Green Key featured in The Historic Traveller magazine

The Historic Hotels of Europe publication has dedicated a page to the eco-label certificate, highlighting the recent changes in the Green Key programme.

Historic Hotels of Europe that promotes an incredible collection of hotels, manors and palaces throughout Europe has now published the third issue of its Historic Traveller magazine, with a page dedicated to the Green Key programme. In the article, the Green Key’s International Director, Finn Bolding Thomsen, reflects on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the hospitality industry and Green Key’s role in supporting the certified hotels and other categories in the hospitality industry during these challenging latest years.

“During this uncertain time, we have supported our Green Key awarded establishments by showing flexibility in the certification process and by running campaigns that were tailored to the needs during the pandemic”, explains Finn Bolding Thomsen, adding that due to the recent worldwide events, the climate crisis is further becoming a top global concern.

The set of Green Key international standards for establishments is also highlighted in The Historic Traveller issue since the criteria have recently been strengthened to increasingly focus on the reduction of carbon emissions and pollution and the protection of biodiversity. Ultimately, the goal is to continue sharing the best practices of the certified establishments, as the Green Key International Director emphasises:

“Our ambition is to support our participating establishments through training, webinars, and other supporting tools […]. We also want to increase awareness of the guests visiting Green Key certified accommodation through information and involvement during the visit as well as promotion of the sustainability efforts through social media”.

Lastly, the Historic Traveller’s article on Green Key also addresses the intention of the eco-label organisation to join the Glasgow Declaration, which aims for a net-zero future by 2050.

More details on The Historic Hotels of Europe can be read here.

Green Key and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: SDG #5

Green Key is a leading standard of excellence in the field of sustainable tourism, guiding tourism establishments to do their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. In our new feature series we will present each of the 17 SDGs and explain their connection to Green Key. 

In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to guide governments, the private sector and civil society in transforming our world into safer, fairer and more livable place.   

On this page, you will learn more about Goal 5: "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls".

What is Goal 5 about?

According to the UN, "Gender inequality persists worldwide, depriving women and girls of their basic rights and opportunities. Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will require more vigorous efforts, including legal frameworks, to counter deeply rooted gender-based discrimination that often results from patriarchal attitudes and related social norms."

Although women make up the majority of the workforce in tourism in most parts of the world, they are mainly employed in low-paid jobs and in those with a lower status, such as housekeeping. Furthermore, many women are engaged in unpaid work for family businesses, which excludes them from formal employment and the possibility to develop a professional career. 

How does Green Key help to achieve Goal 5?

In 2016, Green Key expanded its criteria with a new section called "Corporate Social Responsibility" to make sure that the programme does not only consider the environmental dimension of sustainability, but also its social aspects. With the new 2022-2025 criteria, this criteria section has been strengthened to ask establishments a more active commitment on issues such as gender equity (SDG target 5.1) and women’s economic rights (SDG target 5.a):

• GENDER EQUITY - Criterion 11.5 explicitly encourages certified establishments to be equitable in hiring women, including in management positions. In the UN’s own words: “regardless of where you live, gender equality is a fundamental human right”, and so are equal access to employment and fair economic treatment. At Green Key, we believe that by actively including and empowering women and minorities in the operations of an establishment, deeper workplace diversity can be achieved, thus developing healthier and more enriching relationships in the working environment;

• COMPLIANCE WITH LABOUR REGULATION - Furthermore, it is imperative for all Green Key certified establishments, e.g. as part of their sustainability policy, to ensure that their employees receive fair treatment without discrimination in compliance with local, national, and international regulations on labour, thereby making an effort to remove workplace obstacles that are related to gender identity (criterion 11.1). 

In summary, by granting previously excluded groups an opportunity to grow and thrive, each company can bring their own contribution towards the growth of their communities, and previously untapped potential can finally be unlocked and bring society one step closer to the common goal that is environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

A document describing Green Key’s overall contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here.

Green Key and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: SDG #9

Green Key is a leading standard of excellence in the field of sustainable tourism, guiding tourism establishments to do their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. In our new feature series we will present each of the 17 SDGs and explain their connection to Green Key. 

In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to guide governments, the private sector and civil society in transforming our world into safer, fairer and more livable place.   

On this page, you will learn more about Goal 9: "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation"

What is Goal 9 about?

