Water mill in Joglland | © TV Oststeiermark | Joglland-Waldheimat, Klaus Ranger Water mill in Joglland | © TV Oststeiermark | Joglland-Waldheimat, Klaus Ranger
Sustainability
in the garden of Austria
To consider the end in everything you do is... 

Sustainability

Alpine meadows, wild herbs, species-rich flower villages, sunny orchards and vineyards - Eastern Styria reveals an incomparable rural idyll in which the authentic protagonists tradition and sustainability shake hands.

Hardly any other term has developed as much in recent years as this one. But what is sustainability actually? Sustainability means meeting one's own needs, but still preserving nature and our habitats for future generations. Sustainability has already taken on a strong role in tourism - also in Eastern Styria, the garden of Austria.

PURE NATURE - DESTINATIONS IN THE GREEN

CLIMATE & MODEL REGIONS

The Climate & Energy Model Regions (KEM) initiative supports regions in Austria that have set the protection of climate and environment as their focus. 

The goal of the KEM is to no longer be dependent on expensive oil imports and to no longer be afraid of gas crises. Sun, wind, water and bioenergy from the region are to serve clean energy production. The complete phase-out of fossil energy is the long-term vision.

Projects in the fields of renewable energy, reduction of energy consumption, sustainable construction, mobility, agriculture and awareness raising are implemented together with partners from the region. In addition, climate and energy model regions have access to an extensive network as well as exclusive training, support and funding.

Already 11 regions/municipalities in Eastern Styria are among them and want to make a CO2-free holiday possible:

  • Anger & Floing
  • EnergieIMpuls Vorau
  • Energy Culture Kulmland
  • Energy Region Wechselland
  • Recreation Region Joglland
  • Climate-friendly Almenland Nature Park
  • Pöllauer Tal Nature Park
  • Upper Feistritz Valley
  • Hartberg Region
  • Weiz-Gleisdorf
  • Ecoregion Kaindorf
Hartberger Gmoos in Eastern Styria | © TV Oststeiermark | Bergmann Bernhard
Apple Harvest in Eastern Styria | © TV Oststeiermark | Christian Strassegger
Moor nature trail in the Almenland Nature Park | © TV Oststeiermark | Bergmann Bernhard
Butter production | © TV Oststeiermark | Bernhard Bergmann | © Oststeiermark Tourismus, Bernhard Bergmann

DIRECT MARKETING

Buy organic and regional. In Eastern Styria, our producers offer excellent opportunities to do something good for the climate as well as for yourself, because regional food is virtually "just around the corner". You won't find such a shopping and enjoyment experience anywhere else. Here is an overview of the types of direct marketing: farm-gate sales, farmers' markets, farmers' shops, self-service shops, self-service machines.

HOLIDAY ON THE FARM

Accommodation that pays particular attention to sustainability are the "Urlaub am Bauernhof" farms. A farm holiday means being close to life in the countryside, feeling and experiencing it up close, moving freely and getting to know the daily operations on a farm. Farmers have been observing the natural cycle of life for centuries and orient all their activities accordingly.

Experience lived sustainability at first hand: in terms of energy supply, in organic farming, in animal husbandry on the farm and in dealing with people. Nothing stands in the way of an unforgettable adventure holiday.

Animal family vacation in Eastern Styria | © TV Oststeiermark | Bernhard Bergmann | © Oststeiermark Tourismus, Bernhard Bergmann
Naturhotel Bauernhofer in Eastern StyriaNaturhotel Bauernhofer in Eastern Styria | © TV Oststeiermark

GREEN GLOBE & ECO-LABEL

Green Globe - a seal of quality specially developed for the tourism industry. More than 500 businesses worldwide carry the Green Globe logo.  In contrast to other certificates, it is not just about regular confirmation of sustainability, but about achieving continuous improvements in sustainability together with the audited businesses.

The Austrian Eco-label for tourism, gastronomy and cultural businesses is intended to bring about an environmental and quality improvement in your business, to enhance the image of your business and thus to offer guests a comprehensively sustainable experience in an Austrian destination.

The Retter Bio-Natur-Resort has been awarded the Green Globe and the Austrian Eco-label and is considered a leading sustainable business and climate-neutral pioneer in Austrian tourism. The same applies to the Almwellness Hotel Pierer, Garten-Hotel Ochensberger, Naturhotel Bauernhofer and Ponyhof Ratten, which were awarded the Austrian eco-label.

