Jungfrau Region
The Interhome Group is supporting a bee project in Austria and has leased 100,000 m² of flowering meadows for bees for a period of two years. Instead of potatoes or vegetables, flowering meadows are being planted here, which attract all kinds of bees and provide them with the ideal plants. The meadows are left to nature. Furthermore, Interhome customers worldwide can fully offset their stay in a holiday flat or holiday home. To this end, Interhome works with «myclimate», with all funds going directly into the M-Climate Fund. Interhome is also in the process of classifying its holiday flats according to sustainability. However, this will take some time.
Haslital
The «Chalet Briinigstein West» in Hasliberg Reuti is thermally insulated; the oil heating has been replaced with a heat pump, and a solution was sought (and found) in collaboration with the heritage conservation organisation to install solar panels. Finally, a salt battery is now being purchased. This means the holiday home will be able to manage without external energy for nine months of the year. Guests are also encouraged to travel by public transport. If they do come by car, there is an electric charging station at the house. Guests are also encouraged to shop locally. Shop owner Thomas Meyer delivers groceries to the holiday apartment free of charge. Even the wine is produced on site. It comes from the highest vineyard north of the main Alpine ridge.
The YMCA Centre on Hasliberg uses exclusively green electricity throughout its operations. Consistent waste separation with its own compost. On-site wood chip heating. Own forest with biodiversity (measures to preserve species diversity). Over 80 per cent of the food and accommodation supplies come directly from the Bernese Oberland or from Switzerland.
The Hotels Handeck and Grimsel Hospiz have been ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified for some time. Since this winter, Grimselwelt (to which the two hotels belong) has been one of the first companies to hold the new Swisstainable label from Switzerland Tourism at the highest Level III, as it already possesses comprehensive, recognised sustainability certification. This is partly because head chef Roman Crkon and his team at the Grimsel hotels celebrate their creative cuisine featuring produce from fields, forests and meadows. To this end, they rely on local and regional produce and, since 2021, on a regional network as a purchasing group to minimise supply chains and transport distances and support local producers. And last but not least, the restaurants and establishments of Grimselwelt offer local spring water (still or sparkling) – with absolutely no transport involved.
Wengen
By voluntarily participating in the Energy Agency for Industry’s programme, the Wengen Classic Hotels are committed to actively reducing CO2 emissions and optimising energy efficiency. The target agreement is recognised by the federal government, the canton and industry partners.
Grindelwald
The B&B an der Egg is heated with wood pellets, thus avoiding the use of oil and gas. Breakfast includes many regional products, including those from ‘Eigermilch’.
The Derby Swiss Quality Hotel has rooms fitted with tap attachments that reduce water consumption. Bread, milk, etc. are sourced locally. All light bulbs are energy-saving.
The takeaway tableware is from Handelsgrün and plastic-free. In general, plastic is avoided wherever possible. Instead of Nutella, the hotel offers a palm oil-free chocolate spread. The dishwashing system and kitchen appliances have been upgraded to be environmentally friendly, including a regulated dishwashing detergent. A new carpet cleaning machine that operates sustainably supports the housekeeping team.
At the Hotel Glacier, head chef Marco Allemann has put together a menu featuring as many regional products as possible. Almost all dishes are based on homemade ingredients and are adapted to the seasons. Several dishes involve preparation steps such as fermentation, smoking or dry-aging. These processes often take more than a month. Only then can the kitchen team begin to work their magic. The Hotel Glacier achieved the highest Platinum level with the leading sustainability label Ibex Fairstay at the end of 2022.
The Parkhotel Schoenegg grows its own potatoes for its homemade ‘Schoenegg Pommes Chips’. It produces its own compost to recycle most of its kitchen waste (used as fertiliser for the potatoes). Cultivation of peppermint (for Hugo, tea, decorative dishes, desserts, etc.). Cultivation of onions. Heat recovery from the refrigeration systems. Connection to the Grindelwald district heating network.