According to the UN, "Goal 9 encompasses three important aspects of sustainable development: infrastructure, industrialisation and innovation. Infrastructure provides the basic physical systems and structures essential to the operation of a society or enterprise. Industrialisation drives economic growth, creates job opportunities and thereby reduces income poverty. Innovation advances the technological capabilities of industrial sectors and prompts the development of new skills.” In the link above, you can read about the targets and indicators to Goal 9. 

Sustainable development depends on innovation and technological process that help optimise the use of resources and minimise the environmental impact of infrastructures. Infrastructure development causes a great share of total worldwide emissions, while at the same time representing a huge opportunity for environmental performance improvement. Energy efficiency, responsible construction waste management, eco-friendly material sourcing, climate risk reduction, green area integration, clean technologies… These are only some of the solutions XXI century has to offer to significantly lower the impact new infrastructure and renovations have on the environment.

How does Green Key help to achieve Goal 9?

The environmental performance of an establishment is strongly connected to how thermo-efficient the building is, how spaces are organised and how ventilation is managed. For this reason, the Green Key programme encourages its certified establishments to consider building upgrades (SDG target 9.4) as a way to optimise resource consumption and save activity costs. Renovations should be carried out with environmental sustainability, resilience, and reliability in mind, using adequate materials and adopting smart engineering solutions to lower impacts. The programme promotes innovation and sustainable infrastructure in several ways:

• CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES – Green Key nudges establishments to reduce their consumption of water, heat, and energy using latest technologies such as energy-saving appliances (criteria category 7), water-saving devices (criteria category 4) and renewable energy use and/or on-site production (criteria 7.13, 7.14, 7.29). The programme partners up with many companies and startups making a real effort in the advancement of green technologies that can make a real change for Green Key sites’ environmental performance;

• INSULATION AND BUILDING RATING – National and international classifications often provide requirements that can help establishments improve their environmental performance and reduce their energy consumption, by optimising insulation and energy efficiency in the building. By preventing heat loss in the cold months or heat intake in the summer, air conditioning, heating and cooling (HVAC) systems end up consuming less than they would in a poorly insulated building. For these reasons, Green Key recommends certified establishments to apply for green building ratings (criterion 7.20) and find out how they can improve their performance, e.g. by increasing insulation of windows above national compliance standards (criterion 7.17). Investments in cleaner solutions and insulation can be paid back in time, for example by lower bills and utilities.

• RENOVATION MATERIALS – Renovation, upgrades and refurbishments of infrastructure represent opportunities for establishments to improve their environmental performance, but they also generate construction waste and pollution. Green Key endorses its certified establishments to pick materials responsibly to make sure that renovations have the lowest negative impacts for the environment and the well-being of the users of the building, for example by choosing eco-friendly (criterion 9.5) and locally sourced materials (9.6), so that transportation, cleaning, waste handling and maintenance costs are taken into account and always kept low.

A document describing Green Key’s overall contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here.

Green Key and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: SDG #6

Green Key is a leading standard of excellence in the field of sustainable tourism, guiding tourism establishments to do their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. In our new feature series we will present each of the 17 SDGs and explain their connection to Green Key. 

In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to guide governments, the private sector and civil society in transforming our world into safer, fairer and more livable place.   

On this page, you will learn more about Goal 6: "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all"

What is Goal 6 about?

According to the UN, "Water and sanitation are at the very core of sustainable development, critical to the survival of people and the planet. Goal 6 not only addresses the issues relating to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, but also the quality and sustainability of water resources worldwide.” In the link above, you can read about the targets and indicators to Goal 6. 

Tourism can be a major factor in the water consumption of a region, even more so in the case the country’s economy heavily relies on the hospitality industry for value. Water is used in the bathrooms of tourism accommodations, in the kitchens, for swimming pools and spa areas, for washing and cleaning, and for irrigating gardens and parks. Water management is even more of a key element for those establishments that operate in drought-susceptible areas or near the seaside, where marine ecosystems are easily affected by their operations.

How does Green Key help to achieve Goal 6?

