InterContinental Sofia is the only Green Key certified establishment in Bulgaria

As the only Green Key-certified hotel in Bulgaria, the InterContinental Sofia Hotel can serve as an example for other establishments in the country that want to work on their sustainable development and be involved in the Green Key programme. 

© InterContinental Sofia Hotel

 The hotel's sustainability ambition is to go beyond the regular separate collection of waste. For this reason, the hotel has installed special glass recycling machines on every second floor, which transform glass into powder. The containers specifically designated for the glass powder are then collected by a contractor and sent directly to a glass manufacturing plant. 

The glass recycling machines are managed electronically and when full, the signal shows that its container should be replaced. The machines also register the quantity of glass collected and within several months of operation, the InterContinental Sofia hotel has delivered over 9000kg of glass transformed to powder, which can then be repurposed in several industrial applications. 

Angelo Zuccala, General Manager at InterContinental Sofia Hotel says:

“I am proud to have the honour of accepting such international recognition and for our hotel to become the only holder of the Green Key certificate in the country. We are happy to continue to contribute to the IHG "Journey to Tomorrow" program and invest in what is the most important to all of us - our guests, colleagues and owners, namely to work with care for society and to grow sustainably.”

© InterContinental Sofia Hotel

Additionally, Stanimir Georgiev, a National Operator of the Green Key programme in Bulgaria adds: 

“InterContinental Sofia Hotel proved to be a reliable Green Key applicant that not only followed the Green Key criteria but has turned the philosophy of the programme into a working style and a way of life. The support of the hotel owners, the impressive sustainability strategy of the InterContinental Hotels Group hotel chain, the ambition of the management and the dedication and commitment of the entire hotel team are a sure guarantee that the common efforts to introduce quality management with environmental and social responsibility and minimal carbon footprint inevitably lead to success.” 

Click here to learn more about InterContinental Sofia Hotel.

Center Hotels in Iceland commit to complying with Green Key criteria

On 12th of December 2022 representatives from Center Hotels and Green Key Iceland met to sign a contract committing the hotel chain to apply for the Green Key certificate for all of its eight hotels in central Reykjavik.

© Vottunarstofan Tún, who runs the Green key programme in Iceland

Center Hotels is an Icelandic hotel chain and a family-run business with a long-rooted history of accommodations in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. With the first guesthouse built in 1994 and the latest one in 2021,  the Center Hotels chain committed to meeting Green Key criteria in all of its eight hotels and using Green Key guidelines as a framework for sustainable development.

During the special event  when the contract between Green Key Iceland and Center Hotels was signed, the Chief Operations Officer of Center Hotels, Eva Josteinsdottir, shared the following:

"We are very excited about signing the contract with Green Key. […] Center Hotels recognizes environmental responsibility and welcomes the challenge. We believe that there are enormous opportunities within the hospitality business to practice sound and sustainable practices, and we, the team at Center Hotels, will do what we can to minimize the environmental impact of our operations. We are very lucky to have an incredible team that is truly dedicated and excited about taking part in all our green initiatives.”

Moreover, Sigridur Helga Stefansdottir, Director of Marketing at Center Hotels added:

"We are thrilled about the Green Key contract. We understand the importance of practicing sustainability and we know that our guests coming from all around the world feel the importance as well and want to know what we are doing in terms of sustainability practices at our hotels. We are therefore excited to have the opportunity to share the progress, the results, and the Green Key programme with them." 

© Vottunarstofan Tún

The commitment of Center Hotels is important for Icelandic tourism, including the opportunities for travellers to choose sustainable accommodation in Iceland’s capital as Center Hotels’ eight establishments, account for roughly 18% of all hotel rooms in Reykjavik. It is therefore exciting to wait while the eight hotels go through the application process before they can be Green Key certified.

Learn more about Center Hotels here.

Green Key establishments in Trinidad and Tobago were certified for the second year in a row

On November 10th 2022, the Green Key National Jury of Trinidad and Tobago unanimously agreed to recertify two tourism establishments: Adventure Eco Villas and Shepherd’s Inn Tobago, for their second consecutive year.

© Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities & Transportation, Green Key certification of Shepherd’s Inn, Tobago

Each establishment proved that they maintained the Green Key standard. Not only were they able to meet the required second-year certification standards, but both establishments also exceeded the minimum required compliance with 5% guideline criteria. Owners of both establishments proved their commitment to sustainable development and their actions help to promote Trinidad and Tobago as an eco-friendly destination. 

