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Eco-labels
Eco-labeling
describes a scheme in which a product or service may be awarded
an ecological label on the basis of its "acceptable" level
of environmental impact. The acceptable level of environmental impact
may be determined by consideration of a single environmental hurdle
or after undertaking an assessment of its overall impacts (Synergy,
2000)
Around
the world, there are over 20 recognized, credible eco-labeling and
certification programs offering labels or logos designed to signify
environmental, socio-cultural, and/or economic business practices
that are superior.
You
can learn more about our Sustainable
Tourism Eco-certification Program™ as well as review
some of the other labels and programs that exist today.
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Audubon Green Leaf™
Geographic Scope: United States
Sectors Covered: hotels
Web site: www.terrachoice.ca
Email: ecoinfo@terrachoice.com
Phone: 613-247-1900
Description: Internationally recognized, the Audubon Green Leaf™ Programs provide hotels essential support to motivate and educate staff on environmental best practices. The eco-rating level requires a complete, professional audit of the entire operations, verifying a hotel’s eco-rating of one to five Green Leafs, while also providing an extensive recommendation report for the hotel to keep striving forward.
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Blue
Flag
Geographic Scope: International
Sectors Covered: beaches and marinas
Web site: www.blueflag.org
Email: bf.int@friluftsraadet.dk
Phone: + 45 (0)33 79 00 79
Description:
Since 1987, Blue Flag has symbolized high environmental standards
for water quality, beach cleanliness and waste disposal, providing
up-to-date information for visitors, environmental education
and a commitment to preserving coastal ecosystems. |
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Brazil Sustainable Tourism Program
Geographic Scope: Brazil
Sectors Covered: accommodations and tourism operators
Web site: www.sustainabletourismbrazil.org
Email: info@pcts.org.br
Description: The Brazil Sustainable Tourism Program promotes the adoption of sustainable practices in tourism through standards, training, information, certification and marketing. Coordinated by the Instituto de Hospitalidade (IH), they believe that all quality tourism should have sustainability inside. The program partners with the Brazilian Council for Sustainable Tourism (CBTS) and is supported by the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (APEX), the Inter American Development Bank (IADB), Brazilian Ministry of Tourism and Brazilian Small Business Support Service (SEBRAE) and works together with the main stakeholders in tourism in Brazil.
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Certification
for Sustainable Tourism
Geographic Scope: Costa Rica
Sectors Covered: accommodations and tourism operators
Web site: www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr
Email: info@turismo-sostenible.co.cr
Phone: +506-257-2264
Description:
The Certification in Sustainable Tourism Program (CST) is a
product of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) consisting
of a scale of 1 to 5 levels of sustainable tourism achievement.
CST certifies tourism providers based on the degree to which
they comply with a sustainable business model taking into consideration
natural, cultural and social resource management. |
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Eco-Certified
Sustainable Travel
Geographic Scope: North America
Sectors Covered: accommodations, visitor attractions, tourism operators, and transportation service providers
Web site: www.sustainabletravelinternational.org
Email: info@sustainabletravelinternational.org
Phone: 800-276-7764
Description: Since 2002, Sustainable Travel International has been developing an eco-certification program for travel and tourism providers who incorporate financially viable, environmentally and socially responsible business practices into their operations. The program is being launched in 2006. |
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Green
Deal
Geographic Scope: Guatemala
Sectors Covered: accommodations, guides, restaurants,
communities and tourism operators
Web site: www.greendeal.org
Email: certificacion@greendeal.org
Phone: 502-926-0718
Description:
Since 1999, Green Deal has provided sustainable tourism certification
based on process-based management systems and specific performance-based
criteria that cover quality control, environmental, and socio-cultural
issues. |
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Green
Globe 21
Geographic Scope: International
Sectors Covered: communities, accommodations, visitor
attractions, tourism operators, and their administrative offices
Web site: www.greenglobe21.com
Email: customer.services@greenglobe21.com
Phone: (+61) (2) 6257 9102
Description: Green Globe 21 is an excellent global benchmarking, certification and improvement system for sustainable travel and tourism. It is based on Agenda 21 and principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. It provides companies, communities and consumers with a path to sustainable travel and tourism. |
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Green
Seal, Inc.
