Advanced Steps

1.0 MAINTAIN MOMENTUM

• Create a vision and/or mission statement that includes sustainable tourism.
   
• Share your vision and mission with staff in your business.
   
• Revisit and review that vision periodically.
   
• Set targets like a 20% reduction in energy use and report on your environmental performance. Celebrate success by treating employees.
   
• Report on environmental and social practices and share outcomes of reports with shareholders, customers and other stakeholders.
   
• Identify your social impacts. These can occur whenever your business shares public space or resources such as roads, lakes, urban environments, forests etc. Monitor the social impacts you identified on a regular basis and take corrective action if necessary.
   
• Conduct regular assessments of the company’s economic performance.
   
• Conduct regular assessments of the company’s environmental performance.
   
• Set up an action plan, with implementation deadlines and identify people responsible for making them happen.
   
• Get to know key organisations or agencies that are of most importance to the sustainability of your business (e.g. Council personnel, community groups, Energy Efficiency, Conservation Authority and Sustainable Business Network).
   
• Join an accreditation scheme, like Qualmark’s environmental accreditation section which will be launched in January 2008.
   
• Keep meeting regularly to discuss ideas and what’s working or not working.
   
• Apply for awards related to environmental / sustainability performance.
   
• Become a carbon neutral certified business.

2.0 WORKPLACE PRACTICES

• Foster a workplace culture that embraces sustainability efforts and understands that every effort made by individuals or organizations, regardless of size, contributes to greater environmental outcomes.
   
• Discuss sustainability when interviewing new staff.
   
• Discuss your business’ sustainability vision with your employees and clarify what sort of behavior is expected of them.
   
• Encourage feedback and new ideas around sustainable practices from staff (e.g. regular agenda item at staff meetings, suggestion box, staff rep at management meetings).
   
• Consider providing sustainability training for your staff.
   
• Encourage staff to use alternative modes of transport when commuting to work (e.g. provide a secure bicycle storage area, establish a car pool programme).

3.0 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Communicate your actions and their success as part of your marketing plan.
   
• Work with other businesses to effect change in your community and the tourism industry (e.g. involvement in business networking initiatives).
   
• Share best practice knowledge with other businesses in your region.
   
• Form a long-term relationship with a community group(s) (e.g. formalised sponsorship).
   
• Donate your products or services to community initiatives (e.g. local school trips, research students).
   
• Support a specific cause (e.g. Department of Conservation restoration, Kiwianis, Lions, Rotary).
   
• Donate used or surplus equipment to local school(s) or community group.
   
• Provide mentoring to local businesses or community groups.
   
• Create an internship or tourism work-experience programme.
   
• Consciously support local merchants.
   
• Participate on a local committee or board.
   
• Get involved in local government matters – have a say on district and regional plans, or council politics. Find further information here.

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

1. 4.1 Waste Management and Minimisation

   • Establish measurable targets for reducing waste. Undertake an internal waste audit. This is a process where you identify all the business’s waste streams and set management policies for each one. A waste stream is anything that could end up at the landfill and includes such items as cars, fridges, computers and beds as well as ‘normal’ waste such as paper, plastic bags and food scraps. Find waste audit templates here and here.
      
   • Design, implement and monitor a recycling system (for glass, paper, plastics, aluminium and tin) which allows both your business and your customers to recycle.
      
   • Brochures are one of the largest waste streams generated by tourism businesses. Consider methods of reducing the number of brochures you have to print; (e.g. design them so they do not have to be updated too often, include a message on the brochure asking visitors to return brochures to racks if not being taken away, consider alternative promotional channels to brochures such as the Internet).
      
   • Reduce organic waste (compost, set up a worm farm and/or feed to animals).
      
   • Re-use stationery and office supplies.
     
   • Establish in-house waste reduction schemes (e.g. reduce paper use).
      
   • Buy recycled products (e.g. paper, toilet paper, cardboard, packaging, toners).
      
   • Choose environmentally friendly packaging (e.g. biodegradable, recyclable paper vs. plastic).
      
   • Dispose of special wastes in the recommended manner (e.g. used oil, batteries, used computers or mobile phones).
      
   • Avoid wasteful products (e.g. disposable plates and cups, single use printer cartridges).
      
   • Dispose of your energy saver lightbulbs and tubes carefully, see here for details.
   
    
   • See here for more details on recycling and waste minimization.
      

2. 4.2 Pollution Prevention

   • Avoid the use of toxic substances (e.g. sprays, detergents, cleaning products).
      
   • Be aware of what goes into municipal waste water and storm water systems, as well as septic tanks.
      
   • Only wash vehicles at legally established vehicle washing facilities.
      
   • Ensure stormwater collected from parking areas is treated prior to disposal.
      
   • Clean out septic tanks at least once every two years.
      
