Green Tourism Business Scheme - Tourism North East

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Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS)

Note: One NorthEast Tourism GTBS
One NorthEast Tourism are currently running a 3 year project to encourage tourism businesses in the region to join the Green Tourism Business Scheme and benefit from the associated cost savings and marketing advantage that the scheme offers.

A series of seminars will be held in autumn 2008 where you will find out about the scheme, its benefits and get the chance to speak to a GTBS auditor. Also on offer at the seminars will be a number of subsidised places for the scheme and half price advisory visits. To register your interest and to find out more please contact:janet.smith@onenortheast.co.uk

The Green Tourism Business Scheme

Green tourism is a term used to describe best environmental practice within the tourism sector. It covers issues such as business efficiency, environmental management, waste and transport, as well as topics like social responsibility and biodiversity. By agreeing to the GBTS code of conduct, and undergoing regular assessment, members are making a commitment to significantly reduce their impact on the environment.

Established in 1997, the scheme has now been running for more than ten years. With over 1400 tourism members across the UK, it is a highly respected scheme amongst businesses and consumers alike.

For businesses the scheme offers the chance to contribute towards conservation, cut costs and attract visitors. Research shows that there is a growing trend amongst consumers towards businesses that take an ethical approach to the environment, and many customers are prepared to pay more for those businesses' products and services.

For customers the GBTS offers a well respected directory of environmentally conscious tourism businesses - everything from accommodation providers to attractions to tour operators and guides.

How does the scheme work?

To gain a GTBS award, businesses are assessed once every two years and graded against over 120 measures of best practice, reflecting a balance of environmental, economic and social issues. It is this process that is so effective at addressing all areas of the business and reducing waste and costs.

The areas include:

Compliance - meeting and exceeding environmental legislations
Good management - encouraging staff awareness, specialist training, good monitoring and record keeping
Communication - communicating about your environmental efforts with both consumers and the local community in a positive, proactive way
Energy efficiency - efficient use of lighting, heating, insulation, appliances and the appropriate use of alternative and renewable energy
Water efficiency - efficient use of water, low consumption appliances, rain water harvesting and eco-friendly cleaners
Purchasing - careful purchasing of environmentally friendly, low packaging goods and services and selective sourcing of ethical and local suppliers
Waste reduction - good recycling by both you and your customers, composting and careful stock control
Transport - reduction of your and your visitors' use of cars by promoting local and national public transport services, cycle and walking options and alternative fuels
Wildlife - encouraging flora and flauna in your immediate environment

Find out more

The scheme has a proven track record of reducing waste and efficiency and significantly cutting costs.

There is a comprehensive website at www.green-business.co.uk with details about accreditation, costs and case studies.