Many of Green Key's criteria deal with the reduction of water consumption and the protection of water-related ecosystems as well as freshwater sources. In fact, criteria section 4 (see here) is entirely dedicated to water management, although sustainability in water resources can be considered a cross-sectional principle that should shape the whole activity structure of a Green Key certified establishment. The programme especially addresses SDG targets that have to do with reducing water pollution and protecting water-dependent ecosystems (SDG targets 6.3, 6.6), increasing water-use efficiency (SDG target 6.4), implementing integrated water management (SDG target 6.5), and enhancing capacity building related to water management in developing countries (SDG target 6.a).Here are some examples of what 2022-2025 criteria entail:

• MONITORING OF THE WATER CONSUMPTION - Green Key believes in the importance of monitoring sustainability with data on environmental performance. For this reason, Green Key uses ECO-OS as a sustainability accounting database, where the establishments’ water consumption data are registered periodically to evaluate the consumption and find opportunities for improvement (criterion 4.1). Green Key recommends certified establishment to monitor water consumption by installing separated meters in strategically important water-hubs of the premises, so as to easily identify potential areas where resources can be saved (criterion 4.13). Green Key is also offering a free calculation tool on its website to help tourism establishments calculate their water footprint; 

• WATER SAVINGS – A whole set of criteria is dedicated to water saving and making sure that little to no water is wasted due to lack of maintenance, faulty appliances, or inefficient tools (SDG target 6.4). This is particularly the case for toilets (criterion 4.2), leakages (4.3), showers (4.4), taps (4.5, 4.14), urinals (4.6), dishwashers (4.7 and 4.9) and swimming pools (4.11);

• WASTEWATER TREATMENT – In order to protect local ecosystems and drinking water sources from pollution risks (SDG target 6.3), all Green Key certified establishments install grease traps (criterion 4.10), and either must be connected to an existing public sewage system or must have an own on-site wastewater treatment system (4.8, 4.15). Wastewater treatment aims at neutralizing hazardous chemical and biological compounds in the establishments’ effluent before releasing it back into the environment;

• CHEMICALS IN WATER EFFLUENTS – Establishments are required to either pick cleaning products that are environmentally sound, or to altogether replace them with eco-friendly alternatives (criteria 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 4.12). This can significantly improve the quality of water effluents generated from the establishment’s activities, thus saving down-stream resources and reagents needed for wastewater treatment processes. The same is true for pesticides and fertilizers used for gardening on Green Key establishments’ green areas, as eco-friendly and organic alternatives should always be deployed unless there is no alternative on the market (criterion 10.1). Polluted water can infiltrate the ground and contaminate freshwater reservoir, which makes sustainable gardening an important requirement for the reduction of environmental pollution;

• IRRIGATION OF GREEN AREAS - To reduce the water consumption in garden and park areas of Green Key certified establishments, smart watering systems must be implemented (criterion 10.3). As a good practice to reduce drinkable water consumption from freshwater reservoirs and other sources, establishments are also encouraged to collect and use rainwater for gardening and other suitable purposes (criterion 10.5);

• GUEST AND STAFF INVOLVEMENT - Green Key believes that the education of staff and guests is one main factor in reducing the water consumption in a tourism establishment. First, all staff members must be made aware of the establishment’s water saving initiatives (criteria 2.2, 2.3, 2.5), and the housekeeping staff must implement the procedures regarding towel and sheet reuse in daily operations, so as to lower water consumption related to laundry (criterion 2.4). Green Key certified establishments also engage guests in their sustainability commitment (criterion 3.4), by instructing guests about water savings, and by giving them the option to forego the cleaning of sheets, towels, and rooms (criteria 5.1, 5.2, 5.12).

A document describing Green Key’s overall contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here.

Green Key and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: SDG #12

Green Key is a leading standard of excellence in the field of sustainable tourism, guiding tourism establishments in doing their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. In our new feature series we will present each of the 17 SDGs and explain their connection to Green Key. 

In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to guide governments, the private sector and civil society in transforming our world into safer, fairer and more livable place.   

On this page, you will learn more about Goal 12: "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns".   

What is Goal 12 about?

According to the UN "Achieving Goal 12 requires a strong national framework for sustainable consumption and production that is integrated into national and sectoral plans, sustainable business practices and consumer behaviour, together with adherence to international norms on the management of hazardous chemicals and wastes."

How does Green Key help to achieve Goal 12?

