Green Travel - Plan a sustainable holiday

Enjoy a sustainable holiday
Some Norwegian destinations goes the extra mile to provide a better day for the environment, local culture, unique heritage and yourself whenever you visit us.

Tourism sports a wide range of positive effects, but also provides challenges. If you want to visit a unique destination that paves the way for reduced environmental footprints and more authentic experiences for both the local population and visitors, we recommend you to try a holiday in one of Norway's sustainable destinations. By the simple act of choosing a green vacation you are both likely to heighten your own experiences and will help us push the local community and cultural heritage towards a brighter future.

About the Green Travel Certifications
 

Sustainable destination

Sustainable Destination is the Nordic region’s only national labelling scheme for travel destinations. It is a tool for sustainable development of businesses and destinations when it comes to the environment, the local community, the cultural heritage, and the economy.

The label does not mean that the destinations are 100 per cent sustainable yet, but in a long-term process. They are evaluated every three years.

Green Travel

Every time you see a tuft of grass on Visit East Norway's pages, you know that the associated products and offers are a part of the environmental scheme. “The tussock”/Green Travel is a common navigation to all qualified environmental schemes used among tourism enterprises in Norway. The symbol helps you find environmentally certified alternatives.

These following certifications fall under Green Travel. Individually and collectively they guarantee that the labelled experiences follow strict rules and guidelines for the production and management of waste, energy, transport, use of chemicals and demands for subcontractors. These measures go beyond what the Norwegian law requires.


 
Ecotourism Norway

This national certification is awarded to businesses and operators that hold a high international level in ecotourism.

Over 100 strict criteria on environmental performance, host-role, local community integration, and purchasing must be met and often improved. The certificate is renewed every three years.





ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is given to enterprises that have a high-quality environmental managing system for organizational performance, and is mainly targeted towards hotels. Each individual organization chooses their own targeted focus areas based on the potential environmental savings.






The ecolabel Nordic Swan

More than 5000 products in Norway are certified with Nordic Swan, which indicates that they satisfy strict demands within energy efficiency, materials, and chemicals, all the way from raw materials to end product and waste management.






 
Green Key

Global ecolabel, recognized by GSTC, for hotels, small accommodations, campsites, and attractions. Certified businesses must meet strict criteria for waste, energy, water, procurement, green areas, CSR, and staff involvement. High standards are maintained through annual certificate renewal, rigorous application process, documentation, and frequent audits.






Eco-Lighthouse

Eco-Lighthouse enterprises work towards satisfying requirements and implementing environmental measures on a systematic and ongoing basis in order to create more environmentally friendly operations and safer work environments. Enterprises are certified subject to independent assessment and must undergo a recertification process every three years.






Blue Flag

Global, prestigious award based on a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety-related and access related criteria to be met and maintained, aimed at beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. More than 4100 sites in 46 countries are awarded with Blue Flag.