SUSTAINABLE STAY STANDARDS
Going Green Recommended was born of our passion for supporting small businesses on a mission to provide a one-of-a-kind guest experience, while also working to minimise their impact on the planet.
With six key principles that help guide our decision making, we ensure that each eco-hotel, stay, and retreat that we visit and promote is committed to bettering the lives of its guests and its surrounding environments—garnering them an official Going Green Recommended badge.
OUR SIX SUSTAINABLE STAY STANDARDS
Energy
Did you know that over one-third of the global decarbonisation needed to reach net-zero by 2030 must come from energy efficiency? (IEA) We highly regard stays that use primarily renewable forms of energy, like solar power; but, when relying on local energy suppliers, it is not yet always possible to solely use renewables, so we also take into account how a stay ensures energy efficiency, how it encourages guests to be responsible and turn off lights or other appliances when not in use, and how it eliminates non-essential machines or appliances that require excessive amounts of energy, like mini fridges in hotel rooms!
Water
Water is our planet's most precious and most vital resource. The conscious consumption and usage of fresh water within any business is an essential practice, and one aspect of a sustainable stay that we take seriously. Some incredible ways that we've seen sustainable stays ensure that every last drop of water used doesn't go to waste is by installing solar water heaters, wastewater-purification systems, rainwater collection systems, and water saving taps, as well as using grey water for watering non-edible plants and limiting the amount of linen changes staff will do for a guest during their single stay, unless otherwise requested.
Design
We founded Going Green Media with the goal of seeking out sustainable architecture and design projects around the world. Years on, we still view conscious, sustainable design as an essential aspect of every building, garden, and interior. Repurposing historic buildings, using natural, local building materials, upcycling secondhand furniture, planting native trees and flowers, working with local artisans and artists to supply decor for interiors, and more are just a few of the countless ways conscious design can be simply integrated into any stay!
Food
Did you know that those who follow a plant-based (vegan) diet are responsible for 75% less carbon emissions than meat-eaters? (Study) As long time vegans ourselves, we believe that stays offering menus consisting of 80-100% plant-based meals, or even separate vegan menus, are not only better for the planet, but for human health too! As more and more vegan hotels pop up across the globe, both traditional dishes and modern takes on meals are being created by talented chefs, prioritising local, seasonal ingredients that are impossibly flavourful and jam-packed with nutrients! This is vital for reducing carbon emissions generated by the transport of ingredients, boosts the local economy, and introduces regional dishes and cultures to new audiences through delicious cuisine.
Waste
Material Waste: Waste management varies by local authority, state, county, or country, depending on where a stay is located. The best policy for limiting waste is banning single-use plastic from the property, and offering fully recyclable or refillable containers to guests, and for use by staff on the property. Where this isn't available, it is imperative that stays work with their local authority to see what can be recycled, or find local artisans turning material waste into art.
Food Waste: Minimising food waste, too, is an essential aspect of running a sustainable kitchen. Using food scraps in innovative ways, or ensuring that any unusable bits are composted for use around town or on the stay's grounds is an excellent way to reduce a stay's carbon and methane footprint.
Human Waste: For more remote eco hotels, one excellent way of providing grounds and gardens with essential nutrients is by having on-site composting toilets. They save on water, and can be extremely beneficial for local biodiversity of properly maintained.
Community
Last but not least, the importance of community can never be overlooked. One critical aspect of a hotel being truly sustainable is its involvement and support of the local community. Whether that's through hiring only local staff, financially backing local schools, collaborating with other small businesses in the area, or purchasing produce and other goods from neighbouring farms or traders----the possibilities are endless and the positive impacts these choices can have are like a domino-effect.