{"id":25364,"date":"2023-02-13T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-13T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/?p=25364"},"modified":"2025-11-26T09:12:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T08:12:49","slug":"sustainable-accommodation-how-do-you-pick-out-those-truly-sustainable-locations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/en\/duurzaam-overnachten-hoe-pik-je-die-echt-duurzame-locaties-eruit\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable accommodation: how do you pick out those truly sustainable locations?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Of course, you also want to tackle your holidays as green as possible. That includes sustainable accommodation. But: sustainable accommodation is not as easy as it seems. Indeed, within the travel industry, you will find many greenwashing<\/em> encounter. Even a label does not always say it all. Yet there are many great places to stay that are green. How do you pick out the really sustainable ones?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sustainable accommodation, what does it mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These days, many accommodation establishments claim to be sustainable, when this is not or barely so. For instance, you probably regularly see one of the following phrases: \u2018Our hotel is sustainable\u2019, \u2018We separate waste\u2019, \u2018We use LED lighting\u2019 or \u2018We have water-saving showers\u2019. Of course these are good steps! But shouldn't these things just be heartily normal by now? When we talk about sustainable accommodation, we are talking about accommodation that is actively working on sustainability and making sure that you can spend the night sustainably. Fortunately, more and more accommodation and hotels are fully committed to becoming greener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you be sure that an accommodation is sustainable?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To find out whether an accommodation you want to spend the night in is actually sustainable, you can do several things. For instance, you can check whether the accommodation place you have your eye on has a label such as Green Key<\/a> or Green Globe<\/a> has. In addition, you can look at exactly what an accommodation is doing to become more sustainable. Do they have solar panels and use local products? Then they are doing a good job! If you doubt whether they actually do what they say, read the reviews. There you will undoubtedly find even more clues to check whether your overnight stay is going to be sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sustainable<\/figure><\/div>
\"Sustainable<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hotel Jakarta<\/a> in Amsterdam is energy-neutral. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hallmarks for sustainable accommodation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are hundreds of sustainable labels. Each label has its own set of rules. Since there is no legislation surrounding the accuracy of these labels, it is often hard to figure out which one to believe. You can find them on well-known overnight booking sites like Expedia and TripAdvisor. All different labels that would indicate that your accommodation is as green as possible and therefore you can stay here sustainably. But which ones are true and which ones are not? Here are two labels that are often used and that you can rely on anyway and a bonus suggestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green Globe<\/a> is a seal of approval in the travel and hospitality industry. Green Globe is an internationally recognised sustainability label and is used in 90 countries. Besides the environment, economic and social measures are also included in the Green Globe label. In this way, good working conditions, the use of fair trade products and the local environment, among others, are promoted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green Key<\/a> is one of the best-known quality marks in the leisure and recreation sector in the Netherlands. Almost ten per cent of hotels in the Netherlands have a Green Key quality mark. When does a hotel or accommodation earn a Green Key quality mark? The hotel is assessed on twelve different points. Building and greenery, energy, waste and textiles are among the important themes. If all themes have been assessed, then a hotel can be awarded a Green Key certificate Bronze, Silver or Gold. Gold is of course the top score in this respect!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sustainable<\/figure><\/div>
\"EU<\/figure><\/div>
\"Sustainable<\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"Stayokay<\/figure><\/div>
\"View<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A nice and affordable more sustainable overnight stay can be found at one of Stayokay's hostels where they also have private rooms with private bathrooms, such as rooms in the cube houses in Rotterdam. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are green accommodations doing to become more sustainable?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Accommodations fully committed to more sustainable use focus on much more than just waste separation and LED lighting. They may be busy generating their own energy through solar panels or a heat pump. The building is well insulated, so little heat is lost in winter and little heat comes in in summer. An appropriate air-conditioning policy will also apply. In the restaurant, they prefer to use produce from their own vegetable garden, prepare meals with local products and avoid food waste. In addition, you will find that sustainable hotels no longer offer small bottles of shampoos and encourage you to use your towels more than once. Do you see these kinds of pointers reflected on your hotel's website? Then you are probably in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Websites to book your sustainable accommodation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Want to make sure your overnight stay is a sustainable choice? Then make it easy on yourself and book through one of the websites below. These pages focus mainly on sustainable accommodation. Also search online using the search term sustainable accommodation<\/em>, then you also pick up the English-language articles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n