myclimate: Anyone staying overnight at Swiss Youth Hostels can make a voluntary contribution to climate protection. How has this offer been received by your guests?
Janine Bunte: This offer is very well received by our guests. Around 60% of our overnight guests make the voluntary climate protection contribution every year.
You have just celebrated your 100th birthday. Sustainability has been firmly anchored in your mission statement for 30 years and is part of your corporate philosophy. What climate protection measures have you been able to implement so far?
Since 1994, we have implemented numerous measures in the construction and operational areas. Energy consumption and the generation of emissions are important indicators for all Swiss Youth Hostels projects. We obtain 100% of the electricity for all youth hostels from renewable energies (hydropower). Many youth hostels also use renewable energies for heating - for example, with heat pumps or wood pellet heating systems, but also thanks to the purchase of energy from district heating networks. When purchasing new machines, such as dishwashers or dryers, we attach particular importance to choosing appliances with heat recovery technology. In addition, some of our houses are already equipped with solar panels for photovoltaics and solar thermal energy. By consciously optimising internal processes on an ongoing basis, such as efficient ventilation or the use of energy-saving showers, energy consumption and emissions can be reduced in the operation of the youth hostels. The specific CO₂ emissions for room heating were even reduced by 67.7 % compared to 2000.
Another major project was the introduction of the Yoummi food offer in spring 2021. Since its introduction, the gastronomic offer has been predominantly vegetarian. This means that the basis is always vegetarian or vegan and we only offer dishes with meat every third day. Around a third of total CO₂ emissions are caused by food and its production. With the introduction of ‘Yoummi’, we have succeeded in reducing CO₂ emissions by an average of 40% compared to standard menus. We are also pleased to note that our guests' satisfaction with the catering on offer has risen steadily since its introduction, although it is already at a high level. The implementation of the sustainability measures is reviewed every three years by the Swiss sustainability label Ibex Fairstay.
What measures are you particularly proud of?
We do not pursue a separate sustainability strategy, but have designed our entire corporate strategy around sustainability and act accordingly in all areas. We are particularly proud of the fact that 100% of our electricity comes from renewable energy and of the implementation of the Yoummi concept, as these are very effective measures.
In 2021, we also launched a pilot phase with new recycling stations in five youth hostels. The way it works is that guests receive a recycling bag made from recycled PET. During their stay, they collect their recyclable goods such as PET, aluminium, glass or paper in the bag and bring them to the central recycling stations. These are designed with an emphasis on quality in order to stand out from the rubbish bins. The pilot phase has shown that acceptance among guests is high. In particular, children and travellers from countries where the concept of recycling is not yet so well established can be made aware of the value of recycling materials in this way. This is why the Recycling Bag project was rolled out on a broad scale from 2022 with the aim of equipping all of the hostels with a recycling station. Currently, 18 youth hostels are already collecting recyclable materials in this way. The construction of further stations is in full swing. The project is co-financed by funds from the myclimate ‘Cause We Care’ programme.
You are a great role model when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. How do you manage to constantly reduce your ecological footprint?
The main tools for achieving this goal and reducing the ecological footprint are 1. reduction / 2. substitution / 3. climate protection financing. In other words, our path to the ‘net zero’ target by 2050 is:
- We increase efficiency and reduce consumption as much as possible.
- Where we are still emitting CO₂, we are trying to switch to other energy sources
- For the remaining CO₂ emissions, we pay a climate protection contribution together with our guests via the myclimate ‘Cause We Care’ programme, which is used to finance international environmental projects and is also available for our own ecological measures.
It doesn't always have to be far away. How do you manage to get people excited about holidays in Switzerland?
We are lucky enough to live in a beautiful region - you just have to look around: Blue lakes, breathtaking mountains, colourful cities. Who wouldn't want to discover Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein (we also run a youth hostel in Schaan-Vaduz)? Staying at a Swiss Youth Hostel gives you the opportunity to travel to Switzerland, an expensive holiday destination, in an affordable and sustainable way. This means that even people on a budget can afford to take a break from everyday life.
Which youth hostel would you recommend to tourists who want to discover Switzerland at its best?
That depends, of course, on what the tourists need. The youth hostels are located in the most beautiful places in Switzerland: for city trips, a visit to Bern Youth Hostel between the River Aare and the Federal Palace is worthwhile. Those who really want to see the Matterhorn should visit Zermatt Youth Hostel, where guests have a perfect view of the Toblerone mountain at breakfast and dinner. If you want to jump straight from your bed into the turquoise-blue lake, Brienz Youth Hostel is the place for you.
The Jugis used to be associated with mass whipping and rosehip tea. But this image is long outdated and guests' expectations have risen. Who is your offer aimed at?
Everyone is welcome at Swiss Youth Hostels - we accommodate families, school classes, business travellers and young backpackers from abroad. This colourful mix of guests is what makes the experience in a youth hostel so special. 75% of our beds are in shared rooms, the remaining 25% in double rooms with a little more comfort and privacy. The youth hostels are divided into the different categories basic, classic, top and groups only in terms of comfort and service level. This means that everyone is sure to find the right accommodation for their needs.
How do you deal with the challenge of harmonising sustainability and economic success?
We are aware that every tourism activity consumes resources. We try to respond to this with an appropriate offer. For example, an overnight stay in a Swiss youth hostel is per se much more sustainable and less energy-intensive than holidays abroad or in more luxurious surroundings. As a non-profit organisation, the Swiss Youth Hostels have been fulfilling the civic mission of offering affordable accommodation in Switzerland since they were founded more than 100 years ago. It goes without saying that it is not possible to offer sustainable accommodation without profitability. All profits are reinvested in the product.
What future projects and initiatives are you planning to pursue your climate goals even more ambitiously?
We are guided by the federal government's Climate Strategy 2025. One measure is to improve and expand monitoring. To this end, we are working with the Energy Agency for Industry and with myclimate to make Scope 3 emissions quantifiable in addition to Scope 1 and 2 emissions in future. We are also actively promoting internal training for our employees.