SUSTAINABLE ACCOMMODATION IN EASTERN STYRIA

Almwellness Hotel Pierer_Infinity Pool | © Harald Eisenberger | © Harald Eisenberger
Garten - CM Visuals (12) | © Garten-Hotel Ochensberger | CM Visuals | © Garten-Hotel Ochensberger
Ponyhof Ratten_126 | © Der Ponyhof | Der Ponyhof | © Der Ponyhof
Bauernhofer Logo
Naturepark Hotel Retter_Pöllauberg | © Retter Hotel Bio Restaurant, Pöllauberg | Retter | © Retter Hotel Bio Restaurant, Pöllauberg
SAM shared car sign | © Oststeiermark Tourismus | TV Oststeiermark

Sam-Mobil

The shared taxi in Eastern Styria successfully complements the existing public transport system.

SAM offers a great mobility alternative for the region's residents, but also for holiday guests, as an environmentally conscious way of doing without a car and as a feeder to car and bike sharing.

Now, trips to the doctor, shopping or hiking are also possible for everyone.

Shared taxi Eastern Styria

WINE COUNTRY BIKE TOUR

Discover the wine country of Styria with its three wine-growing regions in eight stages on the slightly more than 400 kilometre long circular cycle tour. One of the eight stages connects the Capital of Culture Graz with Eastern Styria, the Garden of Austria. Coming from Graz, three of the eight stages lead through Eastern Styria before the route continues to guide visitors towards Thermen-und Vulkanland.

The circular tour can be started anywhere. Special highlights in Eastern Styria are the Eastern Styrian Roman Wine Road, the apple-growing area of Puch near Weiz and the many cultural attractions along the route.

Accessible by public transport
Radfahren bei Bad Radkersburg | Bernhard Bergmann | © (c) TV Bad Radkersburg/Bernhard Bergmann
Southern Styria medium Open
Route 402,4 km
Duration 36:30 h

Styrian Wine Country Cycle Trail

Accessible by public transport
Rast am Wasser | Tom Lamm | © Steiermark Tourismus/Tom Lamm
Bad Loipersdorf medium Open
Route 43,0 km
Duration 3:30 h

Styrian Wine Country Cycling Tour - Variant East Styria

Cycling along the Styrian Apple Road | Tourismusverband Oststeiermark | © Oststeiermark Tourismus
Hartberg Open
Route 153,7 km
Duration 11:19 h

Weinland Steiermark Bike Tour - Eastern Styria Round

Accessible by public transport
Picknick bei St. Ruprecht an der Raab | Die Mosbacher`s | © TV St. Ruprecht an der Raab/Die Mosbacher' s
Graz medium Open
Route 42,7 km
Duration 4:00 h

Accessible by public transport
Zwischenstopp im Apfelland in der Oststeiermark | Tom Lamm | © Steiermark Tourismus/Tom Lamm
Sankt Ruprecht an der Raab medium Open
Route 53,8 km
Duration 5:00 h

Accessible by public transport
Blick auf die Beckenlandschaft des Rogner Bad Blumau | Leo Himsl | © Steiermark Tourismus/Leo Himsl
Hartberg medium Open
Route 53,1 km
Duration 5:00 h

Weitere Touren in der Oststeiermark

NATURE PARKS

Nature parks are not untouched and overgrown places, rather they can be described as cultural landscapes. People and nature should benefit from each other in equal measure, according to the motto "protect and benefit"!

Together with partners from agriculture, care is taken to ensure that biodiversity develops sustainably, thus creating a functioning basis of life for humans and animals. For our guests and residents, this means appreciating nature and its diversity and treating it responsibly.

Of the seven nature parks in Styria, two are located in Eastern Styria, the Garden of Austria. On the one hand, there is the Almenland Nature Park, which is mainly used for agriculture and forestry and offers tourists an ideal destination for hiking and recreational holidays. The second nature park in Eastern Styria - the Pöllauer Tal Nature Park - stretches across the municipalities of Pöllau and Pöllauberg. It is characterised by numerous colourful orchards, the Pöllauer Hirsch pear and an idyllic hilly landscape.

Spring Bouquet in the Almenland Nature Park | © TV Oststeiermark | Bergmann Bernhard
Raabklamm in Eastern Styria | © TV Oststeiermark | Christine Pollhammer

EUROPE & NATURA 2000 AREAS

The Natura 2000 network of protected areas is intended to permanently safeguard natural biotopes and create a sustainable relationship between people and nature. The legal basis for biotope and species protection within the European Union is the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive.

European protected areas and Natura 2000 in Eastern Styria:

NATURAL SWIMMING PONDS & LAKES

Clear water through the power of nature

The water of natural bathing ponds or natural bathing lakes is not purified with chlorine, but clarified by a natural process. Therefore, our bathing ponds in Eastern Styria are ideal for a refreshing cool-down on hot summer days - immerse yourself in pure nature.

