In Barcelona’s bohemian neighbourhood of Gracia is an eco-friendly hostel setting standards for the future of sustainable and responsible tourism.
It features the usual hostel amenities: a private room for two and mixed dormitories of 4, 6, 8 and 9 people, a kitchen, common areas, a terrace, wifi, and free coffee and tea. But in the aesthetics and the details, all is not as it used to be.
The dormitories were built with high-quality ecological materials to ensure good acoustic and thermal insulation. Each room has organic bedsheets, duvets, pillows, as well as air conditioning and safe lockers. The lights are LED, the water heated with a heating pump to reduce energy consumption, and all the energy consumed by the hostel and its guests comes from green, renewable resources.
Their large, clean and light filled kitchen is made complete with compost and recycling containers and complimentary fairtrade and organic coffee and tea, while outside a 400 square meter eco-terrace has upcycled pallet sofas, herb gardens and morning yoga classes. Post yoga there are large, clean design led bathrooms with big showers, hairdryers, and eco-friendly soap.
They embody what they call a “social, collective and proximity-based economy” with services and products provided sourced from organizations which are both socially responsible and local. Protecting the city in which they dwell and ensuring the profit from tourist visits supports their community as well. Their laundry (via acidH) and cleaning services are part of locally operated co-operatives, and they host artistic and cultural events which encourage visitors to interact with locals meaningfully.
On a business level they source outside companies consciously, choosing the Ethical Bank, Triodos for all monetary interactions, have ethical insurance through Projecte Arc Cooperative, have maintenance done through a local social cooperative called Garbet, are members of Queviure an ethical consumption cooperative and xes, a social economy network which aims to prove that businesses can be democratic, equitable and sustainable all at once. Something Jam hostel has not only achieved but enhanced with every detail.
JAM HOSTEL
Address: Carrer de Montmany,38-42, Barcelona 08012 Spain
Phone: +34 933 155 338
Website: jamhostelbarcelona.com
Website: jamhostelbarcelona.com
Stelios k says
This is a great blog post.
Barcelona is one of the best places in Europe!