Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

Introduction of the Introduction of the EU Flower criteria EU Flower criteria

for tourist for tourist accommodationaccommodation

Sabine Nascinguerra

France

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 20102

Purpose and objective of the EU-Ecolabel for tourist accomodations

Purpose:These criteria aim to set limits on the main environmental impacts from the three phases of the life cycle of tourist accommodation service (purchasing, provision of the service and waste). In particular they aim to:

limit energy and water consumption, limit waste production, favour the use of renewable resources and of substances

which are less hazardous to the environment, promote environmental communication and education.

Objective:Valuing environmentally friendly accommodation services

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 20103

Number of certified companies en Europe

0

50

100

150

200

AT CH* CZ DK GR ES FR UK IE IT

Tourist accomodation licenses par country

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 20104

Ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label for tourist accommodation service

COMMISSION DECISION of 9 July 2009 Available in differents languages at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/

« The product group ‘tourist accommodation service’ shall comprise the provision, for a fee, of sheltered overnight accommodation in appropriately equipped rooms, including at least a bed, offered as a main service to tourists, travellers and lodgers. »

Hotels, motels, appartement hotelsResidential Clubs, Guest Houses Mountain refuges, youth hostelsBed & Breakfast …

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 2010

EU Flower Criteria for tourist accommodation

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 20106

The criteria

Mandatory criteria Optional criteria

Energy savings 10 20

Water savings 5 13

Detergents & disinfectants

1 7

Waste management 4 4

Other services 2 12

General management 7 5

Total 29 61

Minimum 29 20 + 3 points for each additional service

(food services / fitness / green areas)

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 20107

Examples of criteria : Energy

Electricity from renewable sources At least 50 % of the electricity used for all purposes shall come from renewable energy sources

Energy-efficient electrical equipments If a new heat generating capacity is installed within the duration of the eco-label award, it shall be a high efficiency cogeneration unit, a heat pump or an efficient boiler Any household air conditioner bought within the duration of the eco-label award shall have at least Class A energy efficiency

A

B

C

GEquipement énergivore

Equipement économe Conso.

<50

51 à 90

91 à 150

151 à 230

231 à 330

331 à 450

> 450

D

E

F

86,3

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 20108

Examples of criteria : Energy

Switching off heating or air conditioning and lightsIf there is no automatic off-switch in the rooms, there shall be easily available information to the guests asking them to turn off the air conditioning when opening the windows and the lights when leaving the room or

Energy efficient light bulbs At least 80 % of all light bulbs and 100 % of light bulbs likely to be turned on > 5 h/day shall have an energy efficiency of Class A

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 20109

Examples of criteria : Water

Water-saving taps and showersMandatory criteria : The average water flow of the taps and shower heads, shall not exceed 9 litres/ minute Optional criteria : not exceed 8 litres/ minute

Waste bins in toilets Each toilet shall have an appropriate waste bin and the guest shall be invited to use the waste bin instead of the toilet for appropriate waste

Changing towels and sheets Guests shall be informed that sheets and towels in the rooms shall be changed on their request, or by default at the frequency established by the environmental policy of the tourist accommodation.

Correct waste water disposal Guests and staff shall be informed on the correct use of the waste water discharge, in order to avoid the disposal of substances that might prevent waste water treatment in accordance with the municipal waste water plan and Community regulations.

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201010

Examples of criteria : Chemical products

Mandatory : Disinfectants shall be used only where they are necessary in order to comply with legal hygiene requirements

(up to 3 points)

Optional Detergents : at least 80 % by weight detergents and/or soaps and shampoos used by the tourist accommodation shall have been awarded the Community eco-label or other national or regional ISO Type I eco-labelsIndoor and outdoor paints and varnishes : at least 50 % of the indoor and/or outdoor painting of the tourist accommodation shall be done with paints and varnishes awarded the Community eco-label or other national or regional ISO Type I eco-labels

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201011

Example of criteria : Waste

Waste separation by guests and staffGuests shall be informed how and where they can separate waste, and adequate containers for waste separation shall be available in the rooms or in easily reachable distance Waste shall be separated by the staff into the categories that can be handled separately by the local or national waste management facilities, with particular care regarding hazardous waste

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201012

Example of criteria : Waste

Disposable products Disposable toiletries (not refillable) such as shampoo and soap, and other products (not reusable), such as shower caps, brushes, nail files, etc. shall not be used. Disposable drinking systems (cups and glasses), plates and cutlery shall only be used if they made out of renewable raw materials and are biodegradable and compostable

Breakfast Packaging Except where required by law, no single dose packages shall be used for breakfast or other food service, with the exception of dairy fat spreads (such as butter, margarine and soft cheese), chocolate and peanut butter spreads, and diet or diabetic jams and preserves.

