stay affordable, sleep sustainable – Ø 3.58 kg CO2e per guest per night
World’s largest Hostel Chain - With 30,000 Beds
What is sustainability
to a&o Hostels?
“At a&o Hostels, we believe travel should be accessible to everyone. Travel educates, broadens horizons, and fosters multicultural understanding. Therefore, our slogan, ‘everyone can travel’, isn't just a tagline; it's our guiding philosophy.”
“Sustainability is significant to me personally. Not because it's trendy, but because it's crucial for economic success, preserving our livelihoods, and future generations.”
- Oliver Winter, CEO
stay affordable,
sleep sustainable – Ø 3.58 kg CO2e per guest per night
Interactive ESG Monitors
We have implemented our Interactive ESG Monitor in one of our a&o Hostels, providing interactive educational material on-site. Make sure to check it out during your stay at a&o Berlin Mitte!
Our carbon footprint per overnight stay
Our targets: photovoltaic systems at more hostels where feasible. Progress is published every year in our Sustainability Report.
From
5.8kg
CO2 in 2019
To
3.74 kg
CO2 in 2022
and further down to
3.58 kg
CO2 in 2025
Calculated to the GHG Protocol, Scopes 1 to 3.
Our Commitment to the
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Guided by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, , we prioritise six goals where our operations have the most leverage, selected in 2022 and reviewed annually. The measures behind each goal are described on this page. Our six priority SDGs are:
Clean Water and Sanitation
Affordable and Clean Energy
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Responsible Consumption and Production
Climate Action
a&o Hostels’ Embrace ESG Criteria
We are committed to environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria as part of our compliance concept.
E - EnvironmentIt's about how a company affects the planet, such as its use of resources, pollution levels and efforts to combat climate change, aiming to do business in a way that's kinder to the environment.
S - SocialThis is about how a company treats people - its employees, the communities it operates in, its customers and suppliers, looking at things like fair treatment, diversity, workers’ rights and involvement in local issues.
G - GovernanceGovernance is about how a company is run, like who's making decisions, how transparent they are, whether they're following the rules and if they're looking out for the interests of their shareholders
Environmental Initiatives
Energy Conservation
& Renewable Energy
Hostels and hotels consume a lot of energy for lighting, heating, cooling and appliances, leading to high carbon emissions.
a&o's Action:We’re committed to energy conservation and integrating renewable resources whenever feasible.
- Energy-efficient LED lighting
- Photovoltaic systems at 12 of our hostels
- 100 percent of the electricity we purchase for our European hostels is green electricity, backed by Guarantees of Origin.
- Continuously improving the energy efficiency of our buildings
- Energy performance certificates
Water Conservation:
A Core Commitment
Daily operations at a hostel/hotel, like laundry and cleaning, use a lot of water, impacting local water resources.
a&o's Action: Water conservation plays an integral part in our Hostels sustainability commitments.
- Water-efficient showerheads and flush systems
- Encouraging towel reuse
- Upholding water conservation in our housekeeping operations
- Cleaning with ecolabel certified products, where available
Responsible Sourcing
Hostel/hotel operations can affect local biodiversity, especially in sensitive areas.
a&o's Action: Our a&o Responsible Sourcing Policy, in place since 2022, sets the criteria for every supplier decision.
- Initiated a&o Responsible Sourcing Policy in 2022
- Suppliers are selected against defined environmental and social criteria; Tier 1 suppliers disclose their greenhouse gas emissions to us annually.
- We avoid tropical fruits and seafood in our standard breakfast range.
- ‘Wheel of Knowledge’ installed with information regarding the CO2 impact of the food we eat
- Installed green facades in selected hostels to enhance urban biodiversity and air quality
Waste Reduction and Recycling
The hospitality industry often generates a lot of waste, including food, packaging and disposable items.
a&o's Action: We have implemented measures to reduce packaging waste.
- Bulk dispensers replace single portion packaging in our breakfast buffets at all feasible properties
- Transitioned to bulk dispensers in our breakfast buffet
- Using soap dispensers instead of soap packs and eliminating plastic toothbrush cups
- Running the 'Bring Your Own Mug' campaign to reduce disposable cup use
- Collaborating with Recup.de to offer reusable cups
- Conserve resources with us: reuse towels, switch off lights and save water.
Green Mobility
Guest travel and supply deliveries can significantly increase carbon emissions.
a&o's Action: Our hostels sit next to major stations. Arriving by train is usually the lowest emission way to reach an a&o.
- As of 2025, 90 percent of our company car fleet is hybrid or fully electric.
- Offering bicycle rentals and electric vehicle charging stations
- Supporting employee commuting by public transport.
Social Initiatives
a&o educare
At a&o educare, our mission is clear: to make a positive impact on young minds through sustainability education. Founded by CEO Oliver Winter, we're dedicated to empowering the next generation through ‘ESD - Education for Sustainable Development’, in line with the UN's 17 Goals.
Sponsorships in Social, Science, Environment and Sports
Alongside our commercial pursuits, a&o takes pride in our social sponsorship efforts across Europe. Focused on sports, arts, environment, science, education and social welfare, we open our hostels to directly support these causes, aiming to enhance the cities we operate in.
