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Green Key Bangladesh
The leading international eco-label for sustainable tourism and hospitality — now in Bangladesh.
What is Green Key?
Green Key is a leading international eco-label awarded to accommodation and other hospitality facilities that commit to sustainable business practices. It is the leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry.
Six categories of establishments
Green Key is open to a wide range of tourism and hospitality businesses.
Hotels & hostels
Campsites & holiday parks
Small accommodation
Attractions
Restaurants
Conference centres
13 areas of sustainable operation
Probha Aurora will use the international criteria and request amendments as necessary to ensure full alignment with the Government of Bangladesh.
- Staff involvement
- Environmental management
- Guest information
- Water
- Energy
- Washing & cleaning
- Food & beverage
- Waste
- Administration
- Indoor environment
- Green areas
- Green activities
- Corporate social responsibility
What Green Key Bangladesh sets out to do
Promote sustainable operations
Implement environment-friendly and sustainable methods of operation and technology within individual establishments to reduce resource consumption.
Educate stakeholders
Raise awareness among guests, staff, and suppliers of tourism establishments about sustainable practices, fostering behavioural changes that support environmentally responsible tourism.
Drive industry-wide sustainability
Advocate for the adoption of eco-friendly and sustainable methods while promoting awareness and behavioural changes across the broader hospitality and tourism industry.
Tourism and climate change
Global emissions
of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the tourism industry (Lenzen et al., 2018)
forecast increase in CO₂ emissions from tourism by 2030 (UNWTO/ITF)
Tourism emissions by source: aviation 40% · transportation 30% · consumption 30%
The Bangladesh scenario
tourism establishments in 2019–20, up from 117,981 in 1992–93
growth between 2009–10 and 2019–20 (BBS Hotel & Restaurant Survey 2020)
Bangladesh’s growing tourism sector neglects the environment during construction, resulting in constant pollution, with low compliance in eco-friendly practices due to poor enforcement. Unsustainable practices in hotels, restaurants and other establishments lead to excessive and hazardous waste generation, water wastage, energy-inefficient practices and high CO₂ emissions, increasing the carbon footprint.
Where Green Key Bangladesh stands
Strengths
- Government’s interest and support
- A diverse youth network
- Strong advisory group and expert pool
- Strategic partnerships and affiliations with leading organisations
- Increased awareness
Weaknesses
- Lack of infrastructure
- Lack of knowledge / data
- Implementation costs
Opportunities
- Growing market for sustainable tourism
- Improved environmental impact
- Networks and partnerships
- Cross-selling environmental services: carbon literacy, responsible procurement etc.
- Sustainability advice and consultative workshops
Threats
- Timing: securing a formal Government agreement is time-consuming
- Resistance to change
- Financial: initial funding needed, with a risk of insufficient financial return from extensive programme development
- Non-inclusivity
From application to certification
Application
The establishment applies to join Green Key Bangladesh.
Document review
Submitted documents are checked against the criteria.
Training (ToT)
Training of trainers prepares staff to implement the criteria.
Audits
On-site audits verify how the criteria are being met.
Evaluation & decision
An independent jury evaluates the results and decides.
Certification
Successful establishments are awarded the Green Key eco-label.
Ready to earn the Green Key?
Hotels, restaurants, attractions and conference centres in Bangladesh — find out how to apply.