BOHINJ'S GREEN MOVEMENT: OUR GUIDE TO THE TOP SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY LEADERS (DECEMBER 2021)
FOREWORD Over the past six months we have continued working hard to establish the Bohinj Green Movement as a pioneering destination-first sustainable tourism model. In a year that saw COP26 help put climate change on the global agenda, we're delighted to have reached the milestone of 1,000 followers now enjoying our weekly celebration of industry leaders across sectors ranging from responsible tourism to sustainable mobility. Sustainable mobility was a theme particularly close to our hearts this year as we travelled from Slovenia to London by train to attend the World Travel Market. We can now say from experience that train travel is a far more enjoyable and climate-friendly alternative to flying! Here are the sustainable industry leaders that we've celebrated over the past six months. Klemen Langus, Director of Tourism Bohinj
CONTENTS 1. Promoting Sustainable Circular Economies in Europe - EU Ecolabel 2. Creating a World-Leading Sustainable City - Freiburg 3. Transforming Tourism's Impact on Nature and People - STI 4. Protecting One of the Seven Wonders of the World from Over Tourism - Peru 5. Sharing Best Sustainable Practices from Across the Globe - Dubai World Expo 6. Turning the Backbone of Canada's Economy into a Leading Green Company Canadian National Railway 7. Protecting the 'Amazon of Europe' - Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve 8. Declaring a Global Climate Emergency - VisitScotland 9. Encouraging Sustainable Tourism Practices - European Travel Commission 10. Managing Global Green Tourism Standards - Global Sustainable Tourism Council 11. Uniting the World to Combat Climate Change - COP26 12. Blazing a Trail in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Tourism - Iceland 13. The Top 5 Green Building Certificates in Europe 14. Spearheading Responsible Tourism Across the Globe - UNWTO 15. Protecting Freshwater Ecosystems Around the Globe - WWF 16. Making Global Rail Travel Easier and More Accessible - Trainline 17. How to Shop Sustainably at Europe's Top Eco-Friendly Markets 18. Enabling Global Sustainable Development - Foundation for Environmental Education
EU ECOLABEL: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE CIRCULAR ECONOMIES IN EUROPE The EU Ecolabel is a label of environmental excellence that helps promote a circular economy by encouraging producers to generate less waste and CO2 during the manufacturing process, as well as making products that are more durable and easier to recycle
1992 5
Established in 1992, the EU Ecolabel is recognised worldwide and is awarded to products and services meeting high environmental standards throughout their life-cycle
The EU Ecolabel criteria address 5 main environmental issues including the impact of toxic substances, deforestation, waste disposal, resource management and excess CO2 emissions
78,071 26 2021
As of March 2021 there were 1,892 EU Ecolabel licenses that had been awarded for 78,071 products in the EU across 24 different product categories
Despite Covid-19, 'tourist accommodation services' registered an additional 26 services between September 2020 and March 2021 and has the highest number of licences of any group
The European Commission is expected to adopt the EU Ecolabel for Retail Financial Products by the end of 2021 to ensure financial flows contribute to a low carbon and circular economy
For more information visit: www.ecolabel.eu
FREIBURG: CREATING A WORLD-LEADING SUSTAINABLE CITY Germany's medieval city of Freiburg may have celebrated its 900th anniversary in 2020, but a number of industry-leading sustainable projects and 'world first' achievements have ensured that it remains one of Europe's top future-focused environmental capitals.