In the words of Mr Ean McKay, owner of Adventure Eco-villas: 

“The team at Adventure Eco Villas on Adventure Farm and Nature Reserve in Tobago in the Caribbean are elated to be re-certified as a Green Key Facility. This further endorses all our sustainable endeavours which we will continue to share with our visitors and the wider public. Working together with nature.”

© Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities & Transportation, Green Key certification of Adventure Eco Villas

Moreover, because of its continuous commitment to Green Key, Shepherd’s Inn Tobago was invited to participate in a pilot programme funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Shepherd’s Inn received 26 units of R-290 air conditioning, which proved to have the lowest climate impact, and data loggers for other air conditioning units that the establishment is currently using. 

Mr Anslem Simon, Project Manager for Trinidad and Tobago shared his thoughts: 

“Shepherd’s Inn, Tobago, was identified as one of these pilot sites, based on the establishment’s Green Key Certification and commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. The project will collect data on energy consumption, which will then be used to show a comparison in energy usage and cost savings for the more energy-efficient R-290 ACs. The project is proud to be partnering with Shepherd’s Inn to promote a more sustainable cooling pathway for Trinidad & Tobago.” 

Green Key Trinidad and Tobago continue to be a partnership between the Tobago Tourism Agency and Green T&T working together to improve its services on sustainable development. 

To learn more about Adventure Eco Villas and Shepherd’s InnTobago visit their website.

The Foundation for Environmental Education is Partnering with the GIZ ICONE Programme to Develop Sustainable Tourism in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Improved Competitiveness of National Enterprises (ICONE) programme of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to increase sustainable tourism in Cambodia and develop an eco-certification program for the hospitality sector in the South-East Asian countries.  

© GIZ

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the tourism industry is recovering fast after the pandemic, with an estimated 700 million tourists travelling internationally between January and September 2022. That equals 65% of international arrivals from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. In Asia and the Pacific, arrivals more than tripled in the first nine months of 2022 compared to 2021.

Cambodia's tourism sector is slowly recovering from the massive impact the Covid-19 pandemic had. For 2022, the Ministry of Tourism expects about 1,6 million arrivals to the Kingdom of Wonders with its unique cultural treasure Angkor Wat. Quality standards and sustainability guidelines are becoming increasingly crucial for rebuilding Cambodia's tourism industry as they can create a competitive advantage for local tourism establishments. Against this background, GIZ's ICONE private sector development programme implements various measures to embed sustainable practices along the tourism value chain. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is a major partner in this endeavour, providing valuable technical support and implementation know-how. Together, the two partners started a new project on 1st December 2022 to introduce two of the most prominent FEE programmes to the Cambodian hospitality sector: the Eco-School Initiative and the Green Key Sustainability Certificate.

© GIZ

The Green Key Certificate and Eco-School Initiative are vital instruments to enhance awareness about sustainability among the various stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality sector. Under the cooperation, staff from vocational training schools, their students, and personnel and managers from the tourism and hospitality industry will be trained and supported to implement sustainability measures, including the Green Key certification. The joint project of GIZ ICONE and FEE ultimately aims to facilitate long-term structural change by, for example, ensuring that sustainability is embedded into the existing school curricula. Therefore, the project will support three hospitality schools in Cambodia to modify and expand their Common ASEAN Tourism Curriculum (CATC) to integrate special courses on sustainability and climate action. The revision and adaptation of existing courses and teaching materials, together with the training of teaching staff, will ensure that up-to-date knowledge about sustainable and eco-friendly tourism is available to future generations of students and the Cambodian tourism industry at large.

Additionally, all three schools will be invited and supported to join the Eco-School Initiative. Training for teachers will be provided, and concepts, measures, and guidelines to transform into an Eco-School shall be jointly developed with FEE. The CEO of FEE, Daniel Schaffer, is excited about introducing the Eco School Initiative to Cambodia:

"Raising awareness on sustainable development and improving the strategies of the tourism and hospitality sector to develop a higher level of sustainability comes at a crucial time. It is vital to integrate climate education into national school curricula. We must ensure that everyone, both young and old, is equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to deal with climate change. That goes without saying also for hospitality schools and stakeholders from the tourism sector."

At the same time, the internationally acknowledged sustainability label Green Key represents a unique opportunity for Cambodia's tourism and hospitality sector to reinvent itself as a provider of high-quality, sustainable and eco-friendly tourism products. This is why one of the hospitality schools will be qualified as a pre-auditor to consult companies from the hospitality and tourism sector on the certification requirements and help prepare for the subsequent audit by a certifying body. GIZ ICONE will support the label's introduction to the Cambodian market by screening local market demand and developing a communication strategy for sustainability certification and the Green Key program. FEE will help evaluate the applicants in Cambodia and organize workshops and conferences on sustainability in tourism and hospitality. The events will also be open to individuals and organizations from other South-East Asian countries.

