The hostel is making continuous improvements on their sustainability goals, outlined in their detailed strategy. They’re committed to creating significant environmental, social and cultural change, making them ready for Global Sustainable Tourism Council certification.
There are four pillars within the Staircase to Sustainability. In order to reach level 3 the hostel has achieved everything outlined in levels 1 and 2, and the following criteria:
Sustainable Management
The hostel reports on and publishes their sustainability actions and achievements. They’re involved in sustainability programmes in their local area and are making their hostel accessible.
- Reporting & Communication
There is a designated area on the Hostel's website, social media or published reports about sustainability targets and actions.
- Customer experience
The Hostel can demonstrate that this feedback (including Online Travel Agency reviews) is monitored against their sustainability criteria and any complaints are being addressed. Evidence of this would include documented logs of addressing complaints.
- Impact and integrity
The site building and design has taken into account visual amenity, landscape, cultural and natural heritage. The building does not negatively impact biologically sensitive areas, cultural heritage and connection of natural sites.
- Sustainable practices and materials
Any building works or renovation uses both local and sustainable practices.
- Access for All
The Hostel can show that they are working towards providing for all accessibility needs.
- Destination engagement
Where there are sustainability programmes available in their destination, the Hostel is actively involved in these.
- Sustainability management system
The Hostel has set targets for improvement in sustainability areas based on their collected data and has set actions for meeting these.
Socio-Economic Impact
They report on contributions made towards community groups.
- Community Support
The amount and level of contributions made to the community groups are recorded on an annual basis, this may include donations (e.g., food, supplies, monetary), volunteering hours, provision of services etc and the Hostel can provide proof of this.
Cultural Impact
The hostel embraces and educates guests on traditional and current local culture.
- Presenting cultural and heritage
The Hostel incorporates elements of traditional and contemporary local culture. This may include provision of information about the local culture and heritage, encouragement of culturally significant activities to do in the local area, interior design in rooms etc.
Environmental Impact
The hostel ensures that not only their practices are environmentally friendly but that their suppliers are too. They’ve also taken steps to reduce pollution.
- Environmentally preferable purchasing
The Hostel measures the amount of suppliers and products that are environmentally friendly. At least 50% are confirmed to be environmentally friendly (as stated on the product or by the supplier)
- Efficient purchasing
The Hostel measures the amount of suppliers that provide goods in returnable or recyclable packaging and at least two suppliers provide goods in returnable or recyclable packaging.
The Hostel has replaced unnecessary plastic from at least one of: packaging of supplies, plastic products (such as storage boxes, reception supplies, kitchen supplies, amenities in rooms), containers for cleaning products or cling films. The Hostel has also joined the Global Tourism Plastic Initiative to further reduce plastic usage in their operations.
- Water conservation
Water consumption is measured and the Hostel has a list of the water sources they use. The Hostel can measure water consumption using their own data management system or the data collection tool provided by Hostelworld.
- Transport
There is a transportation policy among employees that encourages car sharing, public transport, cycling/walking or other sustainable methods of getting to work. The Hostel encourages this through schemes or benefits.
- Minimize pollution
The Hostel has a list of their pollution sources (including noise, light, runoff, erosion, ozone-depleting substances, air, water and soil contaminants) and practices to minimise pollution in these areas. This may include:
- Rules for reduced noise at certain parts of the day.
- Ensuring all unnecessary lighting is switched off in the evenings when appropriate.
- Air conditioning units do not contain any CFS.
- Water discharge or run off from the hostel is managed and treated correctly.
- All cleaning and gardening materials are environmentally-certified and chemical free.
These practices are documented and the Hostel can demonstrate implementation of these.
- Visits to natural sites
The Hostel educates guests and staff on the natural sites and local environment to ensure appropriate behaviour and avoid disruption.