the european eco-label eu ecolabel for tourist accommodation services martin büchele european...

The European Eco-label

EU Ecolabelfor tourist

accommodation servicesMartin Büchele

European Commission, DG Environment, G2

What is the EU Ecolabel?

• Establishes EU-wide environmental standards for products and services

• Voluntary EU environmental policy tool – implementation is joint responsibility of the Commission and the Member States

• Criteria development in a transparent process involving the Commission, the Parliament, the Member States and stakeholders

What is the EU Ecolabel?

• Benchmark for companies• Reliable information for consumers

• More than 20 product groups covered• Services: tourist accomodations and

campsites

Scope of application

since 2003for „tourist accommodation service“... sheltered overnight

accommodation in appropriately equipped rooms including at

least one bed

since 2005

for „campsite services“

EU Ecolabel at present

• At present (summer 2007) more than 90 hotels and more than 20 campsites licensed in Europe

Europe‘s first EU Eco-labelled hotel

Sunwing Resort Kallithea, GreeceFamily Resort hotel in Rhodes

Awarded with EU Eco-label since April 2003

Environmental focus

• Energy and water saving• Use of renewable resources• Staff training• Information for guests• No dangerous chemical substances• Environmental procurement• Local food products

How to get the EU Eco-label

Get in contact with yourCompetent Body

Application documentsEco-Check

Meet open requirements of criteria

Verification andPayment of application fee

Official award

Right to use the brandfor your marketing

The EU Eco-label

Benefits of implementation

- What is the benefit for the hotel- What do the guests say- Marketing benefits- Cost benefits – best practice

What is the benefit for a hotel?

• EU-wide brand with strong and reliable criteria

• Common standard in Europe• Signal for quality and environmental

care „at a glance“• Message: „we care for the environment and

health“• EU-wide marketing support• National marketing support• Positive cost-benefit-ratio: finding saving

potentials during the application procedure

What do guests say?

• Surveys in different countries indicate that many guests really care about environmentally-friendly accommodations and the quality of the environment and nature at their holiday destinations.

Experience with EU Eco-label

EU Ecolabel since January 2005

Hotel Jardim AtlânticoHow to save consumption (money) without compromising

the quality

consumption per night per person

Examples 2002 2003 2004 2005 Average of similar resort hotels on Madeira island

Fresh water 364 lt 289 lt 283 lt 267 lt 480 – 1,170 lt

Energy 17,00 Kw 10,53 Kw 8,89 Kw 9.36 kw 17,8 - 22,87 Kw

Gas 1,95 Kg 1,09 Kg 0,94 Kg 0.81 kg 1,15 - 2,07 Kg

Solid waste 2,25 Kg 1,16 Kg 0,85 Kg 0.80 kg 2,15 - 3,55 Kg

Hotel Jardim: Saving examples

Where we want to go together is …

… towards a sustainable

development of tourism industry in

harmony with nature by means of a strong

Europe-wide EU Ecolabel.

Martin BücheleEuropean CommissionDG Environment, G2Tel.: +32 229 64 066martin.buechele@ec.europa.eu

www.ecolabel-tourism.eu