EarthCheck is an environmental certification, consulting and advisory program developed by the Australian Cooperative Research Center for Sustainable Tourism. Recognized as a global leader, EarthCheck promotes sustainability in tourist destinations and companies in the sector.
In 2017, EarthCheck achieved the status of “Standards recognized by the GSTC”, awarded by the Global Council for Sustainable Tourism (GSTC). This distinction confirms that their standards for hotels, tour operators and destinations meet or are equivalent to the demanding GSTC criteria.
EarthCheck deals with all aspects of destination management and sustainability, from the design, construction and operational performance of tourism infrastructure, to supporting operators and their customers through training and capacity building.
It also offers a range of advisory services, including destination management plans and strategic plans, as well as specialized services that cover aspects such as zero-emission planning, decarbonization, risk management and resilience, and climate change.
EarthCheck can certify companies in the tourism sector in general, such as accommodations, destinations, airports, attractions, buildings, convention centers, cruise ships, railways, tour operators and communities.
EarthCheck offers several types of certification focused on different aspects of sustainable tourism and related industries.
Aimed at companies and organizations in the tourism sector, such as hotels, resorts, tour operators and airports, that seek to implement and maintain sustainable practices in their operations.
Benefits: makes it possible to meet and exceed government guidelines on sustainability, attract more customers and significantly reduce operating costs without losing quality. In addition, it helps to optimize operations and access financing more easily.
For the planet, certification provides a framework for being a sustainable and regenerative company, demonstrating leadership in climate action, with a positive impact on health, education, local employment, social issues and the environment.
How to get it: To become EarthCheck Certified, you must follow this process.
Aimed at tourist destinations, such as cities, regions, local municipalities or tourist areas that wish to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable tourism.
Benefits: improves operational efficiency and encourages support from residents and visitors. In addition, it offers environmentally and socially responsible options, helping governments to protect their sustainable tourism niches and combat Greenwashing.
This certification also helps to mitigate the environmental impacts of tourism growth and to position the destination as a leader in sustainability.
How to get it: To become EarthCheck Sustainable Destinations certified, you must follow this process.
It offers guidelines, tools and indicators to help designers, architects and developers in the planning and design phase of tourism infrastructure. It is ideal for new developments and construction projects that seek to minimize their environmental impact right from the design phase.
Benefits: The EarthCheck Building Planning and Design Standard (BPDS) makes it possible to predict potential project impacts and identify opportunities for performance improvement and sustainable design.
In addition, it ensures that projects that achieve certification are designed to meet or exceed best-practice performance standards for the type of building and its location.
How to get it: To become EarthCheck Design certified, you must complete these five phases.
There are three levels of certification available: EarthCheck Design Silver Certified (170-209 credits required), EarthCheck Design Gold Certified (210-249 credits required) and EarthCheck Design Platinum Certified (250+ credits required).
Aimed at ecotourism operators, specifically terrestrial and marine parks of any size.
Benefits: exceeds regulatory expectations, improves compliance with environmental emissions, energy efficiency and waste management. In addition, it significantly reduces operating costs without sacrificing service quality, facilitates access to finance and reduces the impact of human activity.
How to get it: To obtain the EarthCheck ECO certification, you should know that there are two levels of certification.
EarthCheck ECO: ideal entry-level program for small and medium-sized businesses that evaluates the economic, social and environmental impact of an operator.
The information submitted is verified through evaluation in the first year and site audits in subsequent years, ensuring that each operator is audited at least every 3 years.
EarthCheck ECO — Certified: advanced program for those operators who wish to be recognized in the highest level of ecotourism practices at a global level.
EarthCheck monitors operators' performance in real time, identifying critical problems and comparing them in areas such as energy use, water, carbon emissions, and others.
Yes, it must be renewed every year.
It's a simple and practical program for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that are starting their path to sustainability. As an entry-level program, EarthCheck Evaluate is a self-guided assessment of an operator's economic, social and environmental impact.
Benefits: allows you to measure the environmental impact of your company, evaluate your performance and compare it with global standards before committing to full certification.
How to get it: To become EarthCheck Evaluate certified, you must follow this process:
Health and hygiene management system for operations and destinations. It gives visitors peace of mind that rigorous health and safety standards have been met.
Benefits: allows a business or destination to establish a practical management system to ensure health and hygiene. The processes and procedures apply to all stakeholders, including staff, operators, owners and customers.
The EarthSafe program can be applied to destinations, specific areas and the tourism supply chain.
How to get it: through the EarthSafe software, which guides businesses and destinations in the implementation of the Health and Hygiene Management system.
Find out who are the active members of EarthCheck in this interactive map in real time (zoom in on the map to see them and when you select a location, an information panel will appear).
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