Sustainability Certifications for the Hotel Industry
Which one suits you? Embarking on the journey towards sustainability in the hotel industry can be both exciting and challenging, particularly with a myriad of certification options available. In this landscape, several well-regarded sustainability certifications cater to various property types, locations, and price ranges. The decision-making process becomes a crucial aspect as choosing the right certification not only aligns your property with environmentally conscious practices but also serves as a distinctive marker in a competitive market.
In this guide, we delve into the depth of various sustainability certifications, outlining their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision that suits your unique needs and values.
The Importance of Sustainability Certifications:
1. Credibility and Third-Party Validation:
Sustainability certifications offer more than just a badge; they provide credibility through third-party validation. This external verification becomes a powerful tool for building trust among consumers, partners, and stakeholders.
2. Commitment to Transparency:
Certifications act as a tangible representation of this commitment, helping businesses stand out in a market where consumers increasingly prioritize eco-friendly choices.
3. Guidance and Standards
Certifications offer a structured framework for implementing sustainable initiatives. They provide guidance and set standards, ensuring that specific criteria are met. This not only streamlines sustainability efforts but also offers a roadmap for continuous improvement.
Types of Certifications:
Hotel Sustainability Basics by World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC): Sustainability Basics provides a straightforward and accessible entry point for hotels looking to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. With a focus area on energy and waste reduction, it is a great stepping stone for smaller properties looking to begin implementing sustainability practices into their operation.
Green Globe: Green Globe certification evaluates a hotel’s sustainability practices with a broader perspective, covering not only environmental factors but also social and economic dimensions. It assesses hotel’s sustainability practices, including energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, and social responsibility. It emphasizes continuous improvement and benchmarking.
Green Growth 2050: With a focus on long-term environmental, social, and economic goals, this certification covers various aspects, including energy efficiency, waste management, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement. We caught up the CEO of Green Growth 2050, and you listen to him via our Sustainability stories Podcast.
Green Key: Green Key is non-governmental, administered by the non-profit entity Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), grants certifications that endorse environmental responsibility and enhances sustainable practices. Green Key certification covers operational aspects of energy and water conservation, waste management, environmental education, and staff involvement and is based on the principles of continuous improvement.
EarthCheck: EarthCheck is known for its holistic approach, assessing the overall impact of a property on both the environment and the local community. It primarily concentrates on environmental and social performance within the travel and tourism sector
ISO 14001 is an international standard for environmental management systems. It helps hotels establish and maintain effective environmental management practices, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and promoting sustainability.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): LEED certification focuses on building design and construction, including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and sustainable materials usage. It is a globally recognized certification program.
LEED O+M certification (Operations and Maintenance), on the other hand, specifically targets the sustainable operations and maintenance of existing buildings. It is intended for buildings that have already been constructed and are seeking to improve their ongoing sustainability performance. The O+M certification addresses areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste management, indoor air quality, and occupant comfort within the existing building.
Various sustainability certifications for the hotel industry provide options for businesses to align with their unique goals and values. This guide and the download pdf aims to simplify the decision-making process by exploring the depth of these certifications, highlighting their pros and cons.
The choice of hotel certification depends on:
- The specific goals and context of a hotel
- Focus area factors
- Market recognition
- Costs
- Alignment with industry standards
Certifications can lead to cost savings and operational efficiencies from reduced energy consumption, waste minimisation, and optimal resource usage. Regardless of the certification chosen, the benefits that they offer in terms of an implementation framework and a roadmap for improvement are invaluable to any organisation and play a crucial role in fostering a sustainable future
If you need support in choosing the right one for you, do reach out to us. in 2022, we have succesfully completed documentation, building of training for 9 hotels in UAE.
💡 Did you know, there are also specific micro certifications, such as “The PLEDGE on Food Waste‘ or “SUP-FREE” (SUP – Single Use Plastic) that we can support with.