40%
Woodland covers more than 40% of Freiburg's urban area, which is nestled at the foot of the Black Forest near the border triangle of Switzerland, France and Germany
1994
In 1994 Freiburg unveiled Heliotrope, the world's first energyplus house with groundbreaking solar architecture allowing the building to rotate according to the position of the sun
400km
Freiburg launched its first sustainably focused urban transport policy in 1969 - today it is home to 400km of bike paths and twice as many bikes as cars
560MWh
In 2017, Freiburg's Town Hall became the world’s first public building to produce surplus energy, generating 560 megawatt hours of electricity in its first year
100%
With targets of 50% less CO2 emissions by 2030 and 100% energy from renewable sources by 2050, Freiburg continues towards an even greener tomorrow
For more information visit: www.visit.freiburg.de/en
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL: TRANSFORMING TOURISM'S IMPACT ON NATURE AND PEOPLE
Sustainable Travel International is a nonprofit working with destinations across the globe with the aim of protecting and conserving the planet's most vulnerable destinations by transforming tourism's impact on nature and people
2002
4 10m
6 8%
Since 2002, STI has charted a new course for travel and tourism — one that leads to a healthier environment, greater economic opportunity, social justice and the protection of natural and cultural resources
STI seeks to tackle crucial issues and threats within 4 key areas: safeguarding nature, combating climate change, empowering communities and tackling waste and pollution
STI's 10 Million Better programme aims to build on work already completed in destinations such as Palau, Panama and St Kitts to improve 10 million lives by 2025 through travel and tourism
STI is one of 6 non-governmental organisations the have come together to form The Future of Tourism Coalition with the aim of placing destinations at the centre of Covid-19 recovery strategies
With tourism responsible for roughly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions, the STI website allows you to calculate your footprint and provides important information on carbon offsetting
For more information visit: www.sustainabletravel.org
PERU: PROTECTING ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD FROM 'OVER TOURISM' Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and has found itself increasingly under threat from 'over tourism' in recent years. Numerous projects are now underway to help preserve the site for future generations and ensure Peru remains one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet
17% 4m 2017 1m 45%
Comprising deserts, mountains, beaches, rainforests, Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, and more than 17% of it is now designated as protected land
Since 2010 Peru has experienced a huge upswing in tourism and regularly welcomes over 4m tourists per year, many of whom come to visit the ancient site of Machu Picchu
In 2017 'Sustainable Machu Picchu' was established by Inkaterra and the AJE Group with the aim of transforming the archaeological complex into the first carbon-neutral wonder of the world
In 2020 the Peruvian President pledged to plant one million trees in the 35,000-hectare protected archaeological complex to protect it from mudslides and forest fires
The Peruvian government, which manages the site, has tasked itself with progressively lowering emissions – a 45% reduction by 2030 and 100% by 2050 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement
More information: https://www.peru.travel/en
DUBAI WORLD EXPO - SHARING BEST SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE
Taking place 1st of October 2021 to 31st March 2022, the Dubai World Expo is a global platform for people from all over the world to come together and connect with each other, share ideas, learn and innovate. Sustainability will be a key topic across the entire six-month event.
190 4912
The Dubai World Expo is the first event of its kind to be hosted in the Middle East and will bring together over 190 countries, each of which will have its own dedicated pavilion
The event's 'sustainability district' will showcase some of the world’s most advanced 'green' technology, while 'Terra' the Sustainability Pavilion will be adorned with 4912 solar panels
4GWh
Designed by UK-based Grimshaw Architects, 'Terra' will also feature a 130-metre wide canopy and 18 Energy Trees – helping generate 4GWh of alternative energy per year
75%
The Sustainability Pavilion will also highlight the latest innovative irrigation techniques, including a greywater recycling system, aimed at reducing water use in the landscape by 75 per cent
9m
Several countries have prioritised sustainable designs for their own pavilions, including the Netherlands' 'vertical farm', Brazil's Amazon basin and Singapore's 9m tall garden cones and hanging garden
For more info: www.expo2020dubai.com
CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY: TURNING THE BACKBONE OF CANADA'S ECONOMY INTO A LEADING GREEN COMPANY Described as the 'backbone of the Canadian economy' the Canadian National Railway is Canada's largest railway, transporting 300 million tonnes of goods across a 20,000mile network annually. The company's commitment to sustainability has led to it being considered one of the greenest organisations in the world.
