Label Finder

The ‘Aargau isch fein’ quality mark promotes collaboration between the catering industry and the agricultural sector. Catering establishments in Aargau that make a conscious effort to use and serve Aargau produce are awarded the ‘Aargau isch fein’ quality mark. Direct sales to nearby restaurants spare farms the need for long delivery routes and middlemen. With fresh produce straight from the farm, catering businesses can set themselves apart with regional and seasonal specialities.

The EFQM Model is a globally recognised management model that helps companies and organisations to improve and further develop their performance and competitiveness, and to manage change. The model demonstrates how an organisation creates sustainability in terms of value creation for its relevant stakeholders and achieves outstanding results.

The EFQM model is a globally recognised management model that helps companies and organisations to improve and further develop their performance and competitiveness, and to manage change. The model demonstrates how an organisation creates sustainability in terms of value creation for its relevant stakeholders and achieves outstanding results.

alpinavera is an inter-cantonal organisation dedicated to promoting the sale of certified regional products. Catering establishments can obtain certification and use the relevant regional brand alongside the national ‘regio.garantie’ quality mark. This is subject to compliance with the criteria regarding the regional origin of the products and the provision of regional food and drink. Compliance with these requirements is regularly checked by independent inspection and certification bodies.

Being awarded the Biosfera Partner Business label specifically strengthens the regional economy in the valley through effective networking and the businesses’ focus on sustainability. Nature Park partner businesses stand for regional character, environmental awareness and quality. They are expert ambassadors for the Nature Park and work alongside it to promote sustainability in the region.

This initiative by the Alpine Clubs recognises small mountain villages offering nature-based tourism. ‘Mountaineering Villages’ provide their guests with a wide range of nature-based mountain sports activities in unspoilt landscapes. A careful approach to the mountain environment and the creation of regional value play a central role. ‘Mountaineering Villages’ partners bring this philosophy to life for guests. They strengthen regional value chains – for example, by using local produce – promote cooperation within the village, and place great importance on resource-efficient management and providing expert advice to guests.

The Bio Suisse ‘Bud Label’ is known as ‘Bio Cuisine’ in the catering sector. With Bio Cuisine, guests can quickly see how much Sustainability they can expect on their plate. Behind this lies a simple model that is tailored to the circumstances and needs of guests. Bio Cuisine has a three-tier structure and recognises the proportion of organic and Bud-labelled products used in the establishment. It is based on the purchase value of food and drink.

Biosphere partners can be individuals or organisations. Through their products and services, they embody the values of the UNESCO Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve. Their sustainability helps the Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve to achieve its vision and objectives. During the on-site consultation, the partner analyses its sustainability. Based on this, three projects or measures are defined, which will be implemented over the next four years as part of the partnership agreement. After four years, the on-site consultation is repeated, the situation is analysed afresh, and new projects are defined.

The Blue Swallow award is based on a self-assessment carried out by the business. This is verified by telephone, on the basis of documentation and, where possible, on site. The requirements include, in particular, meeting minimum criteria.

The ‘Carbon Fri’ and ‘Carbone Genève’ labels are awarded to companies in Fribourg and Geneva respectively that are committed to reducing their CO₂ emissions and to investing in the foundation set up for this purpose for every tonne of CO₂ emitted. The contributions are channelled back into the local economy by supporting local projects that are aligned with the foundation’s purpose and are not eligible for funding from existing grant schemes.

myClimate ‘Cause We Care’ is the initiative for climate action and sustainability in the tourism sector in Switzerland. Together, businesses in the tourism sector, associations and private individuals are actively committed to climate action. Through myClimate ‘Cause We Care’, tourism businesses calculate their carbon footprint and fund internal sustainability measures. At the same time, employees and guests can be involved in the journey towards Net zero.

As part of MYBLUEPLANET’s ClimateActions 4 Companies programme, tourism businesses are implementing specific climate protection measures (Climate Actions) on their journey towards Net zero. They receive comprehensive support, ranging from the analysis and planning of Climate Actions through to their implementation and monitoring of results, as well as with communication and the involvement of employees. Employees are directly involved, motivated and made aware of the issues, thereby actively contributing to climate action.

Various specialist organisations assist companies in drawing up a carbon footprint in accordance with recognised standards, as well as in reducing and offsetting emissions, and certify the company’s results with a certificate. Providers include, for example, Carbo, Energie Concept SA, Enerprice AG, Positive Organizations and South Pole.

