Motivated by environmental awareness and a desire for authentic experiences, more and more travellers are turning to eco-responsible tourism. Also known as eco-tourism, its aim is simple: to create positive travel experiences for everyone involved. Responsible tourism practices are varied and include a wide range of initiatives. In this article, we take a closer look at one of them: opting for certified eco-friendly accommodation.
Why certify my establishment?
Discovering the world while respecting culture and the environment is a trend that is hard to ignore: according to a study carried out in 2022, almost three quarters of international travellers say they would like to stay in eco-responsible accommodation at least once during their trip. The Quebec government's action plan to support responsible and sustainable tourism even includes promoting businesses that distinguish themselves in terms of responsible and sustainable tourism, and supporting certification initiatives relevant to the tourism sector.
These certifications are beneficial not only for travellers and the environment, but also for the establishments themselves. In addition to offering a distinctive competitive edge, they also help to reduce operating costs by adopting more efficient energy practices and limiting resource consumption. A winning choice at every level!
That's where Green Key certification comes in, offering a globally recognized standard for tourism establishments committed to reducing their ecological footprint
What is Green Key?
Created in 1998, Green Key is the leading international standard for assessing environmental responsibility in the tourism and hospitality sector. It applies notably to hotels, youth hostels, campsites, vacation parks, conference centres and restaurants. The label commits companies to meeting strict criteria defined by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
According to the organization's own figures, more than 5,000 establishments in over 60 countries are now certified. Since January 2023, Green Key has partnered with the Association Hôtellerie du Québec to support the province's tourism establishments in their sustainable transition.
How to become Green Key certified?
More concretely, Green Key assigns accommodation establishments a rating from 1 to 5 Keys (5 being the maximum), based on the results of a comprehensive ecological assessment, renewed every three years.
Criteria to be met include, for example, water and energy management, waste reduction, use of eco-friendly products, and environmental awareness among guests and staff. The use of eco-labelled durable goods - particularly textiles - is also one of the criteria mentioned by Green Key. At Lieberman Tranchemontagne, we offer many OEKO-TEX-certified products, which guarantee the environmental and social conformity of their supply chain and production.
So, in an industry where environmental awareness is becoming increasingly significant, tourist establishments have everything to gain from proving their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint with recognized certifications. This not only enables them to meet growing sustainability expectations but also make significant savings, thereby strengthening their market position while helping preserve the environment.