Is your hotel really eco-friendly? Here’s how to tell
Our sustainability editor, Juliet Kinsman, has put together the ultimate cheat sheet for evaluating hotels and tour operators – and determining if they really are green. We share these considerations so you too can assess whether a hotel or travel company is truly eco-friendly, so we can all be less prone to greenwashing and travel better.
1. Learn how to measure impact
Ultimately, organizations need to measure positive and negative impacts with a clear goal of continuing to improve. Does the hotel or operator you are considering show that their teams are actively following this? It can be difficult to quantify the impact, but companies need to be action-oriented. Action must be tangible – we must know how They support initiatives to combat issues such as poverty and gender equality, as well as support for marginalized groups, marine and environmental protection. This can be news peppered with stats or show that there is a clear company-wide policy on a specific goal.
2. Prioritize decarbonization – not carbon offsetting
Carbon accounting is a priority, but the focus should be on reducing emissions at source – not just on third-party offsetting. Smaller guest houses and independent travel agencies are likely to have smaller footprints than larger companies. But kudos to people like Intrepid travel, which sets outstanding standards in CO2 measurement. The company is registered with Science-based goal initiativemeaning the team tracks and reduces emissions across all operations, from trips they arrange to ensure offices around the world are powered by renewable energy.
It’s also worth talking about real innovations to reduce greenhouse gases – like hotels adopting triple glazing with minimal energy wastage in heating and cooling. The best brag is when a company says it is making significant carbon sequestration efforts – such as Alladale‘s extensive reforestation in Scotland – rather than simply outsourcing to carbon credit projects.
Patagonia National ParkGetty Images
3. Book local businesses and hotels with sustainability experts
Keeping as much money as possible in local pockets is a big win when it comes to economic sustainability. Thumbs up for locally owned businesses run by a personality who cares about the environment and community. Smaller businesses, B&Bs and lodgings that fund conservation are probably better keepers of their coordinates when it comes to looking out for their neighbors and investing in this destination’s infrastructure.
Larger international hotels may have standard operating procedures developed by a sustainability specialist, so they operate to a higher standard than your average host – we rate Six senses and 1 Hotels. Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, England, while part of the Belmond/LVHM family, operates like an indie when it comes to recruiting, supporting local initiatives and strictly sourcing locally and seasonally – as Raymond Blanc has hailed for decades.
4. Favor companies with official accreditation
What seals of approval weigh at sea or accreditations out there? Look for certifications that demonstrate action and progress. earth check, Green Ball and Greenview indicate that a client has adhered to exceptional standards of practice. BREEAM (environmental assessment method for building research institutions) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Signalbau adheres to green building principles, although this does not reflect how ethical they are as employers. B Corp is a paid certification that means a company has been evaluated on how much they think about the impact of every decision they make on their team, customers, suppliers, community and the environment.
5. Consider the social impact
We have to weigh whether a company is kind and respectful to people. Are the team members positive and do they provide opportunities for those who otherwise do not have them? Does everyone get a living wage? Is the existence of this company beneficial for indigenous peoples? Truly sustainable companies play by the rules – they pay all taxes, shell out all necessary permits and insurance, and provide security for teams. Diversity and inclusion in terms of gender, sexuality and different abilities are just as important as having a small footprint. And then there is the need to ensure that an address offers full accessibility and employment opportunities to people of different abilities.