The Culinarium label is based on the criteria of regio.garantie, the national label for regional products. Businesses in Eastern Switzerland may apply for the label. It is a product label and is recognised when the entire catering establishment is certified. To qualify, the regio.garantie criteria regarding regional origin and the provision of appropriate dishes must be met. Compliance is regularly verified through inspections. The criteria are set out in the industry-specific guidelines issued by regio.garantie for the catering sector and for communal catering respectively.

EarthCheck Certified is an environmental certification and benchmarking programme for the travel and tourism sector. The programme comprises both benchmarking and certification. Certification is granted following a quantitative assessment of environmental and social performance against baseline and sector benchmarks. An independent audit confirms compliance with EarthCheck standards.

The EcoCook certification is a sustainability certification for businesses in the HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, catering and cafés), with different levels of requirements and accreditation. The certification criteria cover all aspects of the organisation and are divided into eight sections. The certification programme enables participating organisations to improve their practices, reduce their environmental and social impact, cut costs and stand out from the competition.

The EcoCook certification is a sustainability certification for businesses in the HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, catering and cafés), with different levels of requirements and accreditation. The certification criteria cover all aspects of the organisation and are divided into eight chapters. The certification programme enables participating organisations to improve their practices, reduce their environmental and social impact, cut costs and stand out from the crowd.

The EcoCook certification is a sustainability certification for businesses in the HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, catering and cafés), with different levels of requirements and accreditation. The certification criteria cover all aspects of the organisation and are divided into eight chapters. The certification programme enables participating organisations to improve their working practices, reduce their environmental and social impact, cut costs and stand out from the competition.

esg2go is a rating and reporting system developed on the basis of practical experience in the SME industry. It offers a clear, fair scoring system, tailored to the industry and company size, across the three dimensions of sustainability. For the Swiss accommodation industry, esg2go has been further developed in collaboration with HotellerieSuisse and supplemented with industry-specific indicators. This industry solution enables businesses to carry out a thorough self-assessment, makes their sustainability performance measurable and comparable, and identifies specific areas for improvement. It takes both financial and non-financial data into account and consolidates the results in a rating report.

The Fait Maison label recognises restaurants that prepare their dishes entirely or for the most part in their own kitchens and largely avoid using ready-to-cook products and ready meals. The requirements include signing a charter, displaying the relevant labelling on the menu, and undergoing an initial inspection by the label organisation.

Food Save Management is an approach to reducing food waste based on established environmental management methods. Participating businesses reduce their food waste through targeted measures. To this end, they analyse and measure their food waste and continuously improve their processes. Over the course of the one-year project, the businesses assess the current state of their food waste, develop individual recommendations in a workshop supported by experts, implement reduction measures and carry out a performance review after one year. The effectiveness of the measures taken is analysed and evaluated with the business and the experts in a second workshop, based on the outcome assessment.

Target agreements with the Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) and/or the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) are a means of improving energy efficiency and/or reducing CO₂ emissions. The conclusion and fulfilment of a target agreement are one of the prerequisites for the reduction obligation (CO₂ levy exemption) and/or the reimbursement of the network surcharge (RNZ). Energy consultancy agencies such as Cleantech Agency Switzerland (act) or the Energy Agency for Industry (EnAW), which are accredited by the federal government, support companies in analysing potential savings and agreeing on specific, ambitious targets. Voluntary target agreements are recognised as proof of sustainability in combination for Level II.

The Good Travel Seal is the certification programme for all types of tourism businesses run by Green Destinations, one of the largest international networks for sustainability in tourism and a GSTC-accredited certification organisation for destinations. The programme particularly supports SMEs and micro-enterprises in their ongoing development towards greater Sustainability. Businesses implement the programme either independently or with the support of a specialist. The audit is carried out by an independent audit body.

The Good Travel Seal is the certification programme for all types of tourism businesses run by Green Destinations, one of the largest international networks for sustainability in tourism and a GSTC-accredited certification organisation for destinations. The programme particularly supports SMEs and micro-enterprises in their ongoing development towards greater Sustainability. Businesses implement the programme either independently or with the support of an expert. The audit is carried out by an independent audit body.

