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Sustainability

The GYC is actively engaged in climate and ocean preservation. We believe that small individual changes make and have a huge impact to the environmental and preservation causes.

Considering that 70% of our planet are covered by water and that water governs our climate and the planet’s atmosphere, adding to the fact that 50% of the oxygen we breathe in the mountains, in cities or any kind of environment is produced by oceans - we are closer to the topic than we think. One of the early actions we took at the club was the ban of plastic straws and accessories for the drinks served at the bar to our members and guests simply replacing them by pasta straws and bamboo sticks.

Depending the type of plastic, in average, a plastic bottle may take 450 years and more to biodegrade. The GYC serves glass bottles only, as they allow to be recycled. Having environmental concerns in mind, we minimize printing at the office mostly with the purpose of tree conservation and we also have reduced the usage of unnecessary printing cartridges. Members that buy GYC items from our boutique, since the foundation of the club receive a classy and recyclable paper bag, to minimize plastic and encourage recycling habits.

We understand that this is a subject of great concern to humankind and for that reason, we have been inviting over the time many interesting speakers from diverse nationalities, covering a broad number of perspectives and creating awareness and consciousness to the problem. Further measures will be put in motion, to minimize the GYC environmental foot print and to put the club in the front line of reversing the effects of climate change.

The GYC believe that with respect, courage, trust and collaboration we are positive to gain a better understanding of environmental issues at stake and how to address the challenges to change our waters and therefore our planet for the better. This mission will be taken further. Being a yacht club with no direct access to the waters or the sea, at the same time privileged to have its home in a region where water is still considered to be a healthy element, the GYC is concerned and focused.

Since 2011, topics relating to the protection of the oceans and waters have been an integral part of the club's life, enriched by collaborations and events such as with Sylvia Earle, the Blue Marine Foundation or the IUCN Ocean Ambassador William Winram. With sustainability being on our forefront we continue to emphasize our activities on our success on water issues. This is and will cover projects in cooperation with well-known foundations and governing bodies on the seas as well as in our valley of the Saanenland like:

  • Sylvia Earle: American marine biologist, explorer, author, and lecturer
  • Blue Marine and Bertarelli Foundation • Film Screening – “The end of the line”
  • WWF Charity event – Introduction of the Campaign for a Living Planet
  • Switzerland for the Oceans
  • Paolo Mirpuri - Mirpuri Foundation
  • The Klosters Forum
  • William Winram - IUCN Oceans Ambassador, Fellow Intl. of The Explorers Club, World Record Freediver, Filmmaker and Photographer

William Winram - The Watermen Project

“We are a small team of storytellers using conversations to bring awareness on the importance of healthy oceans” 
– The Watermen Project.

William Winram named GYC as his global and exclusive partner for the school tours – This educational VR program will be expanded and constantly developed with its new Virtual Reality materials.

Mirpuri Foundation

Mr. Paulo Mirpuri is a regular guest at the GYC. Lately he shared his experience ad presentation on the Antartica crossing -  Press Release.

More on the sailing advantures and the first sustainable sailing trophy here.

Switzerland for the Oceans

CH4O is a Swiss environmental organisation which was launched in 2016 and was set up as Swiss Verein in 2017. CH4O is a non-profit organisation operating out of Switzerland, dedicated to fundraising and to facilitating community initiatives to combat over-extraction and pollution of our oceans and promoting Ocean Vitality. The main goal is to support organisations and individuals who are making a difference by continuously seeking and implementing solutions to the many problems and threats our oceans are facing today.