20k 300m 2022
40% 45m
The Canadian National Railway's 20,000-mile network spans Canada and Mid-America, connecting three coasts: the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico
Considered one of the world's greenest companies, CN transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products and finished goods throughout North America each year
As part of an agreement with Transport Canada, CN has committed to a 6% intensity-based reduction in GHG emissions, measured against a 2017 baseline and over a five-year period ending in 2022
CN claims to consume almost 15% less fuel per gross ton-mile than the industry average and has witnessed a 40% reduction of locomotive carbon emissions intensity since 1993
Through their ongoing improvements, CN estimate that they have avoided releasing 45m tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere while achieving record growth in the volume of goods transported
More info: https://www.cn.ca/en/
MURA-DRAVA-DANUBE BIOSPHERE RESERVE: PROTECTING THE 'AMAZON OF EUROPE'
The Mura-Drava-Danube has recently become the world's first biosphere reserve covering five countries. It has been designated to help protect the natural environment of almost 900,000 people and a wide variety of endangered species
5
UNESCO has officially designated Mura-Drava-Danube (MDD) as the world’s first ‘five-country biosphere reserve’. The reserve stretches across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia
1m
The total area of the reserve — a million hectares — in the so-called ‘Amazon of Europe’, makes it the largest riverine protected area on the continent. It covers the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers
2030
The reserve contributes to the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to revitalise 25,000km of rivers and protect 30 per cent of the European Union’s land area by 2030
150
It is home to continental Europe’s highest density of breeding whitetailed eagle (more than 150 pairs), as well as endangered species such as the little tern, black stork, otters, beavers and sturgeons
1,250
Numerous cross-border projects are being established in the area such as the Amazon of Europe Bike Trail, a long-distance cycling trail that stretches for over 1,250 km
More info: www.amazon-of-europe.com
VISIT SCOTLAND: THE FIRST NATIONAL TOURISM BOARD TO DECLARE A GLOBAL CLIMATE EMERGENCY
As the city of Glasgow prepares to host the COP26 climate change summit in November this year, a new Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism has been launched to tackle tourism's contribution to climate change
1st 324 50%
1.5 5
Visit Scotland recently became the first national tourism board in the world to declare a climate emergency as part of the unveiling of the new Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism
It is backed by the Travel Foundation, the UN Environment Programme, the UN World Tourism Organisation and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, a global community of 324 organisations
The declaration will be launched at the COP26 climate change summit, which takes place in Glasgow in November, and aims to help slash global tourism emissions by at least 50% over the next decade
All countries that join will pledge to reach Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050, while remaining consistent with a rise of no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100
To ensure climate action is aligned across all of tourism, the declaration outlines five shared pathways for all members to follow: measure, decarbonise, regenerate, collaborate and finance
More info: https://bit.ly/3idH8MU
EUROPEAN TRAVEL COMMISSION: ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRACTICES The European Travel Commission (ETC) is the nonprofit organisation responsible for the promotion of Europe as a tourist destination in third markets. It has recently published a new handbook offering guidance on how tourism stakeholders can build sustainable practices into their operations
1948 83%
20
Established in 1948, the ETC represents 33 national tourism organisations in Europe. Its mission is to strengthen the sustainable development of Europe as a tourist destination
The new handbook suggests that the pandemic - which saw global tourism plummet 83% in 2020 compared to 2019 - offers a unique opportunity to reset tourism with sustainability as its core focus
The handbook showcases 20 sustainable projects from around the globe, including Portugal's eco-friendly hotels, celebrating local gastronomy in Croatia and reviving local communities in Finland
40%
According to ETC, 69% of global travellers expect the travel industry to offer more sustainable travel options while 40% of European consumers would give up flying to combat climate change
2022
Recent vaccination rollouts allowed more than half (54%) of Europeans to feel much more optimistic regarding trip planning in early 2022, with only 21% expressing scepticism
For more information visit: www.etc-corporate.org
GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM COUNCIL: MANAGING GLOBAL GREEN TOURISM STANDARDS The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes and manages global standards for sustainable tourism. It aims to be an agent of change in the world of sustainable travel and tourism by fostering the increased knowledge, understanding, adoption and demand for sustainable tourism practices
2007 TWO FOUR
In 2007, the 'Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria' was initiated by the Rainforest Alliance, UNEP, the UN Foundation and the UNWTO, alongside a coalition of 32 prominent partners
There are 2 sets of Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators
Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; and (D) Environmental impacts
25
25 leading green destinations are currently members of the GSTC. This includes the Slovenian Tourist Board, Innovation Norway, Japan Tourism Agency and Switzerland Tourism
822
GSTC offers numerous in-person and virtual training sessions and courses. In 2020, GSTC trained 822 participants on all six continents in 28 online class sessions
For more information visit: www.gstcouncil.org
WORLD TRAVEL MARKET LONDON: SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF THE GLOBAL TRAVEL INDUSTRY The World Travel Market (WTM) is the leading global event for the travel industry to meet industry professionals and conduct business deals. It supports the growth of the global travel industry by facilitating new connections and driving increased sustainability in the sector
1980
The World Travel Market story began in 1980 when World Travel Market London was launched. The show was opened by the Duke of Kent and was attended by 350 exhibitors and 7,753 trade visitors
65+
65+ countries will be represented by exhibitors from across the globe at this year's event, all looking to discuss how the travel industry can 'reconnect, rebuild and innovate' following the global pandemic
1-3
This year's WTM will be a unique hybrid event - the physical event will take place in ExCel London 1-3 November with a virtual event taking place the week after on 8-9 November
5
WTM London is part of Reed Travel Exhibitions and one of five leading travel events that includes the Arabian Travel Market, WTM Latin America, WTM Africa and Europe's International Golf Travel Market
15
Held alongside WTM London, the International Travel and Tourism Awards (ITTAs) award industry leaders across 15 categories - this includes a best 'sustainable destination' award, won by Bohinj in 2019!
