Environmental assistance for tourism operators

Environmental assistance for tourism operators
Reducing our impact on the environment is good for the planet and makes good business sense, There are many sources of information to help businesses become more environmentally responsible. Those we have listed are particularly good for tourism operators.

1. TIA’s Tourism Energy Efficiency Programme page on this website has advice and case studies that show the significant energy and cost savings tourism operators can make when they introduce simple energy efficiency measures.
   
2. The Ministry of Economic Development website has practical information to help tourism businesses become more sustainable.
   
3. The Sustainable Tourism Advisers in Regions (STAR) programme provides tourism operators with tools for improving their environmental performance in nine regions - Auckland, Central Otago, Coromandel, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, North Canterbury, Queenstown, Wairarapa and Wellington.
   
   STAR advisers in these regions work one-on-one with operators to help them improve business sustainability and ensure more tourism operators visibly deliver on the 100% Pure New Zealand promise.
   
   In Rotorua, the Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter www.sustainableNZ.com promotes sustainability within the Rotorua District. Members of the organisation are supported to continually improve their social, cultural and environmental performance.
4. Qualmark operates the Responsible Tourism Programme. All businesses carrying the Qualmark logo are assessed on their environmental performance. Minimum requirements include basic environmental practices and completing an environmental review of the business. Enviro Awards are given to top performers in five key action areas.

• Energy efficiency
• Waste management
• Water conservation
• Community activities
• Conservation initiatives

The Responsible Tourism toolkit includes tips, actions, examples and ideas.

5. Envirostep - is a free, entry-level environmental management tool for small to medium enterprises. It was developed by the Ministry of Economic Development in collaboration with a number of other contributors and includes an environmental performance score and profile; recommendations (to reduce operating costs, environmental impacts & risk); an action plan (to implement selected recommendations); and over 300 links to other environmental tools, service providers and further information.
   
6. The Sustainable Business Network is a forum for businesses that are interested in sustainable development practice. SBN initiatives include:

• Get Sustainable Business Challenge - designed to help businesses focus on the sustainability issues that are most important.
• Get Sust Online - an online assessment tool
• GreenFleet - a practical support-based programme that encourages businesses to actively reduce both the costs and associated harmful impacts of transportation. Subsidised energy audits
• Carbon 4 Good - a flexible, comprehensive programme designed to help New Zealand businesses offset CO2 emissions that result from their business activities

7. The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development – their website has a range of guides to help businesses become more sustainable, including procurement, paper, emissions, energy efficiency, sustainable supply chain, and zero waste guides.
   
   
8. Landcare Research - provides a number of services to help businesses become more sustainable, including:

• carboNZero certification programme - the carboNZero programme encourages and supports businesses, conferences and events, travel and tourism, households and others to minimise their climate change impacts by providing the tools for them to measure, manage and mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions.
• Enviro–Mark NZ - internet–based five–step certification programme that makes appropriate health, safety and environmental management achievable by organisations of all sizes
• Sustainability reporting - widens the scope of traditional management and reporting to include the social, environmental, and economic performance of an organisation.
  

9. Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority Business – website includes case studies (including tourism operators); funding/grants; how to save money by managing energy use; how to use renewable energy, how to motivate your staff about energy efficiency
   
   
10. Green Globe - An international benchmarking and certification programme. It provides a framework for environmental and social performance improvement through independent third party verification. The World Travel & Tourism Council is a shareholder in Green Globe.
    
11. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise - a number of NZTE’s Enterprise Training providers offer free sustainability training for small and medium sized businesses.
    
12. The Ministry for the Environment website has useful information.
    
    
13. Local Government agencies have a variety of information and tools available on their websites to help businesses improve environmental performance. They sometimes offer financial or other support. Check out your local council websites on the Local Government online website.
    
    
14. Fuelsaver.govt.nz - find out how much you spend on fuel and how much you can save. Includes information on vehicle fuel economy labelling.