We did it! We got GOLD in our Green Tourism Business Scheme assessment, with a very healthy 84%. Watch this space for our Gold leaf!
The following paragraphs have been taken directly from the Green Tourism Business Scheme website.
The aim of the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) criteria is to offer guidelines to tourism businesses on how to make their operations more sustainable while still delivering a high quality service. When developing the criteria consideration has been given to a wide range of social and environmental factors, as well as up-to-date technological developments.
We realise that every business is different. That is why flexibility has been built into the GTBS criteria. There are over 150 individual measures in the criteria, which focus on 10 different areas. To find out more about each Section just click on the links below.
Each business is scored on up to 60 measures and the results will establish what award level they have achieved, i.e. Going Green, Bronze, Silver, or Gold.
To request a copy of the Criteria and to find out more about the Grading process please Contact Us
Compulsory – compliance with environmental legislation and a commitment to continuous improvement in environmental performance
Management and Marketing – demonstrating good environmental management, including staff awareness, specialist training, monitoring, and record keeping
Social Involvement and Communication of environmental actions to customers through variety of channels and range of actions, e.g. green policy, promotion of environmental efforts on the website, education, and community and social projects
Energy – efficiency of lighting, heating and appliance, insulation and renewable energy use
Water – efficiency – e.g. good maintenance, low-consumption appliances, flush offset, rainwater harvesting, as well as using eco-cleaners
Purchasing – environmentally friendly goods and services, e.g. products made from recycled materials, use and promotion of local food and drink, and use of FSC wood products
Waste – minimisation by encouraging, the ‘eliminate, reduce, reuse, recycle’ principle, e.g. glass, paper, card, plastic and metal recycling; supplier take-back agreements; dosing systems; and composting
Transport – aims to minimise visitors car use by promoting local and national public transport service, cycle hire, local walking and cycling option, and use of alternative fuels
Natural and Cultural Heritage - on site measures aimed at increasing biodiversity, e.g. wildlife gardening, growing native species, nesting boxes, as well as providing information for visitors on the wildlife on and around the site Innovation – any good and best practice actions to increase a business’s sustainability that are not covered else where.”