The Good Travel Seal is the certification programme for all types of tourism businesses run by Green Destinations, one of the largest international networks for sustainability in tourism and a GSTC-accredited certification body for destinations. The programme particularly supports SMEs and micro-enterprises in their ongoing development towards greater Sustainability. Businesses implement the programme either independently or with the support of a specialist. The audit is carried out by an independent audit body.

Green Globe is an international certification scheme with a quality mark for the travel and tourism industry, comprising three levels of accreditation depending on the fulfilment of criteria and the number of years of membership: Certified Member, Gold Member, Platinum Member. To be certified as a ‘Certified Member’, a company must meet every criterion and achieve a score of at least 51 per cent across the relevant indicators. To retain certification, the organisation must improve its performance each year. Assessment is carried out through an independent on-site audit and document reviews.

Green Key is a voluntary environmental certification programme and the leading standard for excellence in environmental responsibility and sustainability within the tourism sector. The high sustainability standards expected of Green Key-certified establishments are ensured through a comprehensive set of criteria, transparent documentation, regular on-site audits and third-party verification. Green Key is aimed at accommodation companies, campsites, holiday parks, conference centres, restaurants and attractions. The Green Key programme is administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and its national member organisations.

Green Pearls is a communication and information platform that raises the profile of accommodation companies that meet certain criteria. The membership criteria cover the areas of management, architecture, flora and fauna, water consumption, energy consumption, waste management, housekeeping, food, employees, social projects, culture and communication.

The GreenSign hotel certification represents an integrated assessment system that evaluates and documents the environmental, social and economic aspects of hotel management across more than 130 criteria in 10 key areas. The hotel completes an online assessment tool detailing its current status. The information is first reviewed by GreenSign experts. Subsequently, all details are verified on-site. Once the assessment is complete, the level of compliance with the GreenSign criteria is determined. The certification is valid for three years. An interim audit may be carried out in each of the two years following certification. This is based on an action plan drawn up individually by the hotel at the start of the certification process.

ibex fairstay supports businesses on their journey towards sustainability. It recognises accommodation and catering businesses that demonstrate an above-average commitment to sustainability. This comprehensive support covers five key areas: management, ecology, regional focus, social responsibility, and finance & performance. A catalogue of measures, together with supporting calculations and analyses, is used to identify specific opportunities for improvement. Businesses are awarded different rating levels depending on their sustainability performance.

The ISO 9001:2015 standard sets out the requirements for a comprehensive organisational quality management system. The standard is aimed at organisations that wish to reliably provide products and services. It takes into account customer requirements as well as legal and regulatory requirements. All requirements are generic and applicable to any organisation.

The international environmental management standard ISO 14001 sets out globally recognised requirements for an environmental management system. The standard also requires organisations to take into account external issues relevant to the organisation in question and its stakeholders. The standard helps organisations to systematically manage their environmental responsibilities in a way that contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability. Organisations must meet all the requirements of the standard, document the relevant processes and have them verified by an external body.

The ISO 9001 standard sets out the requirements for a comprehensive organisational quality management system. The standard is aimed at organisations that wish to reliably provide products and services. It takes into account customer requirements as well as legal and regulatory requirements. All requirements are generic and applicable to any organisation. Certification to ISO 14001 supplements ISO 9001 with requirements for environmental management. Both standards are audited on-site by independent audit bodies. When combined, this certification is recognised for the Swisstainable programme.

‘Commitment to excellence’ supports Valais-based companies that are driving forward their sustainability in economic, social and environmental terms. The Valais brand is awarded to businesses on the basis of a self-assessment, defined improvement measures and an external audit. Certification is available to all companies and organisations of all sizes and across all industries that are based in the canton of Valais. This new procedure offers a more accessible alternative to the Valais Excellence label.

The OK:GO initiative was launched in 2019 by the Association for Accessible Switzerland (FVBS). It supports tourism businesses in publishing objective information on the accessibility of their services. The OK:GO initiative is aimed at the entire tourism sector: accommodation, catering, arts and culture, and transport. Participation involves recording and publishing information on the accessibility of tourism services using the Ginto app. The information is recorded either by the businesses themselves or by specialists from Pro Infirmis.

Any tourism business located within a Swiss park that has a validated partner programme in accordance with the national framework of the Swiss Parks Network can become a ‘Partner of Swiss Parks’. To obtain the ‘Partner of Swiss Parks’ accreditation, tourism businesses carry out a self-assessment using a criteria matrix and then discuss the results with an adviser in order to identify areas for improvement.