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Quick Links

Biomass Case Study – Strathmore Barns Woodchip: 168 Kb; Biomass Case Study – Strathmore Barns have won a Silver Award for good practice including a 100kw woodchip boiler powering 51 radiators and 9 bathrooms which runs on waste from a local kitchen manufacturer.
Composting Case Study – Simonburn Tearooms: 177 Kb; Composting Case Study – Simonburn Tearooms have earned a Silver Award having reduced their general waste by 90% following the introduction of a three bin recycling system.
Green Building Case Study – County Durham Tourism Partnership: 131 Kb; Green Building Case Study – County Durham Tourism Partnership have won a Gold Award for the construction of their new offices. Features include rammed earth construction, wood pellet fed biomass boilers and rainwater collection for toilet flushing and irrigating the buildings sedum roof.
Green Business Case Study - Northumberland Cottages: 178 Kb; Green Business Case Study - Northumberland Cottages are a letting agency who are aiming to become a Green Business. The business may join the GTBS through a stepping stone approach known as Going Green “Committed to the GTBS”
Greener Purchasing Case Study – Polemonium: 216 Kb; Greener Purchasing Case Study – Polemonium Plantery is a GOLD winner. This case study focuses on their outstanding commitment to local sourcing, particularly of local organic milk delivered in re-usable glass bottles
Pub Case Study - Twice Brewed Inn: 157 Kb; Pub Case Study - Twice Brewed Inn has won a Silver Award for a range of measure which include local produce, recycling, environmental cleaning, a display case for local artists and planting hundreds of trees in a ten acre plot.
Green Business Case Study - Firwood: 176 Kb; Green Business Case Study - Firwood has achieved a Green Tourism Business Scheme Silver award through general good practice in most areas, with particular focus on energy, water and waste.
Greener Purchasing Case Study – West Coates BB: 400 Kb; Greener Purchasing Case Study – West Coates Bed and Breakfast is a GOLD winner for their overall excellent environmental practices. Not only is local sourcing a key part of their green strategy but local producers are promoted on their breakfasts menus and the proprietor gives cookery lessons to promote local ingredients and local dishes.
B&B Case Study - Saughy Rigg: 165 Kb; B&B Case Study - Saughy Rigg. How one B&B earned a Silver Award through extensive use of renewables (solar, ground source and biomass) and good use of local produce.
Green Gardening Case Study - Birkheads Secret Garden: 135 Kb; Green Gardening Case Study - Birkheads Secret Garden hold a Silver Award. The owner is a qualified garden designer and many different techniques have been employed in the garden to minimise the impact the operations are having on the environment.
Solar Hot Water Case Study – 8 St Aidens Park: 140 Kb; Solar Hot Water Case Study – 8 St Aidens Park has installed solar thermal to generate hot water for their 4 diamond bed and breakfast.
Combined Heat & Power Case Study – Gisborough Hall: 111 Kb; Combined Heat & Power Case Study – Gisborough Hall have a range of energy conservation measures and a Combined Heat and Power System which is up to 85% efficient which together have earned them a Silver Award.
Marketing Case Study - Wansbeck Caravan Park: 153 Kb; Marketing Case Study - Wansbeck Caravan Park has attained a bronze award through a range of basic environmental measures and particularly through good communication with customers.
Habitat Case Study – Low Cornriggs: 171 Kb; Habitat Case Study – Low Cornriggs self catering is a Silver Award winner. The farm is managed in a traditional way and there are parts which are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. These are species rich upland hay meadows and the business is involved with the AONB Hay Time project. They are working closely with the AONB to ensure the preservation and enhancement of this rare habitat.
North East Farmers' Markets: 81 Kb; A PDF factsheet of the dates of Farmers' Markets throughout North East England
Self-catering Case Study - Durham Cottages: 161 Kb; Self-catering Case Study - Durham Cottage has won a Bronze Award for their overall green approach which includes recycling, green housekeeping and maintenance and excellent guest information on walking and cycling.
Green Building Case Study – The Hytte: 163 Kb; Green Building Case Study – The Hytte has won a Gold Award. It is a luxury norwegian inspired log construction with a turf roof and ground source heat pump.
Composting Case Study – Newt Cottage: 144 Kb; Composting Case Study – Newt Cottage have earned a Gold Award for features including the use of sheeps wool insulation, use of eco paints, a heat pump, solar panels, use of green energy tariffs and low energy lighting. The owners supply homegrown organic produce, use fair trade items, recycled products recycling facilities such as composting systems as well as provide excellent walking and wildlife information. One of the most novel features in the development is the option to use a COMPOST TOILET.
Renewable Energy Case Study – Whitelee Cottages: 173 Kb; Renewable Energy Case Study – Whitelee Cottages have won a Silver award for their outstanding use of renewable energy. They have a 2.5kw wind turbine, solar water heating, solar photovoltaic panels and two ground source heat pumps.
Insulation Case Study – Boot and Shoe Cottage: 151 Kb; Insulation Case Study – Boot and Shoe Cottage have a Silver Award through a range of good environmental practices which include sheeps wool loft insulation.
Appliances Case Study – West Longridge Cottages: 137 Kb; Appliances Case Study – West Longridge Cottages
Energy Saving Lighting Case Study – Haggerston Castle: 129 Kb; Energy Saving Lighting Case Study – Haggerston Castle have earned a Silver Award having replaced the light bulbs in their main entertainment complex with energy saving units which will save around £600 of electricity per year.
Greener Purchasing Case Study – Killhope: 175 Kb; Greener Purchasing Case Study – Killhope Lead Mining Museum is a GOLD award winner. They have an excellent overall range of measures but the case study focusses particularly on their green purchasing strategy for the museum shop which includes a wide range of ethically sourced and recycled products.
Local Produce Case Study - Grindon Cartshed: 153 Kb; Local Produce Case Study - Grindon Cartshed have a passionate commitment to the environment and are particularly strong on supplying local produce, cutting out food miles and the middle man, supporting the local economy and introducing guests to a real taste of the North East
Self-catering Case Study – Springhill Farm Cottages: 166 Kb; Self-catering Case Study – Springhill Farm Cottages has won a Silver Award through a range of green methods - including a reed bed waster water system.
Ground Source Heat Pump Case Study – Deneholme: 143 Kb; Ground Source Heat Pump Case Study – Deneholme use solar water heating, solar panels and a 37kw ground source heat pump to heat the Edwardian mansion. Other measures include a rainwater harversting system for flushing the toilets.
Special Diets Case Study - The Byre Vegetarian B+B: 147 Kb; Special Diets Case Study - The Byre Vegetarian B+B is an all round green B&B, serving only vegetarian food. There is a sound environmental principle behind vegetarianism - meat production requires significantly more land area per product.
Eco-Products Case Study – Low Urpeth: 146 Kb; Eco-Products Case Study – Low Urpeth have earned a Silver Award having introduced a range of eco-cleaning materials and water saving systems.
Biodiversity Case Study – East Briscoe Farm Cottages: 138 Kb; Biodiversity Case Study – East Briscoe Farm Cottages have won a Gold Award for their biodiversity. These self-catering cottages have a strong focus on managing their woodland and surrounding grounds with a sensitivity towards the flora and fauna.
Car Free Case Study – Argument Cottage: 127 Kb; Car Free Case Study – Argument Cottage have won a Silver Award. The owners have excelled in providing the resources to allow their guests to give the car a holiday. They have produced an 8 day itinerary of suggestions that provide details of interesting places to visit in the local area.
Wildlife Case Study – Old School B&B: 141 Kb; Wildlife Case Study – Old School B&B has won awards in the Winner of the North East B&B of the year as well as a Gold Award winner in the Green Tourism Business Scheme - for its Hedgehog Hospital.
Re-use Case Study – Ninebanks Youth Hostel: 144 Kb; Re-use Case Study – Ninebanks Youth Hostel has gained a Gold Award for their excellent environmental practices. They are particularly strong on re-use: their extension was built from reclaimed stone, one set of their tables and chairs came from the national gallery and even their curtain have been reclaimed.
Light Pollution Case Study – Border Forest Caravan Park: 157 Kb; Light Pollution Case Study – Border Forest Caravan Park is on the edge of the Kielder Forest. As a large rural park they were very aware of the effect their external lighting was having on the local night sky. Their efforts to shade lights and reduce light pollution has won them a Silver Award.
Guest Information Case Study - Pasture Cottage: 134 Kb; Guest Information Case Study - Pasture Cottage is a Silver Award winner for overall very good measures. It scored well across the whole GTBS scheme and provides particularly good wildlife information for guests.
Hotel Case Study – Dustanburgh Castle Hotel: 179 Kb; Hotel Case Study – Dustanburgh Castle Hotel is a GOLD award winner for their overall excellent green measures.