Lex Delles, Minister of Tourism, and Carole Dieschbourg, Minister of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, with the winners of Ecolabel 2022; Credit: MECO

On Friday 25 March 2022, Luxembourg's Minister of Tourism, Lex Delles, and the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, Carole Dieschbourg, together with the Oekozenter Pafendall ASBL presented the national label for ecological tourist accommodation "EcoLabel" to thirteen tourism establishments during an awards ceremony.

Created in 1999 with the aim of promoting and developing sustainable tourism in Luxembourg, the "EcoLabel" is currently held by 42 hotels, campsites, youth hostels, group accommodation and rural lodges which stand out for their environment-friendly practices. The "EcoLabel", the result of a fruitful collaboration between the General Directorate of Tourism and the Oekozenter Pafendall asbl, is a reference label in force at the national level.

After celebrating its 20th anniversary in February 2020, the "EcoLabel Luxembourg" received a new logo and a new visual identity. In addition, the award criteria have been completely revised and the evaluation system for the optional criteria has been adapted. The website www.ecolabel.lu has been updated and has become the official site of both eco-labels for tourist establishments, the "EcoLabel Luxembourg" and the "European Ecolabel". Also, a feature was developed in 2021 so that institutions can manage their data online. The establishments that received their certificate during the official 2022 presentation were the first to be audited with the new label criteria.

Minister Delles said: "an establishment that adopts a sustainable approach increases its attractiveness to tourists and residents. This observation has meanwhile become apparent in the tourism sector. The 'EcoLabel' is the best example of this. While there were only fourteen certified establishments in 1999, there are now 42. The 'EcoLabel' has thus become a real reference in terms of quality and sustainability. I would like to congratulate the labeled establishments which promote tourism that respects the environment".

The EU Ecolabel is the official eco-label of the EU which certifies eco-responsible tourist accommodation on the basis of environmental criteria harmonised at the European level. The European label enjoys recognition at European level and can therefore be used to communicate the values ​​of the establishment to an international clientele who are not necessarily always familiar with national labels. The European label is indeed very successful in a number of countries, such as France, Austria and Italy. However, the European label remains less established in Luxembourg, since the Toodlermillen campsite is currently the only Luxembourg establishment which has obtained the European label (in addition to the national label). The certificate will be officially presented during the ceremony for the European label and for EMAS registrations on 16 June 2022 at the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development.

The website www.ecolabel.lu is therefore the common official site of the two labels and the example of the Toodlermillen campsite shows that it is possible for an establishment to meet both the criteria of the national label and those of the European label. In order to make the European label more accessible to accommodation establishments in Luxembourg, the Oekozenter Pafendall ASBL has for some time been offering its support also for the European label and the two labels can be prepared and requested simultaneously or individually according to the needs of the establishments.

Minister Dieschbourg congratulated all the establishments awarded the label and also all those who have been able to obtain the ecological labels before. She appreciated the voluntary commitment of these establishments for living with the values ​​respectful of the environment and hoped that more establishments will follow their example.

The tourism establishments classified as "EcoLabel" in 2022 are the following:

  • Beaufort Youth Hostel (gold)
  • Youth hostel Esch-sur-Alzette (gold)
  • Camping Toodlermillen (gold)
  • Route du vin Campground (Gold)
  • Légère Hotel Luxembourg (gold)
  • Erpeldange Youth Center (gold)
  • Marienthal Youth Center (gold)
  • Weicherdange Youth Center (gold)
  • Echternach Youth Hostel (silver)
  • Camping Kautenbach (silver)
  • Parc Hotel Alvisse (silver)
  • Hotel Belle-Vue (bronze)
  • INNSIDE by Meliã Luxembourg (bronze)

The "INNSiDE by Meliã Luxembourg" hotel in Cloche d'Or was newly certified as "EcoLabel" accommodation during the 2021 audits. The other tourism establishments have renewed their certification.