Geographic Scope: United States
Sectors Covered: accommodations including hotels, motels
and lodges
Web site: www.greenseal.org
Email: greenseal@greenseal.org
Phone: 202-872-6400
Description:
Since 1995, the Green Seal has been awarded to products that
meet stringent environmental standards for the product category
as demonstrated by rigorous evaluation and testing as well as
a site visit. Green Seal standards are set so that they identify
the most environmentally preferable products currently available;
thus, they are leadership standards. |
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Green
Tourism Business Scheme
Geographic Scope: Scotland and the United Kingdom
Sectors Covered: B&Bs, self-catering accommodation,
hotels, guesthouses, youth hostels, holiday parks, visitor attractions,
and tourism companies
Web site: www.green-business.co.uk
Email: gtbs@green-business.com
Phone: + 44 (0)1738 632162
Description:
Since 1998, the Green Tourism Business Scheme eco-label has
offered bronze, silver and gold awards to travel and tourism
providers who fulfill the most important criteria in all of
its environmental categories. |
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Ibexes
Geographic Scope: Switzerland
Sectors Covered: hotels and restaurants
Web site: www.oe-plus.ch
Email: info@oe-plus.ch
Phone: +41-81-330 1942
Description:
The
Ibex eco-label is reserved for Swiss hotels and restaurants
engaged in environmentally, socially and economically responsible
business practices. Sustainability is the core focus of this
eco-label that rewards 1 to 5 Ibexes to companies that care
for the well-being of their guests, of nature and of society. |
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La
Clef Verte
Geographic Scope: France
Sectors Covered: campgrounds
Web site: www.laclefverte.org
Email: contact@laclefverte.org
Phone: + 33 (0)1 45 49 40 50
Description:
Since
1999, La Clef Verte (The Green Key) has awarded its eco-label
to campgrounds that adopt responsible business practices, maintain
biodiversity and preserve their resources, guaranteeing that
they respect the environment. |
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Legambiente
Turismo
Geographic Scope: Italy
Sectors Covered: accommodations, hotels and campgrounds
Web site: www.legambienteturismo.it
Email: info@legambienteturismo.it
Phone: + 39 051 241324
Description:
Since 1997, Legambiente Turismo has awarded its eco-label to
eco-friendly accommodations committed to environmental protection
and sustainable business practices. |
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Milieubarometer
Geographic Scope: The Netherlands
Sectors Covered: campgrounds, youth hostels, and holiday
parks
Website: www.milieubarometer.com
Email: info@milieubarometer.com
Phone: +31 (0)6 53 92 41 45
Description:
Since 1998, Milieubarometer's "Environmental Barometer"
has shown visitors the level of environmental quality awarded
to tourism providers with three different categories of its
eco-label: Bronze, Silver, and Gold which fulfils even the high
standards of the state ecolabel, "Milieukeur". |
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Nature
and Ecotourism Accreditation Program (NEAP)
Geographic Scope: Australia
Sectors Covered: accommodations, tours, and attractions
Web site: www.ecotourism.org.au/neap.asp
Email: mail@ecotourism.org.au
Phone: 07-3229-5550
Description:
NEAP certifies eco-tourism products and tours not operators.
Certification is backed by a commitment to best practice ecological
sustainability, natural area management and the provision of
quality eco-tourism experiences. NEAP is now being exported
to the rest of the world as the International Eco-tourism Standard. |
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PAN
Parks®
Geographic Scope: Europe
Sectors Covered: National Parks, forest reserves
Web site: www.panparks.org
Email: info@panparks.org
Phone: +36 96 433925
Description:
PAN Parks guarantee nature protection for Europe's natural capital
by certifying parks that pass verification carried out by independent
experts in accordance with PAN Parks' core Principles, Criteria
& Indicators. These principles cover relevant environmental,
social, economic and cultural aspects and ensure new standards
for conservation and sustainable development. |
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Qualmark™
Geographic Scope: New Zealand
Sectors Covered: accommodations, transportation providers,
and tourism businesses
Web site: www.qualmark.co.nz
Email: enquiries@qualmark.co.nz
Phone: +64-9-377 2130
Description:
Qualmark™ is New Zealand tourism's official mark of quality.
