Scotland-based Green Tourism has launched the latest version of its certification standard, replacing its Bronze, Silver and Gold awards with a single independently audited certification.
The organisation, which has certified tourism and hospitality businesses since 1997, said the change reflects growing demand from guests, booking platforms and regulators for clear and trustworthy sustainability information.
The launch of Green Tourism Certified follows the introduction of the EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive, which requires sustainability labels shown to EU consumers to be supported by independent third-party verification.
The rules can also affect Scottish and UK tourism operators marketing to European guests through booking platforms or EU-facing websites.
Green Tourism Certified appears on Travalyst’s list of schemes that have declared compliance with the Directive. Booking platforms, including Booking.com, use the list when determining which sustainability certifications to display.
Green Tourism is now in its 30th year and has more than 2,500 members. Existing members will retain their current Bronze, Silver or Gold award until their next renewal, when they will move to the new standard.
Andrea Nicholas, director of Green Tourism Certified Ltd, said: “Bronze, Silver and Gold were a great way to help businesses take their first steps and keep improving.
“Now guests are leading the conversation, and they simply want to know if a business is certified. This latest version of Green Tourism is a natural evolution of what we’ve always stood for: information guests, booking platforms and regulators can trust.”
Under the revised structure, Green Tourism Certified Ltd owns the standard and publishes its rules, including how auditors are appointed and certification decisions are made.
Audits and certification decisions are undertaken by Green Business UK Ltd, which has audited the scheme since 2002. Green Tourism Advisors support participating businesses but are not involved in the independent assessment process.
Existing members do not need to take immediate action. An adviser will contact each business approximately six months before its renewal, with all members expected to have moved to Green Tourism Certified by March 2028.
Businesses joining or renewing complete ten environmental, social and governance modules, usually through a 12-week guided programme, before undergoing an independent audit.
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Membership also includes a Carbon Tracker measuring Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, covering emissions from a company’s operations and wider supply chain. From 1 November, the cost of the independent audit will be included in membership.
Green Tourism said certification confirms that a business meets the requirements of its standard but does not automatically substantiate broader environmental claims such as “eco-friendly” or “carbon neutral”.
Businesses operating in the UK must also ensure their environmental marketing complies with the Competition and Markets Authority’s Green Claims Code.
