YHA achieves 50% ECO certification milestone

YHA Australia are proud to announce an important milstone in our journey towards a more sustainable future, with over 50% of our national network of YHA properties now certified by Ecotourism Australia.

YHA Sydney Central, YHA Cairns Central, YHA Thredbo, and YHA Newcastle Beach have now joined our growing list of eco-certified properties, with seven additional locations already achieving certification.

ECO certification requires an intensive auditing process, with properties assessed in over 200 criteria across sustainability, environmental, socio-economic, cultural, and responsible business practices. With each certified property, YHA is underlining our commitment to these principles as a leader in sustainable tourism.

Paul McGrath, CEO of YHA Australia: “Receiving Ecotourism Australia’s eco-certification to now 50% of our network is a reflection of our commitment to sustainability. It means travellers can make confident choices to stay in places that align with their values.”

“We’re proud of our progress and aim to offer recognisable, trusted options for envrionmentally-conscious guests who wish to travel responsibly nation-wide and reduce their impact on the places they visit.”

Elissa Keenan, CEO of Ecotourism Australia: “Affordable accommodation providers such as YHA play a critical role in making sustainable travel accessible to more people.  With 50% of their network now certified, it’s fantastic to see YHA leading by example and showing such commitment. Congratulations onto the team on reaching this exciting milestone, and we look forward to continuing to support YHA as they work towards certifying all 19 properties”.

Below are some of the recent major steps YHA has made towards its net zero goal:

Continued adoption of GreenPower & on-site renewable energy

As of 1 July, YHA Melbourne Central, YHA Grampians Eco, YHA Apollo Bay, YHA Newcastle Beach, YHA Port Elliot, YHA Pittwater Eco, YHA Coolangatta and our Head Office have joined the network of properties and locations now powered by 100% GreenPower, bringing the total network adoption to 22%. While electricity still comes from the grid, YHA’s GreenPower purchase ensures an equivalent amount of renewable energy is fed back into the system. 

Locations including YHA Sydney Harbour, YHA Byron Bay, and YHA Sydney Central are generating renewable energy on-site via solar panels, with any excess power returned to the grid.

Sustainability Measures

YHA properties also implement ongoing sustainability measures, including energy-efficient lighting and appliances, robust recycling and a waste reduction program which since 2024 has seen up to 305 mattresses and 412kg of textiles diverted from landfill through partnerships with Soft Landing and Upparel.

HVAC System Updates

Improvements are being made to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, along with a switch to solar hot water, renewable energy, and reverse-cycle air conditioning. Water-saving initiatives include grey-water recycling and a switch to sachet detergent, saving up to 1,000 litres of water per property per day.

In addition to the above, $5 from every first-time booking continues to go directly towards our Sustainable Properties Fund. The fund has received international recognition and is dedicated to helping reduce the environmental impact of YHA Australia’s through sustainability projects across our network.