There's no convenient 'green pages' directory for eco-lodges, eco-friendly tour companies, or eco-travel destinations. Instead, there are dozens of programs which aim to help travelers make up their mind about the eco-credentials of their travel suppliers. From hotels to beaches, there's a suitable certification scheme for them all.
Advertisements:
Here are the most reputable certifications out there:
| Certificate | Approves | Geography | Comments |
| Green Globe | All tourism services, from airlines to accommodations | Global | Participants are first benchmarked according to regional best-practice standards, then Certified when they prove they are operating at a high environmental standard |
| Ecotel | Accommodations | Global | Hotels that meet primary criteria are inspected and then awarded between 1 and 5 Ecotel Globes. Certificationifications must be renewed every two years, and Ecotel inspects hotels unannounced |
| Sustainable Tourism Eco-Certificationification Program (STEP) | Tour operators, accommodations, attractions, transportation services, and community-based tourism | Global | Planners reviewed more than a dozen certification schemes to develop this one, in which tourism providers self-measure, assess, and agree to enhance their environmental efforts |
| Audubon Green Leaf | Accommodations | U.S., Canada, and Europe | Hotels submit a survey on their efforts in four areas of environmental stewardship, which are evaluated and then rated on a scale of 1 to 5 by TerraChoice, an environmental marketing organization |
| Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) | Buildings | United States | The U.S. Green Building Council rates hotels and other buildings as Certificationified, silver, gold or platinum according to a multi-tiered ranking system |
| Blue Flag | Beaches and marinas | Global | Beaches and marinas are evaluated on water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and services. Blue Flags must be renewed every year |
| Green Seal | Hotels | Global | Hotels submit an application detailing their efforts, which is evaluated in-office |
| Certificationification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) | Hotels and other travel-related businesses | Costa Rica | Businesses are ranked on a scale of 0 to 5 according to how they operate their facilities, conserve the adjacent land, communicate with customers, and support and involve the local community |
| Green Key | Hotels, youth hostels, restaurants, and campsites | Global | Participants complete applications detailing their environmental efforts. On-site visits are conducted by Green Key staffers |
| Green Tourism Business Scheme | Hotels, attractions, tour operators, and conference centers | U.K. | Service providers are evaluated on environmental, economic, and social issues, from efficient lighting to conservation, and then given a ranking of bronze, silver, or gold |
| Pan Parks | Protected areas | Europe | Independent auditors evaluate parks’ sustainable management plans. Sponsored by the World Wildlife Federation |
| Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Programme | Tours, attractions, and accommodations | Australia | Applications are independently assessed and audited before they’re rated on economic, environmental, and social sustainability |
You should follow me on twitter here.