For more information visit: www.wtm.com
COP26: UNITING THE WORLD TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE Taking place in Glasgow in November, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26 and the Glasgow Conference, is the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. Here, world leaders will meet to discuss a global strategy to tackle climate change and minimise global warming
1994
COP26's members are the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty agreed in 1994 which has 197 Parties (196 countries and the EU)
1.5°C
COP26 follows on from COP21, which took place in Paris in 2015, and during which every country agreed to work together to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees and aim for 1.5 degrees
200
Taking place in Glasgow in November, COP26 will involve upwards of 30,000 people in the city, representing over 200 countries, businesses, NGOs, faith groups and many more
5
Five key priorities are set to be discussed at COP26: adaptation and resilience, nature conservation, energy transition, accelerating the move to zero-carbon road transport and mobilising finance
3,800
Linked to COP26, Race to Zero is the world’s largest net zero alliance, with over 3,800 members, representing over 15% of the global economy, 1 billion people, and 21% of the world’s biggest companies
More info: www.ukcop26.org
ICELAND: BLAZING A TRAIL IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND RESPONSIBLE TOURISM Iceland has established itself as one of Europe's most sustainable countries. Not only is it a global leader in renewable energy and electric vehicles, it has also developed a comprehensive green tourism offer including a Responsible Tourism Declaration for local businesses
55%
Iceland has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030. The government aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 and be fossil-fuel-free by 2050
100%
Iceland is already a global leader in renewable energy, producing 100% of electricity and meeting 100% of heating needs by utilising a mix of hydropower and geothermal energy
7 310 2030
All visitors to Iceland are encouraged to take 'The Icelandic Pledge', a unique 7-step 'oath', through which they agree to respect Iceland's nature and to travel responsibly during their visit
Vakinn is an official quality and environmental certification for Icelandic tourism. Over 70 providers are now certified, and 310 companies have also signed a Responsible Tourism declaration
Iceland is one of Europe's leading EV countries. Bus Company Strætó runs many electric buses and is investing in hydrogen and methane buses, aiming for a carbon-free fleet by 2030
For more information visit: www.visiticeland.com
THE TOP 5 GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATES IN EUROPE Creating newer, greener buildings is just one way that we can help limit energy wastage and alleviate climate change. Here are five of the best green building certifications that are helping push Europe's buildings in a more sustainable direction
LEED WELL BREEAM
Established in the US, LEED has a point system divided into three different categories. Points are awarded for every green feature added and the total score decides which tier the building qualifies for
WELL is an international certification program. It recognises that we spend 90% of our time in buildings and is based around 7 points: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind
BREEAM is an international programme divided into six categories, ranging from “Pass” to “Outstanding” - it targets the same areas as other certification systems but also includes 'waste' and 'materials'
GREEN GLOBES
Available through the Green Buildings Initiative, it is divided into 3 categories: New Construction, Existing Buildings and Sustainable Interiors. At least 35% of the 1,000 possible points must be met
LBC
The Living Building Challenge focuses on buildings that connect people back to nature through light, water, food, and air. They must be self sufficient and create a positive impact for people and wildlife
UNWTO: SPEARHEADING RESPONSIBLE TOURISM ACROSS THE GLOBE As the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) prepares to host its 24th General Assembly in Madrid, we look at how the agency spearheads responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism across the globe
1975 17
5 24th 159
Established in 1975, the UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability through the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
In 2015 the UN announced 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 associated targets to help steer tourism in the right direction and work towards a more sustainable, accessible sector by 2030
The UNWTO’s work is based around five distinct pillars with the UNWTO Academy implementing the agency's programme of work in tourism education and training through self-paced online courses
The 24th UNWTO General Assembly takes place in Madrid in November and will act as a platform for Member States to approve UNWTO’s programme of work and budget for the coming biennium
UNWTO’s membership includes 159 Member States, 6 Associate Members and over 500 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, tourism associations and local tourism authorities
For more information visit: www.unwto.org
WWF: PROTECTING FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS AROUND THE GLOBE The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organisation founded in 1961. It works to reduce the human impact on the environment and one of its key areas of focus is the protection of global freshwater ecosystems
50% 50
Freshwater habitats—such as lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and aquifers—house an incredible proportion of the world’s biodiversity: over 10% of all known animals and about 50% of all known fish