SDG 12 lies at the very core of Green Key’s activities, as it sets its roots deep in societal consumption patterns (SDG target 12.1), as well as the way in which resources are handled throughout their entire lifecycle, from direct use (SDG targets 12.2) to disposal (SDG targets 12.3, 12.5), passing through handling and storing (SDG target 12.5). SDG 12 also addresses the challenges of sustainable tourism specifically, requiring stakeholders that play a role in the hospitality industry to monitor their activities (SDG target 12.b), to report them adequately and be accountable for their actions (SDG target 12.6), as well as to inform the public and share best practices, awareness, and involvement (SDG target 12.8). Green Key helps both tourism establishments and their guests to make more sustainable consumption decisions:

• SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - Green Key demands its certified establishments to meet high standards regarding the management and consumption of resources such as water (criteria section 4), energy (criteria section 7) and food (criteria section 8). Energy (criterion 7.1), water (4.1), waste (6.10), and GHG emission (1.6) data are monitored periodically, to identify vulnerabilities as well as opportunities for continuous improvement.

• WASTE MANAGEMENT - Green Key encourages their establishments to keep records of the amount and types of waste they produce (criteria 6.10, 8.6), and to have a waste reduction plan in place for several types of waste including food waste (criteria 6.15 and 8.4 respectively). Certified establishments are furthermore encouraged to compost their organic waste (criterion 6.17). On-site composting contributes to closing loose ends of the establishment’s resource cycles. The production of compost from organic residues enables microorganisms and other decomposers to turn a costly waste flow into a valuable resource, used for example as a fertiliser to sustainably boost crop yield and plant health;

• CHEMICAL HANDLING - The environmentally and health-sound management of chemicals as defined in the targets of Goal 12 is also an integral part of Green Key. The programme has a whole category of criteria dealing with the responsible management and reduction of waste (criteria section 6), as well as several requirements dealing with the responsible handling of chemicals (criteria 5.4, 5.8, 5.10, 6.6, 6.7). The objective is to reduce environmental pollution generated by the hospitality industry, in this case particularly by having wastewater effluent treated according to national standards before it is released back into the environment, as well as to save resources and reagents to clean such effluent, by increasing its quality at earlier stages;

• LEADING THE SUSTAINABILITY TRANSITION - Green Key certified establishments are encouraged to act as green ambassadors and take the lead in the transition towards sustainability, for example by encouraging suppliers and third-party operated businesses within their premises to operate according to the principles of sustainability (criteria 13.1, 13.4) and contribute to making production/consumption patterns more eco-friendly;

• SUSTAINABLE CONSUMER CHOICES – At the very foundation of Green Key being an eco-label lies the idea that consumers must be enabled to easily make informed decisions when it comes to picking accommodations and other services in the hospitality industry. The effort Green Key is putting in collaboration with its OTA (Online Travel Agencies) partners is meant to provide consumers with an easy and reliable way to differentiate establishments based on their environmental, sustainability and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) performance;  

• SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING – As SDG target 12.6 points out, it is more and more important for establishments and especially large, transnational chains to provide information on their environmental performance, and either take credit for their efforts or responsibilities for their shortcomings. Green Key is partnering up with international hotel chains operating all over the world and keeps engaging them in the transition to sustainability. Data on energy, water, waste, and carbon emissions are collected on a periodical basis to highlight trends, improvements, or opportunities to increase efficiency, while the programme gives its partners useful data back to include in their sustainability reports.

A document describing Green Key’s overall contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here.

Green Key and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: SDG #10

Green Key is a leading standard of excellence in the field of sustainable tourism, guiding tourism establishments in doing their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. In our new feature series we will present each of the 17 SDGs and explain their connection to Green Key. 

In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to guide governments, the private sector and civil society in transforming our world into safer, fairer and more livable place.   

On this page, you will learn more about Goal 10: "Reduce inequality within and among countries".

What is Goal 10 about?

According to the UN, "Goal 10 calls for reducing inequalities in income as well as those based on age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status within a country. The Goal also addresses inequalities among countries, including those related to representation, migration and development assistance.” In the link above, you can read about the targets and indicators to Goal 10. 

In many developing countries, tourism is an important source of income and employment. However, these positive effects often do not reach those parts of society that would need it the most. If managed sustainably, however, tourism business can make a valuable contribution to the eradication of discrimination and inequalities. 

How does Green Key help to achieve goal 10?

The hospitality sector has a significant role in the provision of job opportunities to many workers, representing an important source of income for many countries. How this income is distributed also depends on how sustainable the management of the tourism establishment is. SDG target 10.2 clarifies that the social, economic, and political inclusion should be granted irrespective of “sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or other statuses”, and the Green Key programme shares this vision:

• STAFF SALARY - All employees working in Green Key certified establishments are paid at least a living wage, as compliance with local, national, and international regulations on labour is one of the imperative criteria, so the salary cannot lie below the legal minimum threshold (criterion 11.1);

• RECRUITMENT EQUITY - All Green Key certified establishments are encouraged to be equitable in hiring women and local minorities, including in management positions, while restraining from using child labour (criteria 11.2, 11.5). Fair conditions and justice at the workplace are at the core of the programme’s ethics and must be shared by all Green Key certified establishments.