All accommodation and tourism businesses that have Qualmark™
certification have been independently assessed as professional
and trustworthy based on quality, service, and cost. Ratings
are based on one to five stars, and sustainable business practices
are currently not evaluated as part of this program. |
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Saskatchewan
Ecotourism Accreditation Program
Geographic Scope: Saskatchewan, Canada
Sectors Covered: attractions, accommodations and guided
tours
Web site: www.ecotourism.sk.ca
Email: bradleymuir@ecotourism.sk.ca
Phone: 306-982-2333
Description:
The
Ecotourism Society of Saskatchewan (ESS) accredits eco-tourism
attractions and businesses which follow the principles of eco-tourism
and meet criteria for quality and sustainable business practices.
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SmartVoyager™
Geographic Scope: Ecuador's Galapagos Islands
Sectors Covered: tour boats
Web site: www.rainforestalliance.com/
programs/sv/sv.html
Email: smartvoyager@ra.org
Phone: 212-677-1900
Description:
This
seal of certification gives travelers to the Galapagos assurance
that they are traveling with an operator who cares about the
conservation of the islands and has taken every measure to ensure
that passengers enjoy a memorable and educational adventure
without harming local and flora |
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The
Green Key
Geographic Scope: Denmark, Estonia, Greenland, and Sweden
Sectors Covered: hotels, youth hostels, conference- and
holiday centers, campgrounds, holiday homes, leisure facilities,
and restaurants
Web site: www.green-key.org
Email: miljoe@horesta.dk
Phone: + 45 (0)35 24 80 80
Description:
Since 1994, The Green Key has offered a "diploma"
to responsible tourism providers who fulfill a long list of
environmental criteria including those related to company policy
and action plans. Frequent inspection visits help to ensure
the credibility of this eco-label. |
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The
Luxembourg Ecolabel
Geographic Scope: Luxembourg
Sectors Covered: accommodations, hotels, youth hostels,
holiday apartments, gîtes, and campgrounds
Web site: www.emweltzenter.lu/emweltzenter/
oekofonds/welcome.htm
Email: oekofonds@emweltzenter.lu
Phone: + 352 438585
Description:
Since
1999, The Luxembourg Ecolabel has promoted environmentally and
socially responsible tourism with the support of the country's
Ministry of Tourism in co-operation with its Ministry of Environment. |
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The
Swan
Geographic Scope: Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway and
Sweden
Sectors Covered: hotels, youth hostels, and other lodging
services
Web site: www.svanen.nu/Eng/default.asp
Email: svanen@sismab.se
Phone: +46 (0)8-55 55 24 00
Description:
Since 1999, this eco-label has guaranteed that products and
services meet extremely high environmental standards taking
into consideration their lifecycle, impacts, quality, performance.
Environmental criteria are regularly revised to ensure that
eco-labeled products and services are well above industry standards.
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Umweltzeichen
Geographic Scope: Austria
Sectors Covered: hotels, youth hostels, campgrounds,
holiday apartments, guesthouses, and restaurants
Web site: www.umweltzeichen.at
Email: regina.preslmair@bmlfuw.gv.at
Phone: + 43 (0)1 51522 1648
Description:
Since
1997, Austria has offered the "Hundertwasser" eco-label
for the tourist industry. This is the Austrian symbol for environmental
protection guaranteeing compliance with high environmental standards. |
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VISIT
Geographic Scope: Europe
Sectors Covered: accommodations, visitor attractions,
and tourism operators
Web site: www.yourvisit.info
Email: info@ecotrans.de
Phone: + 49 (0)681 374679
Description:
VISIT is the joint European initiative for the promotion of
eco-labels and sustainable tourism development. VISIT has a
dual meaning. As an invitation to consumers, "Your VISIT
makes the difference - the choice is yours!" and as an
invitation to tourism providers to use VISIT as platform for
"Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainability in Tourism". |
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