Social
a&o Hostels provided SOS Children's Villages with 300 overnight stays/beds for children in need.
Science and the Environment
The Berlin Climate Schools promotes environmental awareness through school projects. a&o Hostels sponsors the online audience award, offering the winning class a 7-day (6-night) trip with breakfast.
Sports
Over 2000 overnight stays/beds were provided for FC Union Berlin, the DESG German Speed Skating and Short Track Association, Hachinohe Japan Juniors, FC Hansa Rostock, the youth partner of ALBA Berlin, Eisbären Juniors Berlin and ttc berlin eastside.
Governance Initiatives
a&o Policy Making
Our commitment to upholding ESG values is evident in our established policies. These can be viewed below:
a&o Code of Ethics
This policy guides employees on integrity and compliance while emphasising transparent and respectful relationships with customers and partners.
a&o Responsible Sourcing Policy
This policy outlines our commitment to socially responsible, environmentally sound and ethically sound purchasing practices, emphasising collaboration with suppliers to uphold these values throughout our supply chain.
Declaration of Principles on Human Rights
This policy addresses human rights risks within operations and across supply chains, with ongoing risk assessments across operations and supply chains.
Role of Our ESG Task Force
At the heart of our sustainability commitment is the ESG Task Force, a dynamic assembly of employees united by a shared vision to integrate ESG principles into our company's DNA. This passionate collective drives positive change, fostering a collaborative environment where innovation and sustainability flourish. Through regular meetings, the team delves into current initiatives, welcomes fresh ideas and keeps our environmental responsibilities in view at every level.
HR Training
We prioritise continuous learning and personal development to enrich our staff's knowledge, refine their skills and amplify their abilities. This commitment empowers them to confidently navigate business challenges and fosters their professional growth, enabling peak performance and meaningful contributions.
Our training programs cultivate well-rounded individuals by enhancing both personal and professional skills, including soft skills, leadership, conflict resolution and time management. They serve as a strategic investment in employee development, driving enduring success by empowering individuals to excel and fostering efficiency, innovation and long term growth. Explore further on our a&o career portal.
Diversity
One of our values is diversity, which means we welcome all types of guests into a&o Hostels. For employees, we are always open for everyone to join our team as it does not matter which origin, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, physical and mental abilities or socio-economic background you are. We embrace these unique qualities, weaving them into the colourful tapestry of experiences that define our a&o Hostels community as we have international employees in all our hostels as well as our headquarters.
Make memories affordable. Everyone can travel – everywhere.
Our mission
By making travel affordable, we bring people together in places where everyone feels welcome.
Through a friendly atmosphere, reliable operations, consistent quality standards, and a clear commitment to sustainability, we create hospitality that feels authentic. By giving well-connected buildings second life and acting as responsible stewards of our network, we grow reliably and responsibly.
Our values
Hospitality
We welcome everyone and value diversity, treating guests and colleagues with empathy and respect.
Ownership
We make clear and thoughtful decisions while taking responsibility for their outcomes, incorporating relevant perspectives across teams and levels.
Curiosity
We stay curious and open-minded, and continuously improve experiences, products, and processes – where they add real value, also with technology-driven solutions.
Impact
We focus on what truly matters, acting responsibly to create positive impact for people, places, and the planet.
Trust
We build trust through consistency, transparency, and a safe environment. Safety and security are fundamental and non-negotiable.
Sustainability Speaks
Sustainability Report
We have published the a&o Sustainability Report 2025, covering 1 January to 31 December 2025. It is oriented on internationally recognised reporting standards and uses acknowledged methods for data collection - such as the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol. Read the full report to explore our approach across environment, social and governance, including the targets we hit, the targets we revised and why.
GHG Protocol
The GHG Protocol established a global standardised framework for measuring greenhouse gas emissions from both private and public sector operations, including value chains and mitigation actions to address climate change effectively.
Scope 1, 2, 3
Scope 1 emissions…
… are direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources owned or controlled by an organisation, such as fuel combustion and industrial processes.
Scope 2 emissions…
… are indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with the generation of electricity, heat, or steam that an organisation purchases or consumes, typically from utilities or other external sources.
Scope 3 emissions…
… encompass all indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in the value chain of an organisation, including both upstream and downstream activities such as purchased goods and services, transportation, waste disposal and product use.
Awards, Certifications
& Partnerships
Independent assessments of our work. In 2025 we received the German Award for Sustainability Projects (Corporate Strategy) and the A World for Travel Societal Development Award.
GreenSign
Since 2019 we have had a&o properties certified under GreenSign Hotel, a voluntary certification under private law whose standard is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Certification is awarded per property after an on site audit against the GreenSign criteria catalogue.
Sustainable Fitch
In 2026 Sustainable Fitch reaffirmed our ESG Entity Rating at 2 on its scale of 1 (excellent) to 5 (poor), for the third consecutive year. The rating indicates good overall alignment with ESG principles.
Veolia
We partner with Veolia at select a&o Hostel locations. Collaborating with leading waste management organisations like Veolia, we work with Veolia on waste separation and recycling at these properties.
Join Us in Our
Sustainability Journey
We value your input. Whether you have suggestions to improve our initiatives, feedback on our approach, or a story from your own travels: every perspective helps us improve. Tell us what we should do better.