The EFQM model is a globally recognised management model that helps companies and organisations to improve and further develop their performance and competitiveness, and to manage change. The model demonstrates how an organisation can create sustainability in terms of value creation for its relevant stakeholders and achieve outstanding results.

regio.garantie Romandie is the umbrella organisation for the regional labels in Romandie. Award-winning catering establishments must offer a certain number of regional dishes and drinks. The following regional labels are recognised by Swisstainable: Ambassadeur du terroir genevois, La Bonne Adresse Terroir Juraregion, Neuchâtel Vins & Terroir, Saveurs du Valais and Restaurant agréé Terroir Fribourg.

The Claire & George Foundation – Accessible Holidays in Switzerland is an operational non-profit foundation. It arranges personalised holidays with support and respite services tailored to individual needs. It acts as an intermediary and promotes accessible holiday options between accommodation companies, guests and care and assistance services. Participating partner establishments are promoted on various platforms using detailed information on accessibility.

Synesgy assesses the sustainability performance of SMEs and provides an ESG score, recommendations for action and an industry benchmark. The integrated CO₂ calculator, which complies with the GHG Protocol, supports organisations on their journey towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The certificate is available internationally and is aimed at SMEs as well as large enterprises. The methodology complies with international Sustainability standards. Synesgy is GRI-licensed, and the certificate is issued by CRIF Ratings – ensuring greater transparency, comparability and sustainable development.

Travelife Gold Certification is an international certification scheme that helps businesses improve their social, environmental and economic performance. Based on the 163 criteria of the Travelife standard, the business carries out a self-assessment. This is then verified through external audits. Travelife members have access to a range of resources to help them meet the individual criteria.

Ticino a Tavola is an initiative of the Canton of Ticino. The initiative recognises restaurants that use Ticino produce (taking into account its characteristics and philosophy). Ticino a Tavola promotes appreciation for the regional produce that forms part of the Canton of Ticino’s agricultural heritage. The initiative is managed and co-ordinated by GastroTicino. Through collaboration with producers and wholesalers, it promotes awareness of and the use of traditional local produce in the catering sector.

The Valais Excellence label recognises companies that are managed in accordance with the principles of sustainability and continuous improvement. The label is based on certification to ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management). Certification is available to all companies and organisations of all sizes and across all industries that are based in the canton of Valais.

The VAUD AMBASSADEUR label recognises companies and organisations in the canton of Vaud that meet 23 defined criteria. The label is awarded by a specialist firm which carries out an audit based on sustainability criteria. The VAUD AMBASSADEUR label has four objectives: to raise the profile of the canton of Vaud, to promote economic and Sustainability, to optimise the effectiveness of innovative synergies, and to foster exchange and cooperation.

The simplified sustainability report produced by the Chamber of Commerce of the Canton of Ticino helps companies to systematically record and present their performance in the environmental, economic and social spheres. The tool was developed in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) and helps companies communicate their sustainability activities transparently to customers, employees, business partners and other stakeholders.

Under this scheme, catering establishments do not stock branded bottled water, serve only still or sparkling tap water, and donate at least 10 per cent of their total water turnover to the ‘Wasser für Wasser’ project in Zambia and Mozambique. Avoiding branded bottled water protects the environment, saves space, reduces administrative effort and cuts operating costs.

‘Wasser für Wasser GREEN HOTEL’ is a scheme under which accommodation companies avoid selling branded bottled water wherever it is sensible and feasible to do so. The minimum requirement is that tap water is provided in the hotel’s own catering facilities and in the hotel rooms. At least 10 per cent of total water sales and a flat-rate contribution per overnight stay are donated to the ‘Water for Water’ project in Zambia and Mozambique. Doing away with branded bottled water protects the environment, saves space, reduces administrative effort and cuts operational costs.

100% Valposchiavo aims to promote the sustainability of the entire Valposchiavo region. The label is awarded by the tourism organization Poschiavo Turismo to products that originate entirely from the region, or to businesses that, by signing the charter, agree to comply with the conditions set out therein. Participating businesses submit a self-declaration once a year detailing the quantities of 100% Valposchiavo-certified products they have purchased. An audit is carried out by an independent body every three years.