A document describing Green Key’s overall contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here.

Green Key and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: SDG #3

Green Key is a leading standard of excellence in the field of sustainable tourism, guiding tourism establishments to do their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. In our new feature series we will present each of the 17 SDGs and explain their connection to Green Key. 

In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to guide governments, the private sector and civil society in transforming our world into safer, fairer and more livable place.   

On this page, you will learn more about Goal 3: "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages". 

What is Goal 3 about?

According to the UN, Goal 3 "seeks to ensure health and well-being for all, at every stage of life. The Goal addresses all major health priorities, including reproductive, maternal and child health; communicable, non-communicable and environmental diseases; universal health coverage; and access for all to safe, effective, quality, and affordable medicines and vaccines. It also calls for more research and development, increased health financing, and strengthened capacity of all countries in health risk reduction and management."

How does Green Key help to achieve Goal 3?

Green Key's criteria promote the health and well-being of the staff and guests by monitoring reducing the exposure to harmful substances and environmental pollution (SDG target 3.9). The programme requires certified establishments to comply with relevant health, safety, and environmental legislation (criterion 11.1). Additionally, here are some of the 2022-2025 criteria contributing to the achievement of SDG 3:

• WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION - All Green Key certified establishments need to have their wastewater treated, to ensure that it does not pollute the sea or any groundwater body (criterion 4.8); furthermore, Green Key encourages establishment to implement on-site wastewater treatment (where possible) to enable water savings and reduce pollution risk as well as other chemical hazards (criterion 4.15);

• CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT AND SOURCING - Hazardous chemicals pose a serious threat to human and ecosystem health. Pollutants can damage recipients via different pathways, such as ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. For this reason, Green Key certified establishments must reduce the use of hazardous chemicals, while still ensuring the highest standards of hygiene. Disinfection substances may only be used in accordance with the products’ directions for use, and in correspondence with the national legislation on hygiene. Fragranced products should be avoided, as they can be the cause for skin irritations and allergies (criteria 5.4, 5.10). The same applies to pesticides and fertilisers used in green areas within the establishment’s premises (criterion 10.1). Soaps, shampoos, and shower gels are preferably eco-labelled, thus providing, so that chemicals used in these products are verified (criterion 6.17);

• WASTE MANAGEMENT - Green Key expects applicant establishments to implement an effective waste management system that includes actions addressing the prevention, handling, and final disposal of the produced waste. In order to prevent environmental pollution and reduce the risk of human exposure to waste (criteria 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7);

• (NON)-SMOKING POLICY - Green Key promotes a smoke-free environment. At least 75% of the rooms in a certified establishment need to be non-smoking, and restaurants should be non-smoking or at least have a non-smoking section (criteria 9.1, 9.2). Furthermore, Green Key certified establishments are supposed to have a personnel policy in place regarding smoking during working hours (criterion 9.3);

• AIR QUALITY – Green Key establishments are encouraged to regularly monitor air quality within their premises, to make sure that staff work in a safe environment, and that guests are not exposed to health risks during their stay (criterion 9.4). Certified establishments should also support sustainable transportation either by recommending bike rentals and other eco-friendly means to guests (criteria 3.6, 12.2), or by providing bike rental services themselves (criterion 12.3), by banning vehicle idling within their premises (criterion 13.11), by providing and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly motorised vehicles to staff (13.10, 13.12), and by granting electric vehicles access to charging stations (criterion 7.26): this way toxic exhaust fumes released in the air are reduced, and so should the effects of air pollution threatening human health;

A document describing Green Key’s overall contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here.

Green Key and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: SDG #11

Green Key is a leading standard of excellence in the field of sustainable tourism, guiding tourism establishments in doing their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. In our new feature series we will present each of the 17 SDGs and explain their connection to Green Key. 

In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to guide governments, the private sector and civil society in transforming our world into safer, fairer and more livable place.   

On this page, you will learn more about Goal 11: "Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable".

What is Goal 11 about?