Dr Stefan Hanselmann, director of GIZ ICONE, points out:

"Pandemics change perceptions. Travellers are now looking for offers that focus on authenticity, adventure, nature. A sustainability-based approach will help preserve Cambodia's natural resources and tourism assets. It will give travellers an authentic experience. With FEE and its Green Key Certificate and Eco-School Initiative, we have the right partner and excellent tools to promote sustainability in Cambodia's tourism and hospitality sector."

Radisson Antananarivo WaterFront, Madagascar receives the Green Key certificate

Rebranded from Tamboho Boutik Hotel to Radisson Antananarivo Waterfront in January 2022, the hotel receives the Green Key certificate for its incredible work towards sustainability. 

© Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront

The hotel is located near the business area of Ankorondrano, by the tree-lined area of Tana Waterfront. It has 30 stylish rooms and suites in traditional Malagasy architecture, an on-site restaurant Tamboho, an outdoor terrace, and green gardens, and also offers the possibility of hosting private events.

Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront is working on various sustainability initiatives including a campaign among the Radisson Hotels called “Own your energy” which is a joint pledge for employees aiming to increase their involvement in energy saving, reduction of energy bills and minimizing the carbon footprint. By committing to a pledge, the employees engage themselves to respect and apply their pledge in the different areas of the hotel.

Another great sustainability initiative is the hotel's Urban vegetable Garden, where the employees are engaged in growing a variety of herbs and vegetables which are then offered to both guests and hotel employees. Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront also encourages its guests and collaborators to no plastic usage, to create a habit which will lead to reduction of plastic usage on the establishment's side and living in a zero-plastic environment. 

© Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront

Moreover, through their ongoing Reforestation Programme with Bondy, an enterprise that helps companies to control their impact on the world, the hotel is working on solutions on how to encourage its guests to be more responsible and limit the impact of their consumption during their journey in the hotel.

François van Rens, a General Manager at Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront added few words on the importance of sustainable development and the Green Key certification for the establishment:

“The Radisson Waterfront Antananarivo team takes pride in lowering our footprint, doing our part to promote sustainable tourism in beautiful Madagascar and contribute to Radisson Hotel group’s objective to be net-zero by 2050. With Green Key we raise awareness, create enthusiasm, involve our guests and partners, and empower the team to “think planet” and be creative, our vegetable garden being one of our finest examples.”

Click here, to learn more about the Radisson Antananarivo Waterfront, Madagascar.

Ecolab & Green Key move forward on their partnership to support hotels & restaurants, reaching their sustainability goals

According to a survey requested by the European Commission, 82% of European citizens are prepared to change at least some of their travel and tourism habits towards being more sustainable. On that account, Green Key and Ecolab decided to continue their partnership to promote sustainability in the industry.

© Ecolab

Ecolab helps solving the world’s greatest water, food, health, and climate challenges through its commitment to protect the environment, address social concerns and adhere to responsible policies and practices. Therefore, the company is protecting what’s vital for our survival and enables the best outcomes for people, the planet, and business health at the highest return.

Green Key’s partnership with Ecolab will promote the use of sustainable solutions in hotels and restaurants worldwide. This should help tourism establishments to achieve their sustainability goals and achieve Green Key certification.

Philippe Meunier, Senior Marketing Sustainability Manager Institutional Europe, Ecolab, comments on the cooperation agreement with Green Key:

“I am excited to see the collaboration with Green Key moving forward as we share the same vision on the importance of reducing the total impact of hotels & restaurants. Ecolab can do so much in that respect to help them. “

Through programs and services that provide an unmatched value to companies, such as the reduction of water, and energy consumption, as well as the CO2 footprint, Ecolab will support the effort of the hospitality industry to implement the highest sustainability standards.

Green Key International Director, Finn Bolding Thomsen adds:

“We are happy to, once more, sign the partnership with Ecolab. This will help us to increase the awareness of Green Key certificates and sustainable development within the hospitality and tourism industry and gives us a possibility to further work towards a more sustainable future.”

Soraya Hlila, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Institutional Europe at Ecolab comments by saying:

“At Ecolab, we are protecting what’s vital, planet health and people health. Through our partnership with Green Key, we can help hospitality businesses achieve the highest sustainability standards”

About Ecolab

A trusted partner at nearly three million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services that help protect people, the planet, and business health. With annual sales of $13 billion and more than 47,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive science-based solutions, data-driven insights, and world-class service to advance food safety, help maintain clean and safe environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world.

