TRAVEL
Consciously
Google Implements the “Eco-Certified” Tag BY MAJA PEIRCE
E
Each year, climate change has an increasingly profound effect on our decisions as consumers. Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai shared his personal experiences in a recent press release.
“A few years ago, flooding devastated Chennai [India], where I grew up. Seeing the images of the city — which had experienced extreme drought for so many years of my life — covered in flood waters, really made the impacts of climate change feel much closer to home. Last week, many of us woke up to orange skies in Northern California as wildfires continued to rage up and down the West Coast. The world must act now if we’re going to avert the worst consequences of climate change,” wrote Pichai. When one is able to stick to a routine, sustainable living practices are easier to maintain. However, when traveling, finding amenities such as restaurants, hotels, and transportation that meet your standards of comfort and are also eco-friendly is difficult. Search-engine giant Google has implemented a quick fix to finding environmentally safe hotels by implementing an “Eco-Certified” tag. When searching for a hotel, after clicking the “Eco-Certified” tag, an “Eco-Certified” hotel will have a “Sustainability” section under the “About” tab that lists sustainable practices the hotel utilizes. There are an array of areas in which hotels can be considered eco-friendly, such as water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction and offering vegetarian meals.
In addition to these areas, Eco Certifications may be listed under the “Sustainability” tab as well. These are self-disclosed by hotels, and while Google does not independently verify these certifications, they have partnered with organizations such as GreenKey and EarthCheck to conduct certification processes. GreenKey is an eco-label in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operations within the tourism industry. GreenKey represents a commitment by businesses that their tourism establishments adhere to the strict criteria stipulated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). EarthCheck is a scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for travel and tourism. EarthCheck’s programs are mapped to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) adopted in 2015 by all United Nations member states and underpinned by Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by all United Nations member states. Their standards are informed by a number of frameworks, criteria and standards that present themselves under that Eco Certifications section. EarthCheck audits hotels with an onsite visit for about two to three days approximately every two years, with some needing one visit every year.