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201013

Example of criteria Other services

No smoking in common areas and roomsMandatory : A no smoking section shall be available in all indoor common areas. Optional : Smoking shall not be allowed in 100 % of indoor common areas and at least 70 % of the rooms

Public transportation Information shall be made easily available to the guests and staff on how to use public transportation to and from the tourist accommodation through its main means of communication. Where no appropriate public transport exists, information on other environmentally preferable means of transport shall also be provided

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201014

Example of criteria General management

Maintenance and servicing of boilers and air conditioning systems

At least once a year

Policy setting and environmental program The management shall have an environmental policy and shall draw up a simple environmental policy statement and a precise action program to ensure the application of the environmental policy

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201015

Example of criteria General management

Staff training provide information and training to the staff, including written procedures or manuals, to ensure the application of environmental measures and to raise awareness of environmentally responsible behavior

Information to guests provide information to the guests, including conference participants, on the environmental policy, including safety and fire safety aspects, inviting them to contribute to its implementation

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201016

Wich process changes may be required in Wich process changes may be required in relation to the current standard practices ?relation to the current standard practices ?

Major changes of currents practices :Remove all disposals and single dose packages from the rooms and food servicesSpecial staff training, to ensure the application of environmental measures

Simple modifications of currents practices Providing special information to the guests about your environmental commitment and invite them to contributeSeparating waste (staff and guests)Collecting regularly data about water, energy and chemicals consumptions and waste productionKeep in mind : for purchasing, if affordable, prefer eco-labeld products or suppliers and low-consumption equipements

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201017

How to meet the criteriaHow to meet the criteria

In order to be awarded the Community eco-label, a tourist accommodation service shall fulfill all of the following requirements

comply with each of the mandatory criteria comply with a sufficient number of the optional criteria

For each criteria, the assessment and verification requirements are given in the Commission Decisions of 9 July 2009

Example :

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201018

How to apply for the EU Flower award ?How to apply for the EU Flower award ?

Step 1 : Contact a competent body like AFNOR in FranceThe Competent Body will provide technical support

Step 4 : Receiving the EU EcolabelThe Competent Body will send an official certificate.

Use the logo for communication & marketing after the certificate is awarded

Step 2 : Building up the dossier :-Collect certificates and proofs for some criteria

-Write a declaration of compliance with each criterion

Step 3 : Application approval After receiving the documents, the Competent Body will assess your

environmental performance and compliance with the criteria (on-site inspection)

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201019

Fees of the Community Eco-label

Year N :Admission fee : payment of a fee relating to the costs of processing the application (300 – 1300 € / 400 – 1730 $)Audit : payment for the time spend by the competent body for the assessment (600 – 1200 € / 800 – 1600 $)Annual fee : payment for the use of the label : 0,15 % of the annual volume of sales (500 – 25 000 € / 670 – 33 310 $)

Year N + 1:Annual fee

Year N + 2 :Audit + Annual fee

Year N + 3Annual fee

.

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201020

Example and reductions

Example : 3 star hotel with 25 employees and 60 rooms in France:Year 1 :

Admission fee : 600 € / 800 $Audit (1 day) : 800 € / 1050 $Annual fee : 750 € / 1000 $

Total year 1 : 2150 € / 2850 $

Reduction : - 25 % for SMEs (< 250 employees), - 25 % for product manufacturers and service providers of developing countries- 15 % for EMAS / ISO 14.000- 30 % for national Ecolabel (following ISO 14.024 )

max. 50% reduction

Workshop on Eco-labeling in Latin America, Brazil, 19 & 20 august 201021

For more information visit :For more information visit :

orhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/