Understanding Eco-Labels in Sustainable Tourism
In the tourism sector, an eco-label serves as a form of certification awarded to businesses, hotels, tours and more that uphold high environmental standards. These labels are designed to support sustainability, lower carbon emissions, and reduce the ecological impact of tourism. For travellers, they offer a reliable way to identify organisations that prioritise environmentally responsible practices.
Different Types of Eco-Labels
A variety of eco-labels exist across the travel industry, each highlighting distinct elements of sustainability. Here are some well-known examples to demonstrate the different areas of sustainability that relate to tourism:
Green Key – Recognised internationally, this label is given to accommodation providers such as hotels and hostels that commit to eco-friendly operations, including energy conservation, waste management, and water-saving initiatives. Read more about the EU’s Eco accommodation.
Blue Flag – Awarded to beaches and marinas, this label signifies adherence to rigorous standards for water quality, environmental education, safety, and general cleanliness.
Eco-Certification – Typically issued to tour companies and travel agencies that demonstrate sustainability throughout their services and supply chains.
EarthCheck – A globally respected programme that enables tourism businesses to benchmark and improve their environmental performance.
Glossary
The Biosphere certification is an international sustainability standard granted by the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI), which UNESCO backs to encourage sustainable growth within tourism and related industries. The Biosphere programme for hotels helps establishments meet global benchmarks for responsible and environmentally friendly practices. Since 2017, the certification has been directly connected to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, incorporating its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 169 targets, and corresponding indicators. Using a structured methodology, Biosphere translates the SDGs into concrete, measurable actions tailored to the tourism sector. This framework allows businesses to implement sustainable initiatives while tracking their progress through transparent and verifiable indicators.
BIO Hotels certification focuses on ensuring that hotels use organic and regionally sourced products wherever possible. All food and beverages must be certified organic, meeting standards such as Bioland or equivalent eco-labels, with very limited exceptions permitted. Products from wild harvesting are acceptable only when backed by sustainable certification, while coffee and cocoa must always meet organic criteria with no exceptions allowed. Non-food items, including cosmetics, are required to carry certification from recognised bodies such as ABG, BDIH, Ecocert, ICEA, or Natrue. In addition, BIO Hotels members adhere to the Eco Hotels Certified ecolabel for effective resource management, combining organic standards with responsible business practices.
The Carbon Reduction Label signifies that a product or service’s carbon footprint has been accurately measured and certified, with a commitment to reduce it over the next two years. The calculation follows the PAS2050 standard and Footprint Expert™, covering the full life cycle from production to use and disposal. After two years, the certification must be renewed to demonstrate that tangible reductions have been achieved.
Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST)
The Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) is a program developed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), the government body that oversees the promotion of sustainable travel in the country. CST provides a framework for hotels and tourism businesses to incorporate responsible practices into their operations. The standard emphasises the importance of strong management processes while addressing how tourism activities affect Costa Rica’s natural environment, cultural heritage, and local communities. By focusing on areas such as environmental stewardship, business governance, and socio-cultural and economic impact, CST helps organisations align their business models with the principles of sustainable development.
Ecotourism Kenya is a certification program that promotes responsible tourism practices in Kenya. It focuses on environmental conservation, community involvement, and cultural preservation. Certified establishments are assessed based on their adherence to sustainable tourism principles.
Eco-Certification Malta is the official sustainability standard for hotels and farmhouses across the Maltese Islands, managed by the Malta Tourism Authority since 2002. The programme establishes clear criteria covering environmental, social, cultural, and economic responsibilities, as well as quality and health and safety practices. Its framework addresses key areas such as sustainability management systems, waste reduction, responsible chemical use, sustainable purchasing, and efficient energy and water use. Other priorities include air quality, noise reduction, building standards, green spaces, respect for local culture, protection of natural surroundings, and communication with guests. To maintain certification, properties undergo independent third-party audits every two years, ensuring continuous compliance and improvement.
European Ecotourism Labelling Standard (EETLS)
The European Ecotourism Labelling Standard (EETLS) was created by the European Ecotourism Network (EEN) to promote responsible and sustainable ecotourism across Europe. Its aim is to safeguard environmental, social, cultural, and economic sustainability within the sector. The framework is aligned with internationally recognised guidelines and is regularly updated to reflect evolving best practices. The Standard is built around 40 criteria grouped into four core areas: effective sustainable management, maximising social and economic benefits for local communities, supporting and protecting cultural heritage, and ensuring environmental conservation. Through this structure, EETLS provides ecotourism businesses with a clear pathway to adopt measurable and meaningful sustainability practices.
Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to certifying tourism businesses and encouraging responsible travel practices in South Africa and beyond. Its approach is guided by six core principles: fair share, fair say, respect, reliability, transparency, and sustainability. The certification ensures that local communities and environments—whose land, culture, and resources form the foundation of tourism—receive tangible benefits from the industry. To achieve accreditation, businesses are assessed against a wide range of criteria, including economic impact, community engagement, environmental responsibility, climate action, labour rights, human rights, and management systems. Independent auditors oversee the certification process, helping guarantee accountability and credibility for participating organisations.
