The DJH-Rhineland publishes its declaration on the German Sustainability Code

The youth hostels in the Rhineland are leading the way: as the first regional association of the German Youth Hostel Association, the Rhineland regional association has produced a comprehensive sustainability report - in accordance with the criteria of the German Sustainability Code (DNK). This code is a cross-industry standard for sustainability reporting in Germany and was developed by the German Council for Sustainable Development on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The aim is to make the sustainability performance and efforts of companies and organisations visible, transparent and comparable.

The DNK Declaration 2023 of the DJH Rhineland regional association was successfully published in 2025. It was created under the leadership of the management with the support of a corporate consultancy and documents how sustainability is practised in the 32 youth hostels in the Rhineland, from strategy to practical implementation.

Why a sustainability report?

Protecting nature and conserving resources are voluntary commitments that have been enshrined in the statutes of the DJH Rhineland regional association for over 100 years and guide its actions. From now on, its commitment will be mapped in a structured way on the DNK platform and communicated clearly and comprehensibly.

Sustainability as a strategic goal

Since 2023, the DJH Rhineland Regional Association has been pursuing a comprehensive sustainability strategy as a fundamental objective of the association. This strategy is continued year after year in a derived process. Continuous data collection creates the basis for this and makes future developments measurable. All further strategic and operational measures within the organisation are aligned with this. The Sustainability Code report categorises the areas of business activity that are particularly closely linked to sustainability into three areas:

• Ecological sustainabilityConservation of resources, expansion of renewable energies, sustainable procurement.
• Social sustainability: Offers for inclusion, education, equal opportunities and the promotion of mutual understanding.
• Economic sustainabilityPrice-performance ratio of the offers, quality management, fair treatment of partners and guests.

On this basis, the association has created an overview that highlights both the impact of its own work on the environment and society and the influence of sustainability issues on the youth hostels. The topics were also assigned to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• High-quality education (SDG 4)
• Climate protection measures (SDG 13)
• Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16)

Sustainability in practice: examples from the field

• Photovoltaics: The first solar systems were installed in 2023, followed by others in 2024.
• Kitchen & CateringNo plastic bags for packed lunches, reduction of food waste, more vegetarian options.
• Educational programmesMore and more school trip programmes are being certified with the ESD seal (Education for Sustainable Development).
• Resource management: Electricity and waste consumption have been systematically recorded since 2023, and water and energy consumption from 2024.

Responsibility and participation: Everyone is needed

Sustainability is teamwork at the youth hostels: all employees are involved in the processes. A code of conduct, which is currently in the process of being adopted, is intended to anchor sustainability in everyday working life. Stakeholder groups such as members, guests and suppliers are specifically addressed in order to incorporate their perspectives.

Transparency: A report as a starting point

Conclusion: Sustainability report as an important sign

With its first sustainability report, the DJH Rhineland regional association is positioning itself as an organisation that assumes ecological responsibility, acts sustainably and actively contributes to environmental protection. At the same time, it creates spaces for diversity, inclusion, encounters and lively interaction. In this way, the youth hostels in the Rhineland are sending an important signal for active social participation, true to the motto: sustainable management - meaningful action. online in the DNK database.