The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) is pleased to announce that the standard “Multietichetta eLabel! RDP Servizi di ricettività con o senza servizio accessorio di ristorazione (PR accommodation services with or without the additional catering service)” has gained GSTC-Recognized Standard status, meaning the standard includes criteria and indicators equivalent to the full criteria of the GSTC Industry Standard.
The stated scope of the standard is Hotels and Accommodations, and the geographical coverage is Italy. The GSTC Recognition remains valid until either the standard or the GSTC Industry Standard is revised. The Multietichetta eLabel! standard is not used for certification purposes.
Multietichetta eLabel! provides detailed and in-depth information about the product’s environmental performance, enabling clear communication of the added value of sustainable choices to consumers.
The GSTC-Recognized status refers to the standard itself, indicating that a sustainable tourism standard has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and approved by the GSTC Recognition Decision-Making Committee (RDMC). This confirms that the content of the standard is equivalent to the GSTC Standards for sustainable tourism. It shows that the set of standards is based on the four pillars of the GSTC Standards: Sustainable Management, Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Environmental principles.
GSTC Recognition of Standards does not relate to the process of certification (which is a third-party assessment, through an audit, of a tourism enterprise for conformity to a standard). GSTC Recognition of Standards does not relate to accreditation (formal verification that a certification body operates competently and neutrally according to international standards of how to properly certify, which is the highest level of assurance).
« We congratulate Multietichetta eLabel for embracing the Four Pillars of the GSTC Standards. Adopting a holistic perspective on sustainability showcases their commitment to a comprehensive and global approach,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
Sergio Andreis, Kyoto Club Executive Director: “We are grateful for the GSTC Recognition and do hope this may be the beginning of a mutually fruitful cooperation also for the future.”
The status offers the market proof that these standards follow international norms. GSTC Recognition does not ensure that a certification process is reliable, only that the set of criteria used to certify are equivalent to the GSTC Standards. GSTC-Recognized standard owners are encouraged to follow and complete the accreditation process, which assures that the certification process used to apply the standard meets international best practices, transparency, and rigor. A list of GSTC-Accredited certification bodies is available here.
About “Multietichetta eLabel!
Kyoto Club developed the eLabel!, a Type 1 environmental label, as defined by the international standard UNI EN ISO 14024. The aim of the eLabel! is to ‘promote the supply and demand of those products that cause less harm to the environment, thus helping to stimulate a process of continuous, market-driven environmental improvement’, using the ‘communication of verifiable, accurate and non-misleading information on the environmental aspects of products.’
For more information visit: https://www.kyotoclub.org/it/gruppi-di-lavoro/multietichetta-elabel/
About the GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, the GSTC Standards, also known as the GSTC Criteria. The GSTC Destination Standard for public policy-makers and destination managers, GSTC Hotel Standard & GSTC Tour Operator Standard, GSTC MICE Standard for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, and the GSTC Attraction Standard for tourist attractions such as theme parks, museums, and national parks. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Standards form the foundation for GSTC’s assurance role for certification bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services but provides accreditation to those that do.
GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism. The GSTC is an ISEAL Community Member, a global membership organization for ambitious, collaborative, and transparent sustainability systems, as well as an Association Member of The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and an Associate Member of the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC).
Information for media and the press: www.gstc.org/about/for-the-press/
