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Green Key featured in FEE's annual report of 2021

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Every year, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) shares the main highlights and decisions from the organisation and its network in the annual FEE report. Amongst others, the report includes various achievements from FEE’s five programmes. Therefore, milestones and other important highlights of the Green Key programme are also displayed in the report.

After a challenging 2020 for the tourism industry, with many hospitality businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, at the beginning of the year 2021, the Green Key programme was busier than ever. As part of its COVID-19 strategy and to assist its members during this difficult time, the Green Key programme extended the certifications from establishments affected by the pandemic. In addition, Green Key recognised the efforts of accommodations that were able to comply with the strict set of criteria, and therefore received the certificate despite the circumstances in 2020.

In 2021, the Green Key programme also achieved other milestones, such as:

  • Welcoming two new countries to its network, Madagascar and Trinidad & Tobago, which are now also amongst the countries having Green Key certified establishments;

  • Establishing and renewing cooperation agreements with enterprises that work closely with hotels and other accommodations worldwide. One of these partnerships was signed with Beirholm, a company that produces environmentally friendly textiles. In addition, Green Key also prolonged its collaboration with Drinkable Air, which works with Atmospheric Water Generators technology to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles;

  • Being represented at COP 26 in Glasgow;

  • Being highlighted as a robust example of a sustainable tourism scheme by the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés (HOTREC) in its publication Towards sustainable Tourism in Europe (2020);

  • Launching its first course on FEE Academy, which inspired the development of a training project for a hospitality school in Cambodia;

  • Revising its criteria. Green Key’s new standards for 2022-2025 have been recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and can be found here.

    To read more about Green Key’s highlights of 2021 featured in the FEE annual report click here.