Goal 11 addresses the rapid growth of urban settlements that leads to unsustainable developments. Many fast-growing cities face environmental challenges such as water and air pollution and need to rethink their resource and waste management.

In many cities, over-tourism puts additional pressure on the urban environment. Tourism establishments use resources like water and energy, occupy urban space and strain on urban infrastructure. Furthermore, tourists put pressure on the natural and cultural heritage of urban spaces if their presence is not sustainably.

How does Green Key help to achieve goal 11?

In many destinations, tourism establishments are important urban assets, as they represent hubs of service, resources, tourism, and culture. As active players in the transition towards sustainability, Green Key certified establishments are required to take a stand in favor of promoting sustainable transportation (SDG target 11.2), of protecting and promoting local natural and cultural heritage (SDG target 11.4) and of reducing harmful flows of air-, water- and waste-driven pollution (SDG target 11.6), Here is what Green Key 2022-2025 criteria ask of the certified establishments:

• SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION – Daily transportation of staff, resources and guests represent an important share of overall emissions the establishments are responsible for, even more so when activities revolve around a travel intensive sector such as the hospitality industry. Green Key asks its certified establishments to promote the use of sustainable transportation and provide it for staff (criteria 13.10, 13.12) and guests (criteria 12.2, 12.3), e.g. in the form of bike rentals and eco-friendly motorised vehicles used for daily operations. Charging stations should also be installed to support the transition to less polluting electric vehicles (criterion 7.26);

• WASTE AND POLLUTION REDUCTION – Economic activity necessarily entails consumption of resources and production of negative externalities, such as air-, water- and soil pollution. Harmful by-products can put a serious strain on the environment and generate losses in aesthetic value, tourism-attraction potential, as well as biodiversity. Green Key certified establishments reduce the use of resources such as water (criteria section 4) and energy (criteria section 7) to consequently lower GHG emissions and wastewater effluent volume that would inevitably impact on the environment. At the same time, 2022-2025 criteria increasingly stress the importance of waste management, and make it compulsory for establishments to register monthly data on waste production (criterion 6.10), but also recommend them to draft a waste reduction action plan (criterion 6.15), so that establishments take resource cycles into account and make their best to cut on any unnecessary resource consumption and recover everything they can before it ends up harming the environment as well as human health (criteria section 6);

• RENOVATION MATERIALS – Renovation, upgrades and refurbishments of infrastructure represent relevant opportunities for establishments to improve their environmental performance, but they also generate construction waste and pollution. Green Key endorses its certified establishments to pick materials responsibly to make sure that renovations have the lowest negative impacts for the environment, for example by choosing eco-friendly (criterion 9.5) and locally sourced materials (criterion 9.6), so that transportation, cleaning, waste handling and maintenance costs are taken into account and always kept low.

A document describing Green Key’s overall contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here. 

Green Key and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: SDG #7

Green Key is a leading standard of excellence in the field of sustainable tourism, guiding tourism establishments to do their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. In our new feature series we will present each of the 17 SDGs and explain their connection to Green Key. 

In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to guide governments, the private sector and civil society in transforming our world into safer, fairer and more livable place.   

On this page, you will learn more about Goal 7: "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all".

What is Goal 7 about?

According to the UN, "Energy is crucial for achieving almost all of the Sustainable Development Goals, from its role in the eradication of poverty through advancements in health, education, water supply and industrialisation, to combating climate change.” In the link above, you can read about the targets and indicators to Goal 7. 

The tourism and hospitality industry is an energy-intensive sector, requiring electricity for its facilities and the provision of tourism-related services such as accommodation, catering, and tourism experiences.

According to UNEP and UNWTO, tourism is responsible of about 5% of global CO2 emissions. The accommodation sector alone accounts for approximately 20% of emissions from tourism.*

How does Green Key help to achieve Goal 7?

Green Key has a whole section of criteria (see section 7 here) dealing with energy efficiency and savings (SDG target 7.3), renewable sources (SDG target 7.2), green technologies (SDG target 7.a and 7.b), encompassing 29 requirements and guidelines in the 2022-2025 updated criteria set. As it is the case for water management, sustainability in energy consumption is a principle that should contribute to shaping the whole activity structure of Green Key certified establishments, as it is deeply connected to their environmental and emission footprint.

It is worth mentioning that Green Key has built a network of partners operating at the frontier of green technologies and smart solutions, to promote sustainable consumption patterns.