Green Seal is a non-profit organisation that provides certification for products and services meeting rigorous environmental standards. It focuses on reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability across various industries. Certified establishments are required to undergo regular assessments to maintain their status.
Green Globe is a globally recognised certification for sustainable tourism. It evaluates hotels based on 44 criteria across four categories: environmental, socio-economic, cultural heritage, and sustainable management. Hotels with this certification have demonstrated a commitment to reducing their environmental impact, supporting local communities, preserving cultural heritage, and implementing effective sustainability management systems.
Green Growth 2050 is a global standard and sustainability reporting framework for travel and tourism organisations. It includes over 450 sustainability indicators, making it one of the most comprehensive standards available. Certified establishments are assessed based on their performance across various sustainability criteria.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes global standards for sustainable tourism. Certifications recognised by the GSTC adhere to these standards, ensuring a commitment to sustainable practices in tourism. This recognition helps consumers identify businesses that are genuinely dedicated to sustainability.
The Sello S certification is an initiative of Chile’s National Tourism Service (SERNATUR), designed to encourage stronger sustainability standards across the country’s tourism sector. This certification assures visitors that the businesses awarded meet international benchmarks for responsible tourism, covering social, cultural, environmental, and economic dimensions. It highlights the commitment to accommodations that have made measurable progress in sustainable practices and wishes to demonstrate this to travellers. Audits are carried out by independent evaluators, and the certification remains valid for two years before renewal is required.
Sustainable Travel Ireland is Ireland’s national certification body for responsible tourism, operating since 2009. The organisation provides membership, training, and certification to tourism businesses across Ireland and Northern Ireland, encouraging best practices in sustainability. The certification applies to a wide range of sectors, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, activity providers, and tour operators. Businesses are assessed by independent auditors every two years to maintain their certification, which is structured across three achievement levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The criteria address environmental impact, social responsibility, and business operations, supporting organisations in reducing their footprint while enhancing community and cultural benefits. Beyond business certification, Sustainable Travel Ireland also collaborates with destinations, government agencies, and NGOs to develop wider strategies for sustainable tourism.
Travelife is a sustainability certification for the tourism industry, focusing on environmental and social criteria. It provides a framework for businesses to improve their sustainability performance through a step-by-step approach. Certified establishments are required to meet specific criteria and undergo regular assessments.
Certified Green Hotel is a certification program that assesses hotels based on sustainability criteria across ecology, economy, and social aspects. It includes a comprehensive evaluation of environmental impact, resource usage, and social responsibility. Certified establishments are required to meet specific criteria and undergo regular assessments.
Dubai Sustainable Tourism is a certification program launched by the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai. It aims to improve the environmental performance of the hospitality industry through various policies and standards. Certified establishments are assessed based on their adherence to these sustainability requirements.
Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Label
The Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Label is a commitment to a nationwide project by the Government of Seychelles to mainstream biodiversity into tourism activities. It encourages tourism operators to adopt best practices in environmental conservation and sustainable operations. Certified establishments are assessed based on their adherence to established standards.
Responsible Tourism Tanzania (RTTZ) is a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable tourism practices within Tanzania. It provides services to support the tourism industry in managing its business sustainably. Certified establishments are assessed based on internationally accepted standards and undergo regular evaluations.
Hoteles más Verdes is a certification standard aligned with the tourism industry's Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. It aims to strengthen the application of sustainable management practices in hotels. Certified establishments receive training and support tools to improve eco-efficiency and minimise negative impacts.
ISO 14001 is an international standard for environmental management systems. It provides a framework for organisations to manage their environmental responsibilities systematically. Certification involves regular audits to ensure compliance with the standard's requirements.
GreenSign is a sustainability certification system for the hotel industry, assessing environmental, economic, and social performance. It evaluates over 130 criteria across ten core areas, contributing to the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The certification process includes on-site audits and is valid for three years.
Green Tourism Active (GTA) is a nonprofit organisation that provides worldwide certification for sustainable tourism. Its program evaluates accommodations and operators on environmental, cultural, socio-economic, and conservation performance, with assessments that are regularly updated and refined. The certification has four levels—Green Initiate, Green Leader, Green Champion, and Champion with Distinction—reflecting the degree of sustainable practices implemented.
The Good Travel Seal from Green Destinations provides practical, step-by-step resources to guide businesses toward sustainability. Companies start with a self-assessment that identifies areas for improvement and readiness for certification. The program features three certification levels based on GSTC standards and is designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes, with particular support for micro and small enterprises.
EcoLabel Luxembourg is the national eco-certification for sustainable tourist accommodations in Luxembourg, established in 1999 by the Ministry of the Economy. It recognises establishments that implement environmentally friendly practices, including energy and water conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable procurement. The certification process involves a self-assessment, personalised support from Oekozenter Pafendall, and an independent audit, with the label valid for three years.
A selection of certifications
As sustainable tourism is pushed to the forefront of the travel industry, and more awareness of certifications is growing, we will see more companies being awarded these credentials. This marks the beginning of something incredible, and we will update this page regularly as new certifications are created. This is just a selection of certifications that are most aligned with Exploreo.