To learn more about Ecolab’s sustainability commitments and achievements, click here.

Green Key Members Supporting Running Out of Time

Launched in Glasgow, Scotland on 30 September, Running Out of Time, the world’s longest relay, ended in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on 8 November after covering 7,767 kilometres and 18 countries.

© Green Key Netherlands

Team members of Green Key Netherlands running part of the stage in Running Out of Time and handing over the baton at Green Key certified Van der Valk Hotel Venlo.

The relay crossed the finish line on 8 November together with the baton, which included a message to the world leaders at COP 27 demanding quality climate education for all. Over the past 40 days, several Green Key members and certified establishments have supported the relay and the message in the baton by hosting baton handovers, running stages of the relay and offering the relay’s Support Crew a good night’s sleep!

Erik van Dijk who is a National Operator of the Green Key and Blue Flag programme in the Netherlands, shared why he decided to support the Running Out of Time:

“When I heard about Running Out of Time, I was immediately enthusiastic. I called some of our Green Key certified establishments and Blue Flag awarded sites in the southern part of the country. Eight of them were also enthusiastic and they offered their support and hospitality. Even my colleagues, Laska and Johan, were participating and running a part in the relay. It was wonderful to see the baton in Brussels, its handover at a marina in the Netherlands and the end at the COP27 in Sharm El Sheik. I am proud to be a part of FEE, an organisation where people care. And even more proud, that part of my daily work is to help entrepreneurs in hospitality, beaches and marinas to make their business more sustainable.”

We would like to thank the Green Key members around the world as well as the Green Key certified establishments and their teams who took part in the run and supported this amazing initiative! A special thanks to:

• Keep Scotland Beautiful – runs the Green Key programme in Scotland and the first Green Key certified hotel in Scotland, Radisson RED in Glasgow hosted the prelaunch event in Glasgow, and provided rooms for the Support Crew of Running Out of Time.

• Keep Britain Tidy, which is responsible for Green Key England and helped to recruit runners and increase the awareness about Running Out of Time.

• Keep Wales Tidy, runs the Green Key programme in Wales and their team who helped carry the baton while cycling during the relay.

• GoodPlanet Belgium responsible for Green Key Belgium has been supporting sustainable development in Belgium for over 20 years and this time, once again, supported this amazing initiative for the climate education by organizing a special baton handover event with the European Commission and former FEE President, Jan Eriksen.

• Green Key Netherlands who not only helped to involve multiple  Green Key certified establishments in the relay but also helped run and cycle the baton to Germany! The following establishments supported the Running Out of Time: Boutique Hotel The Roosevelt, Molecaten Park Wijde Blick. Suite Hotel Pincoffs, Hotel Central in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Van der Valk Hotel Venlo and De Maaspoort Theater & Events.

• FEE’s member in Germany, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Umwelterziehung (DGU), whose board member Jens Hepper attended the special baton handover event at the UNFCCC Headquarters in Bon.

• Environmental Consultancy of Montenegro (ECOM), running the Green Key programme in Montenegro helped to spread the word about the Running Out of Time and increased awareness about climate action and climate education.

• Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) in Greece together with the Vice President of FEE and President of HSPN Nikos Petrou, who helped with the baton handover in Greece and to spread the word about message in the baton. Moreover, Green Key certified establishments, specifically the Mediterranean Village, Grecotel Larissa Imperial, Mitsis Galini Wellness Spa & Resort and Anastasia Hotel hosted the relay’s Support Crew and Fissi Villas from Agios Nikolaos supported Running Out of Time with a donation.

• Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA), FEE’s member in Cyprus that helped to move the baton through Cyprus to Israel.

• And finally, EcoOcean in Israel who helped to recruit hundreds of runners and cyclists, organized incredible handover events and made it possible to get the baton to its final stages in Egypt.  

The Baton Message was handed to the world leaders at COP27 at the UNESCO Pavilion on 8 November. You can read more about its journey here and you can still support the message here.

Discount to help Scotland’s smaller tourism establishments access eco-certificate

Green Key offers a chance to secure environmental improvements and financial savings to smaller tourism establishments in Scotland.

Scotland’s smaller tourism and hospitality establishments are encouraged to find out how a leading international sustainability programme, Green Key, can help them to secure year-on-year environmental improvements, financial savings and attract customers who are increasingly seeking out sustainable options.

