Sustainability labels
Green Label Service is specialized in sustainability and certifications for:
the hospitality industry (hotels, conference centers, restaurants, etc.) &
other existing buildings (offices, government institutions, stores, health centres, homes, etc.)
These are the most common sustainability labels:
Hospitality Industry
Green Key is an international sustainability label for companies in the tourism, recreation, meeting and congress industry. The Green Key standard is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030 of the United Nations and is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Denmark. The audits in the Netherlands are performed by external auditors on behalf of Stichting Keurmerk Milieu, Veiligheid en Kwaliteit (KMVK). This is done within the online Green Key system, to which each member has access.
Green Key’s goal is that companies always go one step further than the law and regulations require. The standards focus on internal and external communication of the sustainability policy, energy, gas, water, waste, transport, food & beverage, textiles, paper, printed materials, etc. In order to ensure that the criteria keep up with developments in the market, Green Key the Netherlands evaluates the criteria every three years.
Bronze, Silver, Gold
In order to meet the requirements for the Green Key, entrepreneurs have to take several measures regarding to environmental care and social involvement. These measures are partly mandatory, partly optional. Examples of mandatory criteria are the registration of gas, water, electricity and waste, but also communication of the sustainability policy. The optional criteria are measures such as purchasing green electricity, using soap dispensers, or sustainability training for employees.
Green Key the Netherlands has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The more optional measures one takes, the higher the level that is achieved.
We can proudly say that all companies that receive consultancy from Green Label Service have achieved Gold, the highest level possible within Green Key.
Dutch best-known label (tourism sector)
Green Key is currently known in more than 50 countries and is well known in the Netherlands. The Netherlands even has the most Green Key certificate holders in the world. There are now almost 700 affiliated organizations, varying from hotel, B&B, restaurant, congress location, etc. For the various business sectors there are separate manuals to work as industry-specific as possible on sustainability.
Green Globe has been specially designed for the travel and hospitality industry. The following organizations can join the Green Globe certificate:
Hotels & resorts I Meeting & congress locations I MICE organizers I Cruise ships I Offices I Restaurants I Spa and wellness centers I Transport I Tour operators and travel agencies I Golf parks I Amusement parks
All-round & international sustainability label
Green Globe is a very internationally recognized sustainability label that is represented in about 90 countries with members varying from the famous Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, Mövenpick Hotels, to the Dutch InterContinental Amstel Hotel.
Often sustainability labels focus primarily on the ecological side (saving our environment). At Green Globe, the environment, economic and social measures are well represented (good working conditions, supporting charities, purchasing Fairtrade products, support for the local environment, etc.) and that ensures a very all-round sustainability policy.
Flexibility for the company
In addition to the relatively small number of mandatory criteria, you determine yourself which criteria you want to comply with, provided that at least 50% of the criteria per chapter are met. This is a strong advantage for companies that look for flexibility and freedom of choice because they seek a good balance between sustainability and the wishes of the guest / customer. Because a contribution is made to all chapters, sustainability is widely applied.
Another asset of Green Globe is that it is not a checklist. A full sustainability policy is created and this is reviewed and revised annually. Green Globe asks for annual improvement.
Transparency and reliability
Audits are performed by a so-called ‘third-party’ independent auditor. All auditors have followed training.
The online audit system “Green Globe Solution Center” ensures a paperless process that is transparent and user-friendly.
The Green Globe certificate is based on:
- Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC)
- Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Criteria (STC Partnership)
- Baseline Criteria of the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas
- Agenda 21 and principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Governments at the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992
- ISO 9001 / 14001 / 19011 (International Standard Organization)
Marketing
Green Globe contributes to worldwide promotion of Green Globe certified companies. Amongst others at all major international hospitality trade fairs and regularly there are interesting articles from Green Label Service’s customers in the Green Globe newsletter.
Existing Buildings
BREEAM-NL In-Use is a certification method for making existing buildings more sustainable, such as offices, government institutions, stores and health centres and homes. It is an ideal management tool to improve a building in terms of sustainability.
Five stars
BREEAM-NL In-Use assesses existing buildings on nine different sustainability categories: management, health, energy, transport, water, materials, waste, land use and ecology & pollution. Each category contributes partly to the total score, indicated in stars. A maximum of five stars can be obtained.
There are three different areas to certify:
- Asset: this certificate is about the building itself. Consider the design, the energy value, the location and transport facilities.
- Management: This section deals with how the building is managed. For example, the maintenance of the building and the way in which the sustainability performance is monitored.
- Use: this certificate assesses how the building is used by tenants and employees.
Future-proof
With the label C obligation for offices in 2023, the first step has been taken in laws and regulations to make existing offices more sustainable. We must be Paris Proof by 2050, with a CO2 reduction of 95%. However, that is just the beginning.
Stakeholders see the need to make buildings more sustainable. Investors are increasingly focusing on financing sustainable real estate. The end user also has requirements. A sustainable building is important for the image, well-being of employees and part of their CSR policy.
BREEAM-NL In-Use provides demonstrable evidence of the sustainability performance of an existing building. That makes the label interesting for several target groups. With BREEAM-NL In-Use, your building will become future-proof!
See which projects have already been certified (Dutch)
Do the Quickscan
The free BREEAM-NL In-Use Quickscan quickly provides a global insight into the sustainable performance of your building. Do the BREEAM-NL In-Use Quickscan (Dutch)
Planet Care
Simplicity and flexibility is the motto. Do you want to start with sustainability and are you looking for an effective and practical way? Is there no label for your company profile? Or do you think that your organization already does a lot in the field of sustainability, but do not want to take the step to a recognized label because of the costs and the administration? Then the Planet Care label is the perfect solution for you. It shows others that you take sustainability seriously. Because everyone can say a company is ‘green’, but an external and professional check creates trust and reliability. The criteria have been developed by Green Label Service itself and they are also checked by us.
Simplicity and flexibility
In order to receive the Planet Care certificate, your organization must comply with at least 50% of the criteria. You can choose from the list which criteria suit you best. This offers flexibility. Because transparency and communication are an important part of sustainability, only one criteria is mandatory; communicating your sustainability policy on your website.
When you comply with a minimum of 50% of the criteria, you show that sustainability is an important part of your business. The certificate is valid for 1 year and the criteria are checked on location every year.
Travelife
Travelife is an international management and certification program for travel organizations and accommodations that want to do business sustainably. Currently, in the Netherlands there are only travel organizations with a Travelife Award.
Travelife for travel organizations
Travelife is an easy-to-use sustainability system that helps tour operators and travel agencies manage and improve social and environmental aspects.
Travelife for accommodations
Travelife’s goal is to make the management of accommodations more sustainable. Both within companies and their suppliers. In addition to better environmental and social performance, sustainability also leads to cost reduction, while the reward in the form of a Travelife Award strengthens its own competitive position.
BREEAM NL (for new construction buildings)
BREEAM is a method for determining the sustainability performance of buildings. It is used to analyze and improve buildings. This certification method is applied worldwide. As owner, you can achieve a significant tax benefit with regard to your investment with a BREEAM-NL certificate. The benefits depend on the level at which the building is certified and the year in which you submit the application. For more information about BREEAM NL for your new construction, please visit www.duurzamehotels.nl. For existing buildings, Green Label Service can assist you (see BREEAM NL In-Use).
