How Sustainability Certification Transforms Your Facility

A sustainability certification is a voluntary assessment that demonstrates commitment to good environmental, social and ethical business practices. It is often performed by third-party organizations which operate independently of the government. There are many such organizations which offer certification on sustainability and each one applies a different criterion in their schemes. Organizations such as Ecotourism Kenya and  Travelife use a three-pronged approach with a focus on environmental quality, social equity and economic prosperity to influence the hospitality industry to adopt products and business practices that prioritize people, planet and prosperity.

Why get certified?

1.      It reduces operation costs

A sustainability certification scheme helps you identify cost-saving opportunities in your business operations. Through adopting more environmental and socio-economic guidelines and recommendations like using renewable sources of energy, reducing water wastage, recycling and efficiently managing waste, your facility stands to make significant financial savings. Ecotourism Kenya conducts free webinars and training on industry best practices every calendar quarter for ecorated facilities. By joining our ecorating scheme, you will improve the efficiency of your operations.

2.      A unique benchmarking tool that aligns your business with your values

A sustainability certification scheme is a thoroughly researched and formulated project with a set criterion. It provides a structured framework which businesses can use to build towards their sustainable achievements. You can use a certification scheme to demonstrate that your facility has met the set standards while providing a basis for ongoing monitoring that supports the development of more sustainable practices over time.  With this unique benchmarking tool, you ensure that you are maximizing your efforts to operate a sustainable business.

Figure 1: Gold Ecorated Entumoto Safari Camp, Masai Mara.

3.      Enhances reputation, credibility, and trust.

Remember that phrase ‘Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are?’ It applies to businesses too! Become a documented friend of sustainability by getting certified today. Not only will your business get invaluable information on responsible tourism, but you also get a certificate and an emblem you can use on your website and promotional materials free of charge. The emblem is a mark of quality and a stamp of approval. Check out our certification emblems here.

A sustainability certification will set your facility apart from businesses that get involved in greenwashing. Through certifying your facility, you send a message to your clients and stakeholders that you are genuine in your commitment to sustainability. Potential customers can verify that your practices are ethical and fall within an accepted criterion before they even set foot in your facility. A 2023 press release by Booking.com estimates that 43% of modern travelers prefer travel options which have sustainable certification and are even willing to pay more for them. This means that a sustainability certification will get you more customers!

Figure 2: Saruni Mara Gold Ecorating Certificate

4.      Improves risk mitigation

Due to the set criteria that most certification schemes have in place, getting certified reduces the chances of your facility falling prey to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. This is because, in addition to monitoring your impact on the environment, Ecotourism Kenya’s ecorating certification scheme also checks your facility’s compliance with fire, safety, health and government policies and offers recommendations on where you might be failing.

5.      Builds social goodwill

Social corporate responsibility is a key part of a sustainability certification scheme. Through the training and informative sessions in Ecotourism Kenya’s ecorating scheme, your facility will get to know how to play a positive role in the livelihood of your employees and the communities around you. When the working conditions of your employees improve, their productivity also improves, leading to more profits for you. Communities who feel that your facility prioritizes their well-being are very likely to support your business and foster positive relationships with other stakeholders.

Explore the Ecorating Certification for accommodation facilities:

1.      Ecorating for Natural and Protected Areas which caters for accommodation facilities in natural areas and within national gazette areas in Kenya.

2.      Ecorating for City and Urban Areas which caters to accommodation facilities outside protected areas in Kenya.

Get your facility ecorated today and join the vibrant community of responsible tourism ambassadors.

Reach us at marketing@ecotourismkenya.org or +254 726 366 080 to get you started!

Have you registered for the Ecowarrior Awards 2024 yet?

Join the 17th edition of the Ecowarrior Awards, where we celebrate remarkable contributions to sustainable tourism. Discover and honor those who are turning the vision of sustainable development into reality through their innovative and responsible tourism practices. Apply here!

Theme: Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals through Sustainable Tourism

Closed Submissions: 29th July 2024

Awards Gala Ceremony: 17th October 2024

Venue: TBC