Title - Name
Sustainable Tourism Network
Scope / Sector / Industry
Sustainable Tourism Network
Country / Region
Ireland
Why is it good practice?
The Sustainable Tourism Network is a sustainable tourism certification organisation in Ireland, recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Its aim is to empower the tourism industry to become more sustainable through networking, consultancy, training and certification services, benefiting businesses, tourists and communities.
The uniqueness of the Sustainable Tourism Network lies in its approach to encouraging tourism businesses to adopt sustainable practices by providing recognised certification based on milestones achieved through a six-stage process.
How is it applied?
Support for member businesses in the following areas:
- Energy reduction and management
- Carbon emissions reduction and management
- Water conservation and management
- Waste reduction and management
- Food waste reduction and management
- Management of single-use plastics
- Sustainable strategy planning
- Sustainable procurement
- Support for biodiversity
- Certification provision
Services provided:
A) Membership Register
Businesses wishing to join the Network pay an annual fee based on their size (estimated by the number of employees). Upon registration, they receive the Network’s logo and access to a range of information and tools on its platform. Members can attend online workshops, seminars and e-learning courses, access the member directory, and take part in networking events to exchange ideas and develop their businesses. They can also learn about examples of sustainable tourism businesses.
B) 6-Stage Programme and Certification
The six-stage programme is a process that businesses choose to follow in order to obtain certification recognising their sustainability. Each stage of the programme is aligned with and assessed against the GSTC certification criteria, emphasises specific sustainability pillars, and is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Upon completing each stage, the business receives a distinction (1. Foundation Level, 2. Energy & Carbon, 3. Waste & Water, 4. Nature & Culture, 5. People and Business, 6. Certification), symbolising its achievements and commitment to sustainability. The final certification takes the form of a gold or silver award and must be renewed every two years. Renewal is subject to a renewal fee. In addition, businesses are featured on the Network’s list of members according to their distinction.
Certification can be achieved in two ways. The first and most common way is to take part in a structured programme with one-to-one support from specialist trainers at each stage. The second and more flexible way allows the business to follow its own path to certification based on predetermined criteria and the Network’s online information.
The assessment of progress towards the six stages is carried out by external auditors to ensure transparency through on-site inspections.
C) Training
The Network also offers training opportunities for its members in the aforementioned thematic areas. Training may take the form of online courses, online or face-to-face seminars and workshops, and bespoke training programmes for businesses.
D) Consultancy
The Sustainable Tourism Network also offers bespoke consultancy services to businesses wishing to explore sustainability, circularity and climate issues in greater depth. These services may include drafting sustainability strategies, environmental management, researching best practices in sustainability, supporting business engagement with other stakeholders, performance measurement, and designing experiential policies.
E) Organisation of the Annual Conference
Every year, the Network organises a sustainable tourism conference to share new knowledge, facilitate networking amongst its members, and encourage interaction. Members of the Network receive a 25% discount on the participation fee.
Where is it applied?
The Network is aimed at all tourism businesses and currently has 152 members.
When did it apply?
The Sustainable Tourism Network began operating in 2009.
Results
Of its 152 registered members, the current situation is as follows:
• Two businesses have been awarded gold certification
• 1 business has been awarded silver certification
• 28 businesses have completed the intermediate stages of the certification programme
• One business has completed the second stage of the certification programme
• 12 businesses have completed the first stage of the certification programme
Other information
The Network has developed its own sustainability policy, which serves as an example to its members. Its staff have completed the GSTC training programme on sustainable tourism.
Any business wishing to become a member of the Network must agree to the Membership Policy and the Membership Logo & Award Usage Agreement, which can be found on the official website.
Official website of the Sustainable Tourism Network: https://www.sustainabletourismnetwork.ie/