emissions for space heating were reduced in the reporting year by 64.0% compared with the year 2000 (prior year 67.3%).