The Hotel Belvedere is one of three hotels in Switzerland to have achieved Platinum status with the IBEX sustainability label. It actively offers its guests the option of making their stay at the hotel carbon-neutral. This is thanks to a partnership with “my climate” and “cause we care”. The Belvedere is the first family-run hotel in the canton of Bern to collaborate with “my climate”. In addition, a hybrid car has been purchased to collect guests from the station and return them there after check-out, all using electric power. During their stay, guests have the option of using the air-cooling system in their room, which functions like an air-conditioning system but is cooled by groundwater and therefore does not consume large amounts of electricity. The hotel’s electricity comes 100 per cent from hydropower. In addition, a heat pump has been connected to the air-cooling system, which produces hot water for the indoor swimming pool. The Hotel Belvedere is heated using wood-fired heating from Grindelwald. Through regular refurbishment work at the hotel, insulation is being improved throughout and triple-glazed windows are being installed, ensuring that heat stays inside the hotel in winter and outside in summer.
The Jungfrau Lodge is part of the HGW network and heats the hotel using wood-fired heating from Grindelwald.
For years, Swiss Youth Hostels – and therefore also the Grindelwald Youth Hostel – have been committed to active sustainability in partnership with the IBEX label. The new food concept highlights vegetarian and vegan cuisine; meat is now only available as an option. For years, guests have voluntarily paid a compensation fee of 30 centimes. This money is used to finance sustainable buildings and equipment (e.g. solar panels) for Swiss Youth Hostels. The Grindelwald Youth Hostel already has a solar panel system on the roof, its own spring and a large garden.
Haslital
Since the 2021 summer season, the Oberaarbahn – the longest industrial railway in the Grimsel region – has been authorised to transport guests from the hospice to Lake Oberaar. This means that the Oberaar area is now also accessible by public transport, and a shift from road traffic on the Oberaarstrasse to rail travel has already been observed in the first year.
Grindelwald
With the Fly-Line, built in 2019 on the Pfingstegg, the water supply in the Pfingstegg catchment area has also been made more environmentally friendly. The storage capacity for mountain spring water has been increased, and the flushing systems for all toilets have since been supplied with rainwater. The rainwater is collected at the mountain station and stored in a 50 m³ tank. From there, it is distributed to the sanitary facilities via a pumping system.
Haslital
Wollreich Haslital processes its own sheep’s wool into various products, such as fillings for sleeping pillows, nursing and positioning rings, comforters, and fleece for duvets and mattress toppers. Furthermore, through summer grazing on various alpine pastures, Wollreich Haslital contributes to the sustainable development of flora and fauna.
The Aareschlucht is committed to sustainable tourism: through combined public transport offers, the promotion of biodiversity, the use of regional timber (processed at the Schwarzwaldalp sawmill), employing local staff and supporting regional artists. The Aareschlucht has also achieved Level 1 certification from Swisstainable.
The Grimsel cantonal nature reserve, the flora and fauna, and the ecological services provided by Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG (KWO) are highlighted on all power station tours organised by Grimselwelt, so that visitors are made aware of the importance of conservation and KWO’s commitment in these areas. For school groups, KWO offers free tours at the Innertkirchen I power station throughout the year to promote an understanding of renewable energy and the process ‘behind the socket’. KWO provides financial support for public transport in the region to ensure that the service remains attractive to locals, visitors and its own employees alike, and remains a genuine alternative to travelling by private car. As a hydropower producer, KWO also acts as a role model in the expansion of e-mobility infrastructure. The range of e-vehicle charging stations is being continuously expanded. Last but not least, Grimselwelt is part of the regional network for cross-sector cooperation between the hotel and catering industries and other sectors. This is aimed at strengthening the regional economy by promoting sustainable cooperation.
Grindelwald
OUTDOOR Switzerland AG strives to run all its activities as climate-friendly as possible and to optimise its internal processes accordingly.
Reduce – Reuse – Restore, less plastic, less waste, less CO2: that is the motto of the Bus Stop Bar. Drinks are served in glasses; very little is bought new; instead, whatever is available is used. The bus was once rescued from the scrapyard; much of the décor is made from pallets; items are bought second-hand and reusable bottles are used. In general, the Bus Stop Bar uses natural and recyclable materials wherever possible and ensures that these are sorted correctly.
