Label Lookup: Tourism

When you're planning a vacation, how can you distinguish reliable eco-tourism claims from those that can't be counted on? Check out the list of claims below or in our iPhone app, available here. Learn what they mean, if there are standards behind them, and if and how they are verified.

or four leaves is the highest rating;
or zero leaves is the lowest and means the label has no meaning and is not reliable.

• Audubon Green Leaf (more info) ↓

  

  Rating explained: Claim is third-party verified and meets detailed and rigorous standards, but standard-setting process was not open or consensus-based.

  Description: The Audubon Green Leaf program is international in scope, uses a standardized checklist for evaluating environmental performance, includes environmental education and hands-on staff assistance, and requires a site visit by a trained individual to verify eco-rated practices. Stakeholders from industry, government, and the environmental community helped to identify best practices across the core areas of the program. These best practices are reviewed periodically to ensure that leading practices and technologies define environmental leadership in the program. Today, the program is administered jointly by Audubon International and the program's founder, Greenleaf Environmental Communications.

  Certified products: Audubon International Partners

  Issues addressed by this claim: Water quality, water conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation, energy efficiency

  Verification process: Applicants complete a self-evaluation, which is then assessed by Green Leaf. After awarding certification, a verifier will visit the site within a year. Certification lasts for a period of 4 years, after which the process must be renewed.

  Standards development process: Not open and consensus based.

  Claims seen on these product types: Hotels, inns, bed & breakfasts, resorts

  Managing organization: Audubon International

  Learn more: Audubon International

• Blue Flag (more info) ↓

  

  Rating explained: Claim is third-party verified and meets detailed and rigorous standards, but standard-setting process was not open or consensus-based.

  Description: Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches and marinas through publicly awarding sites that meet criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services

  Certified products: Blue Flag certified marinas and beaches

  Issues addressed by this claim: Water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, safety

  Verification process: National controllers make annual visits to ensure conformity. International controllers visits on a less frequent basis as a secondary check. Blue flags are removed from non-compliant sites.

  Standards development process: Not open and consensus based.

  Claims seen on these product types: Beaches, marinas

  Managing organization: Foundation for Environmental Education

  Learn more: Blue flag

• Earth Check Certified (more info) ↓

  Rating explained: Claim is third-party verified and meets detailed and rigorous standards, but standard-setting process was not open or consensus-based.

  Description: The EarthCheck program is a benchmarking program aimed at helping hotels and resorts reduce energy and water consumption as well as waste.

  Certified products: Certified Facilities

  Issues addressed by this claim: energy conservation, water conservation, waste reduction

  Verification process: On site audits by a third--party auditor

  Standards development process: Not open and consensus based. Standards are not available online. Certification levels ranging from bronze to gold are awarded after facility enters data into EarthCheck's proprietary software.

  Claims seen on these product types: Resorts, hotels

  Managing organization: Earth Check

  Learn more: Earth Check

• Green Globe Certified (more info) ↓

  

  Rating explained: Claim is third-party verified and meets detailed and rigorous standards, but standard-setting process was not open or consensus-based.

  Description: Green Globe Certification provides certification for the sustainable operations and management of travel and tourism companies and their related supplier businesses. Green Globe Certification also maintains a global network of independent auditors who provide third party inspection and validation.

  Certified products: Find Green Globe Certified Hotels

  Issues addressed by this claim: Sustainable management, social and econmic fairness, cultural heritage, energy conservation, water conservation, reduction of heat-trapping pollutants, biodiversity conservation

  Verification process: On site audits by a third--party auditor

  Standards development process: Not open and consensus based.

  Claims seen on these product types: Tour operators, hotels, cruises, spas

  Managing organization: Green Globe

  Learn more: Green Globe

• Green Key (more info) ↓

  Rating explained: Claim is second-party verified, standards are detailed but not rigorous, and standard-setting process was not open or consensus-based.

  Description: The Green Key is an international eco-label for leisure and tourism establishments. Organisations awarded the Green Key meet communication and management criteria.

  Certified products: Find national sites providing Green Key members

  Issues addressed by this claim: Water conservation, energy conservation, pesticide use, waste reduction

  Verification process: On site audits by a second-party auditor

  Standards development process: Not open and consensus based.

  Claims seen on these product types: camp sites, hotels

  Managing organization: Foundation for Environmental Education

  Learn more: Green Key

• Green Seal (more info) ↓

  

  Rating explained: Claim is third-party verified according to ISO Guide 65 Product Certification specs, addresses multiple issues, and meets science-based standards developed through a multi-stakeholder process.

  Description: Green Seal offers a three-tiered certification system granting bronze-, silver- and gold-level certifications to hotels and lodging properties based on their leadership in sustainable practices.

  Certified products: Find Green Seal certified hotels and lodging properties

  Issues addressed by this claim: Waste reduction; energy efficiency, conservation and management; management of fresh water resources; waste water management; hazardous substances; environmentally and socially sensitive purchasing

  Verification process: On site audit by a third-party auditor

  Standards development process: Open and consensus based.

  Claims seen on these product types: Food, building products, cleaning, cosmetics / personal care, forest products / paper, household appliances, machinery and equipment, paints, tourism

  Managing organization: Green Seal

  Learn more: Green Seal

• Rainforest Alliance Verified ↓

  

  Rating explained: Claim is third-party verified, addresses multiple issues, and meets science-based standards that were developed through a multi-stakeholder process, but claim is not intended to replace certification by the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas.

  Description: Rainforest Alliance Verificaton is a benchmarking program designed to encourage tourism operators to seek certification in their national eco-tourism program where avaiable and assist them in improving their sustainability performance. The program does not itself provide certification and on site verification is limited to a single visit.

  Certified products: Find Rainforest Alliance Verified

  Issues addressed by this claim: Sustainability, eco-footprint, destruction of forests, beach quality.

  Verification process: All hotels, tour operators, and other businesses are either verified by independent, third-party sustainable tourism certification programs or recommended by reputable organizations.

  Standards development process: Open and consensus based.

  Claims seen on these product types: Tour operators, hotels, restaurants and transportation

  Managing organization: Rainforest Alliance Certified

  Learn more: Ecolabel Index, Rainforest Alliance Certified

• Sustainable Tourist Eco-Certification Program (STEP) (more info) ↓

  Rating explained: Claim is third-party verified and meets detailed and rigorous standards, but standard-setting process was not open or consensus-based.

  Description: The Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Program (STEP) is a comprehensive, global sustainable tourism eco-certification program aligned with the minimum baseline Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) and impending global accreditation set forth by the Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC).

  Certified products:

  Issues addressed by this claim: Animal welfare, biodiversity, Carbon emissions, energy conservation, pesticide use, waste reduction, water quality and conservation

  Verification process: On site audit by a third-party auditor

  Standards development process: Not open and consensus based

  Claims seen on these product types: Tour operators, accommodations, transportation

  Managing organization: Sustainable Travel International

  Learn more: Ecolabel Index,