Green Key

Green Key is one of the world's leading eco-labels for the tourism and hospitality industry, awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Hotels, hostels, campsites, vacation rentals, and other accommodation providers that meet a defined set of environmental and sustainability criteria are eligible for the certification after passing an independent third-party audit. Green Key is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and operates in more than 60 countries.

Certification criteria

Properties must demonstrate compliance with mandatory criteria across core areas including:

• Energy management — metering, renewable energy usage, and reduction targets
• Water management — consumption monitoring, fixture standards, and linen/towel reuse programmes
• Waste management — segregation, recycling, and single-use plastic reduction
• Cleaning and washing — use of eco-labelled products and dosage controls
• Food and beverage — locally sourced and organic procurement, food waste reduction
• Staff training and guest communication — documented sustainability education programmes
• Indoor environment quality — ventilation, noise, and chemical exposure standards

Optional criteria contribute to differentiation within the certification tier.

Why it matters for OTA distribution

Green Key certification has become commercially relevant in hotel distribution for three reasons:

1. OTA filter and badge visibility — Booking.com and Expedia surface sustainability certifications in property listings and offer dedicated search filters for eco-certified properties. The Green Key badge increases visibility to eco-conscious travellers and can improve Content Score on those platforms.
2. Corporate and managed travel compliance — Managed travel programmes subject to ESG mandates increasingly require accommodation suppliers to hold a recognised sustainability certification. Green Key is widely accepted as a qualifying credential alongside other GSTC-recognised labels.
3. Source market demand — Consumer research consistently shows that travellers from the Nordics, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK factor sustainability credentials into accommodation decisions, making certification a commercial differentiator in high-value source markets.

Related

See also Travalyst, which focuses on standardising carbon measurement across the travel industry, and Tourist Tax, which intersects with local sustainability levies in several European markets.