Over the last 50 years, the frequency of – and impacts caused by – severe flooding and drought has increased, and this is partly because of the damage done to freshwater ecosystems
42m
The WWF actively supports the transboundary effort of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay to conserve and sustainably develop the 42m acre Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland
2016
In 2016, WWF partnered with Ceres to establish the AgWater Challenge, which encourages businesses to make commitments to protect freshwater in their agricultural supply chains
9
WWF was one of 9 founding members of the Alliance for Water Stewardship alongside The Nature Conservancy, CDP and the UN Environment Programme to promote sustainable freshwater use
For more information visit: www.worldwildlife.org
TRAINLINE: MAKING GLOBAL RAIL TRAVEL EASIER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE Trainline is a leading independent rail and coach travel platform that makes rail and coach travel easier and more accessible for millions of people across the globe - it also encourages people to make more environmentally-sustainable travel choices and reduce their carbon footprint
80%
270
Research suggests people could reduce their carbon footprint by up to 80% by choosing to travel by train - Trainline estimates its customers save on average over 1.5 megatons of CO2 each year
Established in 1997 by the Virgin Group, today Trainline combines millions of routes, fares and journey times from more than 270 rail and coach carriers across 45 countries in Europe and Asia
60%
Trainline works with a broad range of carrier partners including SNCF, Deutsche Bahn and Great Western Railway - it covers approximately 80% of rail and 60% of coach routes in Europe
30m
The Trainline app, which has been downloaded over 30m times, provides free access to live train times and railway station information, making it easier to make informed travel decisions
80
Earlier this year, Trainline partnered with OUIGO España to encourage more sustainable travel between Madrid and Barcelona - a journey that produces 80 times less CO2 than an equivalent flight
For more information visit: www.thetrainline.com
HOW TO SHOP SUSTAINABLY AT EUROPE'S TOP ECO-FRIENDLY MARKETS 'Tis the season to wander the stalls of festive markets in search of the perfect presents. This year, make sure Christmas doesn't cost the earth and inspire yourself with our guide to shopping wisely at the top sustainable markets in Europe
BUY BETTER, BUY ONCE Berlin's green market is possibly the biggest green market in Europe. This is a 100% organic, fair trade and vegan market where the main aim is to show that consciously sustainable consumption can be fun
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES At London's Urban Markers market vendors can only sell goods that are hand-crafted, hand-painted, or hand-sown in the UK, and all sellers involved need to meet the event's strict sustainability criteria before they can join
CHOOSE SUSTAINABLY Our own capital Ljubljana is another great option - while the country is a top green option all year round, the city's Christmas market focuses on supporting small, local businesses, zero waste products and organic Slovenian cuisine
TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT Bolzano is Italy's largest Christmas market and probably its greenest. Low energy consumption is a key consideration for the market organisers, from low energy lighting to public shuttles to limit the number of visitors arriving by car
CHOOSE RECYCLED GIFTS Held in front of the city's opera house, Zurich's Wienachtsdorf is one of Europe’s biggest markets. There's a huge emphasis on recycling and you can find countless recycled and upcycled gifts, from bikes to clocks
FOUNDATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: ENABLING GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation promoting sustainable development through environmental education. It is active through five key programmes and has members in countries all across the globe.
100
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is the world's largest environmental education organisation, active in over 100 countries around the world
5
The FEE implements five groundbreaking programmes: three educational programmes (Eco-Schools, LEAF and Young Reporters for the Environment), plus the Green Key and Blue Flag initiatives
3200
Green Key is a leading international eco-label with 3200 accredited establishments across 65 countries while the iconic Blue Flag is awarded to green beaches, marinas and boating tourism operators
110k
68
Learning about Forests (LEAF) advocates outdoor learning and handson experiences for young people. In the past year over 110,000 trees have been planted during school activities connected to LEAF
Eco-Schools is the largest global sustainable schools programme having started in Europe, it has since expanded to effect change in some 59,000 schools in 68 countries across the globe
For more information visit: www.fee.global
ABOUT US This booklet is a selection of Bohinj Green Movement infographics (July-December 2021) celebrating green and responsible practices which we believe play a crucial role in delivering an everyday sustainable approach to everyday life globally as well as locally. The report was produced and designed by Bohinj Tourism in association with AM+A and Mindbrand UK. AM+A is an award-winning PR and marketing agency specialising in sustainable destinations and lifestyle brands. Mindbrand UK is a destination management consultation and representation agency with bases in London and New York. Together AM+A, Mindbrand UK and Bohinj Tourism were awarded 'Best in Responsible Tourism' at the International Travel and Tourism Awards. More information at: https://www.bohinj.si/en/tourism-bohinjgreen-movement/
HERE'S TO A... CLEAN AND GREEN 2022 BE PART OF THE GREEN MOVEMENT