Eco-Mapping is Systematically achieving greater sustainability at Zermatt Bergbahnen AG

In the 2025/26 financial year, Zermatt Bergbahnen (Zermatt Mountain Railways) is placing a clear focus on order and cleanliness – not only as an expression of a well-maintained appearance, but as an integral part of its sustainability strategy. A structured and clean daily work routine contributes significantly to more efficient processes, increased safety through the reduction of risks and hazards, and a conscious and ecological use of resources, particularly through consistent waste separation. To achieve this goal, Eco-Mapping is being used – a practical method that allows work areas to be visually analyzed and concrete potential for improvement to be identified directly on site.

Initial situation

A structured workplace reduces search times, ensures clearer processes, and minimizes potential hazards. At the same time, clean, well-organized areas help to separate waste correctly and use materials carefully. In this way, every employee actively contributes to ecological, operational, and safety responsibility. The project team was composed of interested employees from every department of the company.

To begin, this eco-mapping team documented their areas with photos, consciously viewing the stations from a guest's perspective and noting weaknesses as well as initial ideas. The collected images formed the basis for the joint kick-off meeting, where the results were discussed, concrete measures were defined, and responsibilities were assigned (action plan). Three timelines were established: quick wins, end of the winter season, and application to the investment budget. Following this, coordination took place with the area managers before implementation began step by step during the 2025/26 winter season. All improvements are continuously documented so that at the end of the season, both a visible before-and-after comparison and a fully completed "Order & Cleanliness Checklist" can be presented.

Project progress

The final results will be disseminated via Zermatt Bergbahnen's internal communication channels. Initial "quick wins" were already presented to employees at an information evening at the end of November and also documented in the employee magazine "iischi Bahn". Before-and-after photos from the individual departments vividly illustrate how targeted, often small measures can have a noticeable impact and, in their totality, contribute to sustainable improvements in the working environment.

outlook

The project is not finished with the first implementation phase. The long-term goal is to permanently embed order and cleanliness within the company, for example through regular, annual eco-mapping sessions or supplementary motivational and awareness-raising measures. In this way, a work culture can be gradually established that has a lasting impact and benefits both employees and guests.

Zermatt Bergbahnen AG is part of Swisstainable at Level III – leading.

More about sustainability at Zermatt Bergbahnen AG here