Boulder, CO (January 26, 2006) - Sustainable Travel International (STI) today announced a new partnership with NSF International to offer STI's Sustainable Tourism Eco-Certification Program™ (STEP) to the global travel and tourism industry. "STI's expertise in sustainable tourism and eco-certification is a perfect complement to NSF's experience in environmental auditing and management of certification programs," said S. Petie Davis, NSF-International Strategic Registrations' Business Unit Manager of Environmental, Health and Safety Registration Services.
Concerns about the impacts of travel and tourism on the environment and local cultures have continued to rise. Consumers are demanding that best practices be developed within the travel industry to help protect the general public as well as the environment. STEP™ is a voluntary program created to address this need by assisting tourism providers in identifying, measuring and managing their environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts. Focused on enhancing economic profitability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility, STEP™ is designed for all of the primary segments of the travel and tourism industry including tour operators, accommodation facilities, attractions offering entertainment and or educational experiences for the public and transportation service providers.
Tourism providers who successfully meet STEP™ requirements will receive a certificate and an eco-label logo detailing the extent to which their operations are contributing to sustainable tourism outcomes. Tourism providers using STEP™ logos are able to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to environmental and socio-economic issues.
Brian T. Mullis, Co-founder and President of STI further explains, "STEP™ is based on standardized measurement and reporting methods for the 'triple bottom line' of economic, environmental and socio-cultural performance." Mullis continues, "travel and tourism providers pursuing eco-certification may receive a rating up to five 'green stars' based on their performance. And verification of the information provided will be derived through independent third party audits. This, in turn, will assist travelers in making informed decisions based on an industry baseline level of performance that will allow them to compare several companies regardless of their size. At the same time, it will offer eco-certified companies a stronger market presence."
STI and NSF International are planning to pilot launch STEP™ in the U.S. within the first quarter of 2006. For more information, contact Brian T. Mullis (800-276-7764 / brianm@sustainabletravel.com) or S. Petie Davis (734-827-6810 / davis@nsf-isr.org).
About Sustainable Travel International (STI) - www.sustainabletravelinternational.org. Sustainable Travel International (STI) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote sustainable development and eco-friendly travel by providing programs that help travelers and travel-related companies protect the environmental, socio-cultural and economic needs of the places they visit, and the planet at large.
About NSF International - www.nsf.org. NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, air and consumer goods. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, Ltd., organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.
