WEBINAR: The EU Ecolabel for Tourist Accommodations - Engaging together in a sustainable recovery

Webinar date: January 21, 2021, 10h - 12h30 CET

Registration: Click here

Introduction and Webinar Agenda

The aim of the webinar is to provide tourism stakeholders an overview on the EU Ecolabel - the official European Union label of environmental excellence contributing to climate neutrality and to the circular economy. Moreover, the EU Ecolabel criteria for tourism accommodation and related application process will be presented in detail to potential applicants.

Agenda

10:00 – 10:20 - The EU Ecolabel as a recovery tool for tourist accommodations - Silvia Ferratini, European Commission, DG ENV  

10:20 – 11:00 - Presentation of success stories - EU Ecolabel license holders  

11:00 – 11:50 - The EU Ecolabel criteria for tourist accommodations, Candela Vidal Abarca Garrido, European Commission, JRC  

11:50 – 12:10  - How to apply for the EU Ecolabel? Candela Vidal Abarca Garrido, European Commission, JRC  

12:10 – 12:30  - Questions and answers

Background on the EU Ecolabel

Awarded to sustainable goods and services encouraging eco-innovation, the EU Ecolabel contributes to the
EU goal of climate neutrality by 2050 and to the circular economy. Tourists are increasingly looking for accommodations that care for the environment.
The EU Ecolabel is a tool for tourist accommodation and campsite services to engage in a sustainable recovery, together with their staff and their customers. With the EU Ecolabel, it is possible to offer an eco-friendly and high quality alternative to conventional hotels and campsites.

The time has come to promote tourism differently! Because quality and environment matter.
Stringent criteria, focusing on the main environmental impacts of the services, ensure that EU Ecolabel tourist
accommodations are among the best on the market in terms of environmental performance.

Specifcally, the EU Ecolabel guarantees:

• An optimised environmental management of the tourist accommodation
• Reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions through energy savings, use of efficient devices and of renewable energy sources
• Reduced water consumption
• Reduced use of chemicals as well as of pesticides
• Reduced waste generation and optimised waste management
• Reduced emissions from transport
• Limitation of food waste

How to receive the ecolobal

To receive the EU Ecolabel, tourist accommodations have to comply with 22 mandatory criteria, and receive at least 20 points from compliance with additional optional criteria. Moreover, as a pre-requisite, the services shall meet all respective legal requirements of the country(ies) in which the tourist accommodation is located, including the obligation for staff to be legally employed and insured. For the full list of requirements, please refer to the official EU Ecolabel criteria for Tourist Accommodation.