3 Assign overall responsibility for environment protection to a key member of hostel staff

It is highly recommended for managers to look for like-minded partners and to include them in the process. However, staff are the key to putting an environment protection strategy into practice. Environment management will only be successful if everyone is motivated to work together. For that reason, staff must be included from the outset. For a large sized hostel, it is advisable to appoint somebody as environment officer or to set up an environment protection workgroup.

4 Purchase with the environment in mind

Making new purchases for a youth hostel presents numerous opportunities for environmentally sound practices. When purchases are being made, it is therefore a good idea to ensure that they can be recycled and that they do not contain any polluting substances. They should also be simple to use. When buying cookers and dishwashers, look for low energy and low water consumption. New refrigeration equipment should be well insulated and placed where waste heat can be fed back through a recovery system. It is advisable to install mixer taps for showers and hand wash basins, and low/double flush systems for WCs.

5 Inform yourself

Today there are many published guidelines, criteria lists of ecolabels and good practice examples. Experts at Youth Hostel Associations and information services on the Internet can provide latest know-how and contacts. Environmentally successful Youth Hostels are publishing their solutions and environmental performance on their own web sites and/ or on ECO-TIP, the European database with examples of good practise and Ecolabels in Tourism.

6 Inform and train your staff

New products, different methods and unfamiliar suppliers mean that staff need to be well-trained and well-informed. This particularly applies in respect of the reduction and disposal of waste, economical consumption of energy and water, and the careful use of cleaning agents.

7 Inform your guests

A youth hostel which opts for environmental principles is well advised to keep its guests informed and involved, maybe with published guidelines (in leaflets and displayed on how-to-use signs) explaining why you have taken certain measures and asking for visitor co-operation. The information can also include what you have already achieved, what your current actions are and your targets for the future. A statement of your personal commitment to good environmental practice will give your report communication greater credibility and individual appeal.

8 Motivate your guests to participate actively in their environmentally aware stay

It is also a good idea to provide guests with specific points on how they can help. Simple topics to cover are:

9 Publish your environmental success