Green Key criteria help tourism establishment both monitor and reduce their energy consumption. More specifically:

• MONITORING OF THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION– Green Key makes it mandatory for certified establishments to register their energy consumption monthly, as well as to differentiate between the sources of energy used to provide electricity, heating and cooling within the establishments’ premises (criterion 7.1). For this reason, Green Key uses ECO-OS as a sustainability accounting database, where the establishments’ energy consumption data are registered periodically to evaluate the consumption and find opportunities for improvement. Certified establishments are encouraged to install separated meters at strategic energy hubs within their premises (criterion 7.23), to further breakdown consumption and identify viable ways to reduce their overall energy demand. Finally, Green Key suggests that certified establishments undergo independent and external energy audits every 5 years (criterion 7.19). Green Key also offers a free calculation tool on its website to help tourism establishments measure their carbon footprint, based on their Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

• ENERGY EFFICIENCY – As technology moves forward, so do establishments to increase their energy efficiency in daily operations. Green Key establishments must make an effort to purchase appliances and electronics with a low energy consumption, such as light bulbs (criterion 7.3), mini bars (7.8, 7.16), and other electronic devices (7.11, 7.18). Furthermore, Green Key recommends its certified establishments to perform continuous maintenance on appliances so that efficiency is always maximised, e.g. grease filters (criterion 7.4), heating and cooling systems (7.5), door seals of refrigeration appliances (7.6), freezing equipment (7.7). An increase in energy efficiency that goes hand in hand with the adoption of responsible and sustainable consumption patterns can contribute significantly to the reduction of GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions caused by the establishment’s activities, with the hospitality sector moving one step closer to the Net Zero goal by 2050;

• SMART CONSUMPTION - Certified establishments are required to reduce their energy consumption by applying smart energy management systems and solutions such as:

  • Adjusting heating and air-conditioning control (HVAC) systems according to seasonal changes or when the establishment’s facilities are not in use (criterion 7.2), as well as kitchen hood fan speeds with automated infrared technologies (7.27);

  • Implementing procedures to switch off electric devices in empty meeting rooms and bedrooms, as well as installing motion detectors, automatic switch-offs, or daylight sensors in common indoor (criteria 7.9, 7.21) and outdoor (7.12) areas;

  • Having air-conditioning and heating systems automatically switch off when windows are opened (criterion 7.24);

  • Defining standard temperatures for cooling and heating in guest and meeting rooms (criterion 7.10);

  • Implementing a heat recovery system for e.g. refrigeration, ventilators, and swimming pools (criterion 7.25);

• BUILDING EFFICIENCY – Heating, cooling and temperature management performed within the establishments’ premises are only as effective as the building is insulated to prevent heat loss. This is why Green Key pushes certified establishments to improve their infrastructure, e.g. by meeting requirements for higher national or international building ratings (criterion 7.20), but also by exceeding local/national standards for window efficiency to achieve better results and lead the transition (7.17);

• RENEWABLE ENERGY – In order to further lower their ecological footprint and emission levels, establishments taking part in the Green Key journey towards sustainability are strongly encouraged to source their energy responsibly, picking renewable energy providers or producing renewable energy themselves more and more, to cover up to 100% of their total energy consumption (criteria 7.13, 7.14). In case they are disconnected from the electrical grid altogether, establishments should install efficient energy generators to prevent energy loss (7.29);

• ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION – Green Key certified establishments are also expected to promote sustainable energy consumption among guests, staff, and other relevant stakeholders. Establishments should support sustainable transportation either by recommending bike rentals and other eco-friendly means to guests (criteria 3.6, 12.2), or by providing bike rental services themselves (criterion 12.3), by banning vehicle idling within their premises (criterion 13.11), by providing and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly motorised vehicles to staff (criteria 13.10, 13.12), and by granting electric vehicles access to charging stations (criterion 7.26);

• GUEST AND STAFF INVOLVEMENT – Green Key certified establishments inform and engage guests in their energy saving initiatives, thus promoting responsible behaviour among tourists, and encouraging them to reduce their energy consumption during their stay (criteria 3.4, 3.6). At the same time, staff actively takes part in the collective effort to implement sustainability as a fundamental part of daily operations, e.g. by training them periodically (criterion 2.3), by nudging sustainable practices with clear signage in the staff areas (criterion 2.5), and by promoting sustainable transportation practices, such as car-sharing and the use of eco-friendly vehicles (criterion 13.12).

A document describing Green Key’s overall contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here.