How to Grow Green?: Stage 1-3
1. Your Sustainability Audit
Look at how your site or amenity is impacting your surroundings. Then you can start to make the changes that protect the environment, attract more green tourists and often save you money too.
Assess what you’re already doing
- What impact is your business having on the environment right now?
- What measures do you already have in place to protect it?
- Are you monitoring the impact of visitors on local communities or protected landscapes?
- Do you have a sustainability policy?
- Are you telling your visitors about the steps you’ve taken?
What more could you do? For starters, can you:
- Reduce your carbon footprint. Use the Carbon Trust’s calculator to measure your emissions and identify your pathway to net zero by 2050
- reduce the amount of water you use
- turn off lights when not needed or put them on a timer
- have a free water station for refilling bottles
- provide more litter bins and recycling bins
- use water barrels to recycle rainwater
- wash kayaks and canoes before going on the waterways to protect wildlife and vegetation from invasive species
- switch to refills instead of single use containers. Become plastic free or use recycled plastic
Or, if you have the basics covered, could you:
- investigate new eco-innovations
- install solar panels
- offer local sustainable products as gifts or takeaways (e.g. wildflower seeds instead of plastic pens)
- encourage foraging for food such as wild garlic or berries
- switch to a 100% green energy provider
- avoid over-buying to reduce waste and cut your waste management or storage costs
2. Set up a Green Team
Creating a sustainable experience takes time, but the benefits can be huge. If possible, nominate a green leader or set up a green team within your business. They can be the focus point for all sustainability matters – from research to training to implementation and verification.
3. Find a Green Mentor
Think about getting a green mentor to help you on the journey. It could be somebody local who’s been where you are now. So they’ll understand the issues and have lots of experience to share.