Environmental Committees of Green Resorts

Before any resort is given the label "green", it should have an environmental committee. The main objective of environmental committees of green resorts is to encourage and improve the efficiency of the resort to respond to environmental development and protection, to establish a nationwide classification of environmental standards in accordance with the needs of customers and the development of technological efficiency, to raise awareness of travel and tourism industry in promoting environmental quality and preservation and to create a positive image and competitive advantage for green resorts within the world market.

At green resorts, staff and management are firmly committed to protecting the environment, consistently upgrading the environmental standards of each property. In addition, an environmental committee regularly organizes training and awareness activities in each resort as well as the local community. Here are the standards and practices of green resorts environmental committees.

• Undertake environmental management
• Review environmental policies and procedures
• Set up of Environmental Committee
• Staff training and activities
• Independent auditing and assessment of practices
• Waste management and reduction
• Recycling and separation of waste
• Use of plants/flowers from in-house nursery
• Fertilizing with house-made compost
• Efficiency in energy and water consumption
• Regular inspection of consumption & sub-metering
• Energy saving lamps
• Room temperature regulators
• Automatic cut-off systems
• Low consumption fittings in the bathroom
• Purchasing of ‘green products'
• Buying environmentally sound, low packaging products
• Buying locally made and seasonal products
• Reduction or elimination of air pollutant sources
• Filtering/ ventilating air, regular cleaning of air ducts
• Set up of Health & Safety Committee
• Elimination of all products containing CFCs
• Noise auditing of equipment and operational activities
• Noise reduction measures in public and guest room areas
• In-house waste water treatment plant or connection to the city treatment plant
• Use of environmentally safe detergents and cleansing agents
• Installation of grease collectors in the kitchen
• Management of Fuel, Gas, Toxic Waste
• Use of low-sulphur fuels only
• Installation of measuring meters for stored fuel and gas
• Separation of poisonous waste
• Use of environmentally friendly materials for renovation work
• Use of local plants and provision of greenery
• No chemical fertilizer or pesticides usage
• Cooperation with local community/government
• Cleaning of streets, beaches and local landscape
• Participation in public campaigns
  
  Environmental committees certainly have a lot to undertake, but they play an incredibly crucial role within green resorts. EnviroCitizen.org encourages you to do a bit of research before booking a stay with a green resort. If an eco-friendly resort has a dedicated environmental committee in place, odds are you will be pleased with the green efforts they make!