   • Install an advanced wastewater system to replace an old septic tank.
      
   • Ensure printing cartridges are filled with non-toxic ink/toner when recycled.
      
   • Only use office and hygiene paper that is made from 100% recycled paper and is non-chlorine bleached.
      
   • Ensure all contracted printing is done on paper made from non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled paper or pulp sourced from renewable resources.
      
   • Ensure only vegetable based inks are used.
      
   • Offer organic food when possible.
     
      

3. 4.3 Energy Efficiency

   • Conduct an energy audit. Find an on-line energy usage calculator.
      
   • Consider changing to a certified environmentally friendly energy supplier.
      
   • Ensure refrigeration / heating systems are maintained appropriately and regularly serviced.
      
   • Ensure air-conditioning system is regularly maintained, and minimise its use.
      
   • Maintain a record of energy use.
      
   • Use energy-efficient lighting.
      
   • Choose energy-efficient appliances (look for the energy label). Find information here.
      
   • Employ energy-efficient management techniques (e.g. switch off equipment when not in use). Find more information here.
      
   • Give priority to other energy-efficient technologies (e.g. solar heating, movement sensors, heat exchangers).
      
   • Insulate all hot water cylinders and pipes.
      
   • Insulate all windows (e.g. double glazing or other insulation methods).
      
   • Insulate ceilings, walls and floors.
      
   • Use air curtains where main doors are kept open for long periods.
      
   • Install self-closing doors for high foot traffic entrances.
      
   • Install key controlled power cut-off system in commercial accommodation.
      
   • Ensure heated swimming pool is covered when not in use.
      
   • Install a gray water heat exchange system. This is a system that transfers heat from hot water going down the drain to cold water going into the hot water cylinder.
      
   • Consider options to convert to renewable energy sources (e.g. solar, wind, hydro, biomass, biofuels and ethanol petrol). Find more information here.
      

4. 4.4 Vehicles

   • Sustainable fleet management (e.g. encourage drivers to take the fuel saver test, general driver education, regular servicing, consider fuel efficiency of vehicles, conversion to alternative fuels, plant trees to offset CO2 emission). Find more information here.
      
   • Update your fleet: replace company vehicles with biofuel-powered, hybrid or clean burning diesel. Find more information here and here.
      
   • Only purchase vehicles that meet EU emission standards.
     
      

5. 4.5 Water Efficiency and Quality

   • Install water-saving fixtures and devices (e.g. dual flush toilets, flow restrictors, regulators, percussive / self-closing taps, low flow shower mixers).
      
   • Reduce water use outdoors (e.g. use garden mulches, and a trigger gun for outdoor water use). Find more information here.
      
   • Start or contribute to a local native tree re-vegetation programme.
      
   • Maintain high quality water/effluent output filtration systems. Find more information here.
      
   • Collect and use rainwater.
      
   • Recycle grey water.
     
      

6. 4.6 Sustainable Design

   • Use sustainable building techniques and technologies (e.g. high quality insulation, passive design, sustainable materials) Find information here and here.
      
   • Actively consider sustainability in the design of products and services (e.g. whole of life consideration, operating costs vs. purchase price, brochure design with vegetable inks and recycled paper).
      
   • Select products that meet recognised environmental criteria (e.g. Environmental Choice, Energy Star, WSAA Water Conservation).
      
   • Consider whether products can be recycled, sold or donated after use.

5.0 MARKETPLACE

• Promote responsible and safe use of your product/service.
   
• Ensure your website reflects your sustainability values. Have a dedicated ‘Sustainability’ page.
   
• Survey visitor expectations and satisfaction levels, including around sustainability.
   
• Encourage tourists and travelers to be eco-wise. Find further information in the NZ Eco-wise Travel Guide.
   
• Monitor the sustainability performances of main competitors.
   
• Seek marketing opportunities involving good causes (e.g. WWF; Life Flight Trust).
   
• Offer your product or service with a carbon neutral option.

• 6.0 SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES

• Find out about the sustainability of the products:
   
• Is it made locally or offshore?
   
• Do the raw materials come from a renewable source?
   
• What are the social and environmental impacts of making the product?
   
• How environmentally friendly is the manufacturing plant?
   
• Is child labour used?
   
• Is the manufacturer able to take the product back at the end of its useful life?
   
• Is the product designed to be easily recycled?
   
• Is the product designed to biodegrade safely in the environment in a relatively short period?)

• Develop and adopt a buying policy that incorporates sustainability. Refer to Business Guide to a Sustainable Supply Chain.
   
• Communicate your expectations in terms of sustainable products to your suppliers (e.g. recycled paper and vegetable inks for brochures, minimise packaging, return packaging).
   
• Use all opportunities to monitor your suppliers and ensure good practice.
   
• If necessary change to suppliers that offer sustainable products. See Environmental Choice New Zealand.