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Sustainable accommodation: travelling in comfort, while minimising the environmental impact
As we become more conscious of our environmental impact, how hotels can be sustainable becomes a crucial question. Sustainable stays can enhance our travel experience while minimising the carbon footprint, and protecting the places we’re visiting.
The Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI), a methodology and free tool developed by the World Hospitality Alliance for hotels to calculate the carbon footprint of hotel stays and meetings, is gaining popularity among tourist accommodations [1]. This is because the hospitality industry needs to reduce its emissions by 66% by 2030, and 90% by 2050, as reported in the Global Hotel Decarbonisation Report [2].
Let’s explore how to find and select sustainable accommodations for our next adventure.
Understanding sustainable accommodations
Sustainable accommodations focus on more than just eco-friendliness; they also support local communities, ensure fair labour practices, and preserve cultural heritage. They promote fair wages, enhance social well-being, and minimise their environmental impact.
When searching for the most sustainable hotels, consider their environmental management practices. Look for places that use renewable energy, implement energy-efficient systems and focus on water conservation with low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and efficient waste management.
Supporting the local community is crucial in sustainable travel. Many eco-tourism accommodations source food and materials locally, benefiting local suppliers and artisans. Others are involved in community projects to preserve cultural heritage or offer educational programs to empower residents.
Sustainable places to stay often engage in environmental conservation, from maintaining natural habitats and supporting wildlife conservation programs to educating guests about local ecosystems. By choosing these accommodations, travellers contribute to preserving biodiversity and cultural treasures while enjoying their stay.
Practical tips for choosing sustainable accommodations
When planning your next holiday, selecting sustainable hotels can make a big difference in minimising the environmental footprint.
Our tip: when looking for accommodation, prioritise those that emphasise their use of locally sourced food and their commitment to the local community. You can also explore the most sustainable hotel chains on dedicated platforms such as the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, which highlights hotel chains that are committed to reducing their environmental impact and supporting local communities.
Choose accommodation with waste reduction initiatives, such as refillable water bottles and minimal single-use plastics. Prioritise hotels that implement energy-saving and water conservation measures, and avoid single-use amenities. We can also opt for eco-friendly accommodation that offers the option to skip daily linen and towel changes to help conserve water and energy, and request this when we check in. Look for places that encourage guests to join local conservation efforts to further reduce their environmental impact.
Our tip: research if the accommodations suggest any sustainable way to reach the location or activities such as beach clean-ups to get involved in during the holiday.
Certifications can help us find the perfect sustainable stay while travelling around the world. For example, the EU Ecolabel [3] and EMAS [4] guarantee that certified accommodation has optimised waste management, and reduced energy consumption, water consumption, transport emissions and food waste.
Our tip: navigate the EU Ecolabel map [5] to find a range of tourist accommodations, from campsites to hotels, guaranteed to be sustainable.
Choosing sustainable accommodation is a crucial step toward responsible travel. By supporting eco-friendly accommodation, we reduce our environmental impact and contribute to local economies and conservation efforts. As conscientious travellers, let's make informed choices that benefit both our travel experiences and the planet.
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