Sustainable accommodation

More and more partner businesses in the Harz region are adopting a sustainable approach and gradually integrating it into their daily operations. Some of them already hold an official sustainability seal.

A certification confirms a company’s commitment to sustainability. It is issued after an independent external audit of the business. In addition, every certified business commits to implementing further measures within the validity period.
In the Harz, we see these certificates as a special addition – they complement the existing commitment of the businesses. For your orientation, you can find a list of companies that hold such a distinction.

The reasons for pursuing certification are diverse, and maintaining it requires effort. We strive for completeness, but it is not always possible for us to monitor this consistently across our large association area.

Overview:

• Slow Food Convivium Harz
• EMAS
• Fairtrade Towns
• Green Key
• DEHOGA Environmental Check
• GreenSign
• certified HTV partner businesses

Use the environment sustainably, increase efficiency – EMAS, the EU eco-label

With the European environmental management system EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), companies are able to save resources intelligently. But EMAS can do much more: organisations certified under EMAS make an effective contribution to environmental protection, save costs and demonstrate social responsibility. EMAS ensures that all environmental aspects – from energy consumption to waste and emissions – are implemented in a legally compliant and transparent way.

If organisations meet the high demands of the European EMAS Regulation, they are awarded the EMAS logo. EMAS organisations implement a sustainable environmental management system on their own initiative, which goes beyond the requirements of international standards. They comply with additional quality criteria and monitoring mechanisms: state-supervised, independent environmental assessors regularly conduct on-site audits. An environmental statement informs the public about improvements in environmental protection and key figures, data and facts are updated annually.

Green Key is a programme of the FEE. In Germany, the DGU (German Association for Environmental Education) is responsible for carrying out the campaign. The aim of the programme is to develop and manage an environmental label for environmental and sustainability aspects in hotels and leisure parks. The certification programme aims to raise awareness among owners, staff and guests of their potential for environmental and sustainability aspects in their immediate (natural) surroundings, with the perspective of taking active action.

Green Key pursues 4 goals:
• Environmental and sustainability education for owners, staff & guests
• Environmental protection and sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of the facility
• Cost reduction through efficient management (reducing consumption)
• Marketing strategy through the international importance and distribution of the Green Key eco-label

The criteria are divided into mandatory criteria and optional criteria in different categories. The mandatory criteria must be met in every Green Key facility. The Green Key label is awarded for a period of one year. After successful certification, the leisure park receives a certificate and plaque (flag upon agreement). After one year, the label must be reapplied for. In case of serious violations against the main principle of the campaign, the label and its use may be partially or completely withdrawn. During the year, there are also scheduled or unscheduled inspection visits.