Audit process Austrian Eco-Label

The Seefeld region has completed the auditing process for the Austrian Environmental Seal for Tourism Destinations last week, making it the first destination in Austria to do so. The successful audit marks another important milestone on its way to becoming a sustainable region. Now, Tyrol's high plateau is eagerly awaiting to be certified as the likely first region with the Austrian Environmental Seal for Tourism Destinations.

The tourism association led the application process for the Austrian Environmental Seal. Managing Director Elias Walser recognized early on which path to take: "We can wait endlessly for things to change. Or we can start in our own environment and create a living space where we live sustainably. We chose the second approach." Thus, in 2020 a Green Deal was made with Tyrol, the "Truly Sustainable" strategy was developed, and full commitment was ensured with Raphael Chrysochoidis as the habitat and sustainability coordinator at the TVB. The two audit days on-site were intensively prepared for over a year by Chrysochoidis, with 119 criteria being addressed and a comprehensive program created. Together with representatives from regional communities, the TVB board, Tyrol Werbung, and regional stakeholders, the two external auditors, Mag. Johann Madreiter and Prof. Dr. Christian Baumgartner, as well as Otto Fichtl, who is responsible for the environmental seal at the Association for Consumer Information (VKI), were shown around the region to convey its commitment to becoming a sustainable destination, including at the regional train station in Seefeld, at the organic farm Wirtseppelerhof in Leutasch, and in the Karwendel Nature Park in Scharnitz. This was followed by many questions and, of course, checking the necessary documents. "It was two exciting and intensive days, which were especially successful thanks to the great commitment of our partners and employees," summarizes Raphael Chrysochoidis the audit adventure.

The certification with the Austrian Environmental Seal is a major concern for the Seefeld region, aiming to permanently maintain and continuously improve the good environmental situation on Tyrol's high plateau, while also achieving a quality increase in the service structure. "You can really feel that sustainability is truly lived here," noted examiner Christian Baumgartner, who observed the region’s convinced attitude. This delighted Chrysochoidis and the entire team greatly and motivates them significantly for the further goals. The environmental seal obliges its applicants and holders to regularly collect honest data based on a strict criteria catalog, as well as to anchor goals, visions, and measures in a long-term regional strategy and evaluate them annually. It is recognized as a certificate to make sustainable actions tangible and measurable and to create sustainable awareness.

Currently, two establishments in the Seefeld region are also in the audit process – the Nature Hotel "aufatmen" and the BIO Hotel "Leutascherhof". They belong to the group of Plateau Pioneers, which includes eight trailblazers in matters of sustainability and environmental protection. More information can be found at: https://www.seefeld.com/en/truly-sustainable.html