Environmental Initiative

Zermatt Resort’s Sustainability Plan is a dynamic roadmap to lay out the measures necessary to reach sustainability by 2013.  Overall, we are working to build awareness and integrate new initiatives and strategies to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Our measurements are conditioned upon a baseline report completed by the Environmental Performance Group in 2007.

We have appointed a “Green Team” to adopt, implement and monitor sustainable practices. We have identified 6 functional areas of focus within our operation - Energy, Food, Landscape, Transportation, Housekeeping and Waste.  We center on each of these areas with detailed goals and objectives for the short term (1 year) and long term (5 years).

Zermatt Resort’s Demonstration of Environmental Progress and Achievement

Meeting planners for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency include 14 questions designed to gauge a property's environmental awareness when sourcing RFP’s for meetings and conferences. Currently, the EPA is working on creating minimum environmental standards for conference hotels and resorts. Following you will find Zermatt Resort’s response to the EPA’s 14 questions.

(1) Do you have a recycling program?

Zermatt Resort is committed to reduce, reuse and/or recycle waste generated by our operation. We recycle every substance possible including paper, cardboard, plastics, bottles and cans. Additionally, color coded recycling bags are located in guestroom closets. Blue bags are designated for paper and cardboard. Green bags are designated for aluminum, glass and plastic.

(2) Do you have a linen/towel removal option that is communicated to guests?

Zermatt Resort’s housekeepers strictly abide by our linen and towel reuse program. Guest options for reusing/washing linens and towels – The program encourages changing bed linens every third day during a stay. To have linens changed more often, guests are instructed to place a designated card on their pillow. Towels left hanging on the bathroom rack will be folded for additional use. Towels left elsewhere will be replaced with fresh ones.

(3) Do guests have easy access to public transportation or a shuttle service?

Zermatt Resort recommends the use of a preferred transportation company that has an emissions reduction program and groups passengers for maximizing load capacities for airport transfers. Also, Zermatt operates shuttle service to local attractions based on availability of vehicle capacities on a first-come first-served basis.

Additionally, a no idling policy is in affect, which prohibits limousines, taxi cabs, buses, delivery trucks and employees from idling on property.

(4) Are lights and air conditioning turned off when rooms are not in use? 

Zermatt Resort minimizes use of daytime lighting in well lit public spaces. Additionally, heating and air conditioning units are adjusted daily in unoccupied guestrooms and function facilities. Temperature controls are monitored to a standard minimum set point of heating at 68° and cooling at 74°.

(5) Do you provide bulk dispensers or reusable containers for beverages, food and condiments?

Zermatt Resort provides meeting planners with the option of replacing bottled water for water pitchers and bulk coolers. Additionally, our break and buffet stations provide guests with bulk beverage, dry goods and condiment options.
Also, the Spa and Wellness Center offers bulk dispensers for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mouth wash and body lotion.

(6) Do you provide reusable serving utensils, napkins and tablecloths when food and beverages are served?

Zermatt’s catering department is providing china and linen service options to replace one use products. “To Go” orders are provided with biodegradable cornstarch-based disposable utensils and containers.

(7) Do you have an energy efficient program? 

Zermatt Resort has implemented a property-wide replacement of incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs whenever/wherever feasible and has reduced lighting fixtures where adequate lighting exists.

All storage facilities have lighting timers, public rest rooms have occupancy sensors and outdoor lighting is adjusted weekly to maximize energy efficiency by adapting to daylight hours. Additionally, administrative office HVAC system is managed to standard minimum set points of heating at 68° and cooling at 74° and overhead lighting fixtures are shut down during unoccupied periods.

Purchases of replacement industrial equipment and appliances are mandated to comply with highest quality rating energy efficient models available such as “EnergyStar” or applicable equivalent.

(8) Do you have a water conservation program?

Property-wide toilets are low volume 1.6 gallons per flush and shower heads are low flow 2.5 gallons per minute. Landscape irrigation is timed and adjusted accordingly to natural rain volume and is operated only during non-daylight hours to minimize evaporation.

(9) Does your hotel provide guests with paperless check-in and checkout?

Zermatt Resort’s check in process requires an inked signature to be on file for compliance of Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Private Club licensing and regulation of credit card authorization. Check out process is compliant with mandated AAA Four-Diamond criteria, which requires printed guest room folios be presented to every guest.

(10) Does your facility use recycled or recyclable products?

Zermatt Resort has implemented a comprehensive Environmental Purchasing Policy that states all products contain recycled material, recyclable material or both and when available products must contain a minimum of 30% post consumer recycled materials.
Also, our culinary team is composting food waste and using biodegradable container. Additionally, in both new construction and renovations to our existing facilities, we are utilizing environmentally-responsible building materials whenever possible.

(11) Do you source food from local growers or take into account the growing practices of farmers that provide the food?

Zermatt Resort has implemented a comprehensive Environmental Purchasing Policy that procures food from local growers whenever possible. Additionally, we purchase only green friendly foods and our beef and poultry purchases are strictly selected by organic feeding practices.

Also, our landscaping and culinary teams have partnered to harvest on-site gardens producing vegetables and herbs.

(12) Do you use bio-based or biodegradable products, including bio-based cafeteria ware?

Corn-starch based biodegradable utensils and cups are used in Zermatt’s employee cafeteria and for all “To Go” orders. Property-wide cleaning supplies are 100% biodegradable supplied by Proctor & Gamble and Formula One.

(13) Do you train your employees on green initiatives? 

Global concept environmental initiatives are introduced at new hire orientation and then monthly standardized training is implemented by individual department heads, which is governed by Zermatt’s “Green Team”.

(14) What other environmental initiatives have you undertaken, including any environment-related certifications you possess, EPA voluntary partnerships in which you participate, support of a green suppliers network or other initiatives? 

Zermatt Resort is currently enrolled and compliant in the certification pilot program with “Earth Right Business Institute” (EBI) with Silver Level certification.

Dear guests and friends of Zermatt Resort,

I am pleased to announce that Zermatt Resort and Spa has recently upgraded the showerheads in our guest rooms.  We have been searching for a more luxurious shower experience for our guests as well as a product which will meet the goals of our Environmental Initiative. Zermatt has found the answer in the Oxygenics “STORM” showerhead.   

The Storm gives the effect of being caught in a rainshower with its 54 individual spray nozzles.  The patented design increases the water pressure by 30% while oxygenating the water stream.  This added oxygen rejuvenates and revitalizes skin cells.  Combined with the increased pressure, the Storm creates a unique and invigorating shower experience.  

As an added benefit, these new showerheads also save water and energy.  The venturi design which increases pressure and adds oxygen also reduces water consumption by at least 20%. In a 10 minute shower this saves approximately 5 gallons of water.  Because 70% of shower water is hot water, this also saves the energy of heating 3.5 gallons of water.  Multiply these savings by the 10’s of thousands of showers enjoyed each year at Zermatt, and you can see how this product reduces our impact on the environment.  

We hope to see you return to Zermatt in the near future, and check out our newest indulgence!  To check out the Storm for yourself, please visit www.oxygenics.com/storm-shower.php .