There is growing pressure to demonstrate verifiable green credentials from both visitors and your B2B clients in the public and private sector.
There are tourism specific green schemes, which are increasingly well known by visitors including:
- Green Tourism Business Scheme The Green Tourism certification supports businesses to be more sustainable and provides a credible and independent way of demonstrating your sustainable tourism commitment. Founded in Scotland, it’s a globally recognised scheme with 2000 members. Their GreenCheck Quiz will determine if your business is already eligible for a Green Tourism award. It only takes 10 minutes and you get an instant result! For more information and to receive an application pack, please email enquiries@green-tourism.com or call 01738 632162.
- Green Key is run by Keep Scotland Beautiful and allows your business to meet global standards set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and recognised by the UN WTO. There are numerous free resources and training from partner organisations which offer advice, funding opportunities and skills development for staff across sustainability, inclusivity and community engagement.
The VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards reward and recognise organisations that have demonstrated significant business benefits from good environmental practice. In the year that COP26 is coming to Glasgow, the 2021 Awards will also celebrate the actions and achievements of businesses towards reaching net-zero carbon emissions.
Case study: Dundonald Links, Ayrshire
Environmental Management Systems
Many corporates now demand proof that all their suppliers have an externally verified environmental management system (EMS) in place. The international standards for EMS are well explained on the NetRegs site and point towards ISO 14001 – the internationally recognised standard. There is also a free online tool that businesses can use confidentially to assess their environmental (legal) compliance around Air, Water, Waste, Materials and equipment, Hazardous substances and Packaging at Environmental Self-Assessment tool