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Staircase to Sustainability

Start your hostel's sustainability journey

Staircase to Sustainability has been designed to help you manage and coordinate your approach to sustainability, working towards certification and communicating your team's efforts to customers and other key stakeholders. This framework has been developed specifically for hostels, aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria. 

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Why join the Staircase to Sustainability?

Whether you've already taken steps to make your hostel more environmentally friendly, or you're just starting out, the Staircase to Sustainability framework will support your hostel, by:

  • Helping you review, compare, and communicate your sustainability efforts to customers and other stakeholders.
  • Storing your sustainability data in a centralised tool, enabling better measurement and analysis.
  • Making it easier to identify policy gaps and improvements, helping your team raise standards and ensure that sustainability efforts progress. 
  • Preparing your hostel for certification, gaining recognition for your sustainability practices.

How it works

You will measure your hostel's performance against criteria listed under the four pillars in the Staircase to Sustainability. The pillars are identical to the GSTC framework's pillars, but the criteria have been tailored specifically for the hostel industry, accounting for the unique sustainability advantages compared to other accommodation types. 
 
 

The four pillars:

  • Sustainable Management
  • Socio-economic Impacts
  • Cultural 
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  • Environmental Steward

The level you unlock will be determined by your submissions under each pillar.

Once you begin submitting your activity, you'll start working towards the different levels within the Staircase to Sustainability. Each time you achieve a new level you'll receive the corresponding badge, which means we can showcase your efforts to our environmentally conscious travel audience.

Sustainability - Level 1

Level 1

Your hostel has begun to introduce practices that result in positive social and environmental impact, grasping the fundamentals of the Staircase to Sustainability.

Sustainability - Level 2

Level 2

Your hostel has confirmed that they have implemented a sustainability strategy that will lead you to certification. You have committed to prioritising environmental, cultural and community best practices. Your hostel may also meet a Global Sustainable Tourism Council recognised standard.

Sustainability - Level 3

Level 3

Your hostel has implemented actions and is driving continuous improvements in its sustainability metrics outlined in a comprehensive sustainability strategy. The strategy and achievements ensure your hostel is  ready for certification by a Global Sustainable Tourism Council accredited certification body.

Sustainability - Level 4

Level 3+

Your hostel's sustainability strategy has been certified by a Global Sustainable Tourism Council accredited certification body. You are committed to improving the environment with industry-leading sustainability practices.

We hope you are ready to share all the great things your hostel is doing and work towards achieving a new level on the Staircase to Sustainability.