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful is working with VisitScotland to give smaller and medium tourism establishments the chance to join Green Key with a discount of £500 off the first year of membership. The funding is part of VisitScotland’s Sustainability Certification Scheme Fund for Tourism Recovery, and the Destination Net Zero Programme. The discount is available for ten micro, small and SME businesses until March 2023, on a first come first served basis.

Lyn Donnelly, Senior Responsible Tourism Manager at VisitScotland, comments on the special discount offered to smaller tourism establishments:

“Visitors are becoming increasingly aware of their impact on the world around them. We want to support their desire to be environmentally conscious by equipping those within the tourism industry with the knowledge and understanding of how their business can meet these needs, reduce their own operational costs, and preserve and enhance Scotland’s natural surroundings, all at the same time.”

Through Green Key, Keep Scotland Beautiful, the national operator for the certification programme in Scotland, offers a comprehensive in-person audit of premises and additional support to help tourism establishments achieve year-on-year environmental improvements and reduce climate-change-causing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Green Key audit also provides an ideal opportunity to access advice on how to make financial savings, such as through more efficient use of energy and resources - vital with the current rise of operating costs.

With the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last year has put a spotlight on sustainability in Scotland’s tourism sector, Green Key provides a way to help businesses showcase their green credentials to a large pool of environmentally conscious consumers.

Moreover, Barry Fisher, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, says:

“We’ve been delighted to receive interest in Green Key from a variety of large hotels and attractions, with Radisson Red becoming the first we’ve supported to receive accreditation. Now we are delighted to work with Visit Scotland and offer smaller businesses the chance to access the multiple benefits of Green Key for a reduced price.”

Finn Bolding Thomsen, International Green Key Director at Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) also adds:

“Internationally recognised, the Green Key programme is open to a variety of tourism establishments - from small accommodations to large hotel facilities. We are very appreciative of VisitScotland for supporting Keep Scotland Beautiful in offering a discount for SME establishments in Scotland wishing to join the Green Key programme.”

To help prospective Green Key applicants find out more about the initiative and the discount Keep Scotland Beautiful will be running a Green Key webinar on 10 January 2023.     

Find out more and register for Green Key information webinars here.

Biodiversity Preservation in Green Key certified Hyvärilä Youth Centre Nurmes, Finland

Sustainability is a core component of the Hyvärila Youth Centre, which holds a Green Key certification, reflecting the centre’s standard of excellence in environmental responsibility and its awareness of its own environmental impacts.

© Hyvärilä Youth Centre Nurmes, Finland

In January 2021, the Youth Centre launched its Wildflower Meadow project, which involved planting a wildflower meadow near the Youth Centre as part of a larger biodiversity preservation project. Staff from the centre, the Association of Women in Agriculture and Housekeeping of Eastern Finland, the Association for Rural Culture and Education and the Environmental School of Finland all came together to support this initiative, providing local expertise and helping hands.

Planted using native Finnish species and species from the local area, the new wildflower meadow provides an excellent outdoor area for non-formal learning and is currently used to host biodiversity lessons for the youth centre visitors.

Wildflower meadows are a crucial habitat for many animal species. The diversity of wildflowers provides food and shelter to hundreds of insects, including pollinators, which, in turn, supports mammals and birds. Besides the planting of a wildflower meadow, the Hyvärila Youth Centre also worked closely with the local community and youth visitors to host a series of very successful insect hotel-building workshops, which will be repeated given their popularity. While only in its second year, the project serves to promote positive actions that individuals can take to preserve the natural habitat of local pollinating species and smaller animals.

The learning activities in connection with the planting of the wildflower meadow have also been used to teach about the importance of maintaining and preserving Finnish traditions and cultural landscapes. Co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps Programme, in the next five years the project aims to involve at least 70 local and international volunteers , teaching about how to grow meadows, and maintain them using traditional techniques. This includes learning about the use of traditional tools such a scythe, as well as the process of hay making. Participating in an annual flea market in North Karelia, the Youth Centre hosted an event, helping revive the Finnish tradition of “Haymaking Talkoot” – a community-based event which involves gathering local people to help complete a large task that needs doing, such as haymaking, cleaning or building something.

© Hyvärilä Youth Centre Nurmes, Finland

Launched in 2021, a programme by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is a ‘rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, for the benefit of people and nature’. Local youth and community-based projects such as the one from Hyvärilä Youth Centre play an important role in maintaining and teaching about local biodiversity and ecosystems. Overall, restoration of such wildflower meadows is essential to helping achieve the UN Decade’s goals and combating insect and pollinator decline worldwide.

If you would like to learn more about the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and how you can get involved, please visit the following link.

This article is part of our UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration series which highlights the projects and activities of FEE members that contribute to the UN Decade.