Großsteinbach_Lake2_Eastern Styria | © Gemeinde Großsteinbach | Maria Neuherz | © Gemeinde Großsteinbach
Greini`s leisure world_Jump_Eastern Styria | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark | Bernhard Bergmann | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
Teichalm lake_Panorama_Eastern Styria | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark | Franz Berghofer | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark
Natural swimming pond Gruber_Pond with jetty_Eastern Styria | © Naturbadeteich Gruber | Hermann Auerbäck | © Naturbadeteich Gruber
Natural swimming pond Rettenegg_Pond_Eastern Styria | © Naturbadeteich Rettenegg | Gemeinde Rettenegg | © Naturbadeteich Rettenegg
Swimming lake Pinggau_aerial view_Eastern Styria | © Marktgemeinde Pinggau | Leopold Bartsch | © Marktgemeinde Pinggau
Stubenbergsee_Lake_Eastern Styria | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark | Ewald Neffe | © Tourismusverband Oststeiermark

ACADEMY FOR SUSTAINABILITY PÖLLAUER TAL

Becoming aware of nature and the laws of life, building a new mindset and supporting a sustainable economy. The Academy for Sustainability in the beautiful Pöllauer Tal trains new leadership approaches, tries to bring a sustainable leadership mindset into the companies and make people aware of the diverse topics of sustainability. 

The Adventure Region Eastern Styria is looking forward to the close cooperation with the Sustainability Academy Pöllauer Tal and to the diverse offers for training and further education.

Aerial view over Pöllauberg and Pöllau | © TV Oststeiermark | Helmut Schweighofer
Deer pear tree in Pöllauer Tal Nature Park | © TV Oststeiermark | Christine Schwetz
Aerial view over Pöllau in Eastern Styria | © TV Oststeiermark | Helmut Schweighofer

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM OFFICES

We, the team of Erlebnisregion Oststeiermark, are also striving to make our workplaces in the individual offices more sustainable. Here are some of the measures we are already taking in all offices to reduce our ecological footprint and make a positive contribution to the environment:

  • Waste separation: We have established waste separation systems in all of our facilities to ensure that paper, plastic, organic waste and residual waste are disposed of properly.
  • Energy conservation: We strive to save energy by avoiding stand-by modes for screens and electronic devices, turning off lights when not needed, optimizing computer mouse and air conditioning run times.
  • Regional partners: We give preference to collaborations with regional companies and producers.
  • Promoting sustainability awareness: Our employees are our most important ambassadors for sustainability, so it is important to us to raise their awareness of environmentally friendly practices.
  • Plants in the workplace: Green plants not only create a pleasant working environment, but also help improve indoor air quality. In our offices, you will therefore find plants that promote not only aesthetics but also environmental friendliness.

They say continuous improvement paves the way to the goal, which is why 3/4 of all our offices are already pursuing the following initiatives:

  • Sustainable coffee: In our office environment, we rely on environmentally friendly coffee, prepared without environmentally harmful capsules.
  • Regional suppliers: We try to source our products from regional suppliers, be it paper, advertising materials or catering.
  • Reuse of old productions: We focus on creativity and sustainability by reusing old productions, even if they still carry the old logo.
  • Desk sharing and home office: We promote desk sharing and the possibility of home office for our employees. This not only reduces the need for office space and energy consumption, but also allows our team members to minimize their commute.
Office of the Adventure Region Eastern Styria in Hartberg | © TV Oststeiermark | Manuela Schnur
Office of the Adventure Region Eastern Styria in Hartberg | © TV Oststeiermark | Manuela Schnur
Nature Park Landscape in the Pöllau Valley | © TV Oststeiermark | Helmut Schweighofer

THE ecological FOOTPRINT

The one who leaves few traces does well.

Every daily decision consumes resources, be it eating, drinking, cooking, phoning, surfing the internet, buying clothes, travelling by bus or car. In order to be able to compare how much consumer behaviour differs worldwide, the "ecological footprint" was developed.

This calculation method makes it possible to show the area needed to provide all the raw materials and energy consumed for the respective standard of living.

The average Austrian consumes 5.3 gbh, whereas only 1.8 gbh would be available to each person. With an ecological footprint of this size, we are therefore clearly leaving too many traces on our earth.

More information

Sustainability is about sticking with it, not perfection.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR FEEDBACK!

There are already many initiatives, projects and approaches for more sustainable tourism in the Eastern Styria Adventure Region. However, our list is far from complete, so we welcome constructive feedback, which we will gladly include on our homepage!

Enjoy your stay with us and be part of our efforts for green tourism!