Standards must keep pace with emerging technology and innovation to better protect the health and safety of people, planet, and profits. In the hospitality industry, business interests cross not only state, but world borders. Our leading green policies and practices are trending toward more holistic, multi-attribute considerations. As we look at the future, the next level of certification or improvements must move from making claims to science supported standards.
The success of any certification rests on whether it is based on a trusted, consistent standard, and on the degree to which the industry, customers and supply chain worldwide demonstrate their support. I foresee increased adoption of holistic approaches versus single attribute certification. Multi-attribute standards for green products look at the full life cycle impact of products, including indoor air quality (IAQ) and End of Life (EOL) alternatives.
One example of a multi-attribute standard is SMaRT, which means Sustainable Materials Rating Technology. SMaRT is the Sustainable Product Standard certifying products best for the environment, economy, and social equity. Prerequisites to certification include:
• No toxic Stockholm Treaty Chemicals including dioxins/PVC;
• ISO Compliant Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to identify supply chain impacts;
• Inventory of 1,300 pollutants at the manufacturing and supplier facilities with credit for the percent reduced up to 100 percent;
• Reuse;
• High priority for climate pollution reduction including the SMaRT LEED credit; and
• Social equity indicators.
Here’s What’s Happening
Hospitality industry leaders are taking action. Launched at the World Conservation Congress in October 2008, The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) are a set of 37 voluntary standards representing the minimum that any tourism business should aspire to reach to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for poverty alleviation. The GSTC were developed as part of an initiative led by the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization. More than 40 of the world’s leading public, private, nonprofit, and academic institutions joined together to analyze thousands of worldwide standards and engage the global community in a broad-based stakeholder consultation process.
The Rainforest Alliance serves as secretariat of the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas with support from the World Tourism Organization, the International Ecotourism Society and the United Nations Environment Program. The Network brings together certification programs, public and private entities that promote certification and other environmental, tourism-related and academic organizations, all aiming to share information, reach out to other relevant programs, identify training needs and define a progressive market strategy. Membership is free and voluntary; and there are currently more than 130 members from 23 countries.
Government is addressing this issue at all levels. Manufacturers with certified SMaRT products mentioned above receive a federal government procurement preference pursuant to Executive Order 13514 reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHE)/climate pollution. Only a handful of state governments have failed to implement green building recommendations related to energy use and savings for state buildings. Increasingly, cities are adopting more sustainable building codes.
In the hospitality industry, this approach is emerging on multiple fronts. Energy Star and Water Sense are two EPA programs addressing issues critical to hotels, energy and water consumption. In food service the buzz centers on organic and locally grown foods.
To progress we must use independent globally accepted certifications. Our challenge is to find universal guidelines for certifications. We cannot ignore economic realities. In hospitality global operations shape how we approach and resolve challenges related to depletion of resources, climate change and transparency.
What technology is on the horizon that will push for new or better standards? Energy and water saving options are increasing in the marketplace. For example, here’s a practical challenge that yields measureable results and is already deployed in Europe and Asia. A year from now how many guestrooms in the United States will be using key card energy management systems? One leading vendor claims energy savings of 25 to 45 percent per guestroom with payback in less than two years. Other companies offer similar services. The argument that customers will be unhappy is refuted by hotels using the systems and educating the guests and staff upfront.
What’s Important to Remember
Our reputations are at stake on a global stage. It is time to be proactive and create aggressive standards rather than rely on the lowest common denominator. We must take a holistic approach to sustainability and consider impacts across the hospitality horizon. Making the hospitality industry more sustainable requires engagement of all stakeholders.
Bill Gregory, director of sustainability for Milliken & Co., has actively participated in establishing sustainable standards for the carpet industry, and represents carbon negative Milliken with Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments, USGBC, and the NEWH Sustainability Committee, among other green organizations.
