Examples of Italian tourist structures that are using Eco-label Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory The EU Eco-label for Tourist

Examples of Italian tourist structures that are using Eco-label

Renata MirullaItalian Ministry of Environment and Territory

The EU Eco-label for Tourist Accomodation and Camp Site Service

Bucharest, 13-14 March 2008

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment

2

The presentation

Different types of structures that achieved the EU Ecolabel Drivers towards Ecolabel Complying with the criteria: difficulties,

challenges, time spent, costs Benefits achieved

In particular in 2 Regions active in promoting the EU Ecolabel: Puglia Piemonte


3

Structures awarded in Puglia

Active since 2005 Around 40 students qualified as Eco-

label consultants in the tourism field 3 hotels have obtained the Eco-label

and others are on their way the Region also supports companies

willing to be awarded by the Eco-label


4

Structures awarded in Puglia

135 rooms; 40.000/year overnights Restaurant and Congress Centre (up to 1.000

seats) Swimming pool and fitness centre green areas private beach clients: mostly North European tourists


5

Grand Hotel Masseria Santa Lucia

Drivers towards the EU Ecolabel:- Funding opportunities - New markets - Competitiveness - Personal beliefs of the owners (younger generation)


6

Grand Hotel Masseria Santa Lucia

Time needed to comply with all criteria and obtain the Eco-label: 8 months

Personnel involved: hotel director, 1 consultant


7

Examples of criteria: Energy Crit. n.1 - Electricity from renewable sources:

Purchase of 150 RECS certificates for 2006, corresponding to 150 MWh from renewable sources (30% of the annual electric consumption)

Cost: € 165 Crit. n.6: Window insulation

Double glazing Cost: € 0 - already existing

Crit. n.9: Energy efficient light bulbs Installation of 550 high efficiency lamps corresponding to 16.12 Kw Cost: € 1400

Crit. n.44: Heat pump (1,5 points) Cost: € 0 - already existing

Crit. n.54 Automatic switching off outside lights (1 point) installation of 7 twilight's (sensors) Cost: € 500


8

Examples of criteria: Water

Crit. n.12:Water flow from taps and showers < 12 litres/minute

Cost: € 0 - already existing

Crit. n.17: Changing towels and sheets On clients request

Cost: € 0 - included in consultant costs

Crit. n.60 Tap water temperature and flow (1 point) Precise and prompt regulation



9

Examples of criteria: detergents

Criteria n.21 e 22: Staff training on detergent and disinfectant use

- Not to exceed the recommended amount

- Cost: € 0 - included in consultant costs


10

Examples of criteria: Waste

Criteria n.23 and 25:Waste separation by guests and Waste separation Cost: € 1.100 for containers + information prepared by the

consultant


11


Crit. n.27: Disposable products- use of dispensers instead of one-use toiletries (cost € 500)- replacement of plastic glasses in mini-fridges with glasses made of

polycarbonate washable in dishwashers (cost € 300)


12


Criteria n.70 Fat/oil disposal (2 points) Cost: € 2.000 was planned before the Ecolabel

Criteria n.71 Used textiles and furniture (2 points) Used furniture, textiles and other material that were kept

in the storeroom have been given to charity Cost: € 0


13

Examples of criteria: other services and general management

Criteria n.29-37:- Public transportation

- Policy setting and action program

- Staff training

- Information to guests

- Energy and water consumption data

- Other data collection

Cost: € 0 - included in consultant costs


14

Examples of criteria: other services and general management n.74 - Bicycles (1 point)


n.75 - Refillable bottles (2 points) Cost: € 0 - already existing

n.76 - Paper products (up to 2 points) Cost: slightly more expensive than ordinary paper (+

about 50 € / yearly)

n.79 Local food products (1 point) pasta, bread, cheese Cost: € 0 - already existing


15

Benefits achieved

Very satisfying response from tour operators, especially German ones

Local “green image” in press and media

Lower response from tourists; not all seem interested and fills in the environmental questionnaire proposed


16

Hotel Tenuta Moreno

• Was originally a 18th century farm• 89 rooms with all facilities• Two swimming pools • restaurant and bakery with local products• tennis court


17

Hotel Tenuta Moreno

The hotel was built since the beginning with the aim of making it a sustainable structure and is managed according to high performance standards:

• Energy efficient boilers• Own waste water treatment plant • Energy efficient lamps • Window insulation• separate waste collection


18

Hotel Tenuta Moreno

Drivers towards the EU Ecolabel: The Hotel management decided to additionally

improve its environmental efficiency and enforce its environmentally friendly image

the Hotel achieved in 2005 the ISO 14001 Environmental management system certification

in 2007 has achieved the EU Ecolabel award


19

Hotel Tenuta Moreno Electricity from renewable sources:

Purchase of 370 RECS certificates for 2006, corresponding to 150 MWh from renewable sources (30% of the annual electric consumption);

solar panels have been installed for sanitary water heating.

Waste: the courtesy set made of one use bathroom products was

replaced by dispensers both for soap and shower gel; the separate waste collection has been improved by introducing 3

ecological platforms for the collection of paper, plastics, batteries, used medicines, batteries.

Communication: communication with guests has increased and improved (through

a communication plan, an Ecolabel brochure, an environmental questionnaire)


20

Masseria Angiulli Nuova

Small family run guest house, located in the country side and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves

3 mini apartments with traditional furniture, a restaurant, reading rooms


21

Masseria Angiulli Nuova

Drivers towards the EU Ecolabel: regional funding personal environmental awareness: already used

energy saving lamps, local and organic food

Benefits: Clients satisfaction Improvement in the management of the structure


22

Structures awarded in Piemonte Piemonte is among the most advanced

regions in terms of Ecolabel licences in tourism.

The Region wants to keep this leadership by promoting awareness raising and promotional campaigns and supporting companies achieving the Eco-label

The Project EcolaBELPIEMONTE EcolaBELPIEMONTE was launched by the environmental dpt, in co-operation with the tourism dpt and managed by the Centre for Environmental Studies in Turin


23

EcolaBELPIEMONTE EcolaBELPIEMONTE Project: activities

Promotion of networks between different organisation involved

in tourism to develop joint promotional activities

Training and awareness raising seminars with companies already holding or going to achieve the Eco-label

Technical assistance for pilot structures

Information points

Enforcement of environmental communication with guests in companies holding the Ecolabel: the hotel communication has impacts on guests and their behaviour also outside the hotel, in the destination and once back home


24

Focus on communication:mountain huts


25

Focus on communication:hotels


26

The Rifugio Arlaud

Alpine Track stopping place, 1770 meters above the level of sea

16 beds, 40 sitting places at the table inside and a summer patio


27

Rifugio Arlaud: benefits obtained with the Eco-label

Easier access to funding opportunities growth of the number of guests, especially German,

Austrian and French (20% in one year) High international visibility of the hut (interest of the

Commission, publication on sector media and press, presentation on local and national TV)

Savings obtained: around 20% saving in one year both for electricity and heating


28

Communication at the Rifugio Arlaud


29

The Environmental management manual


30

The Web site


31

The first Ecolabel Award in Italy: Agriturismo Il Duchesco

Agritourism (farm house), in Tuscany, awarded in 2004

Its a family run agriculture company, with 10 ha of land, producing wine, olive oil, fruits and vegetables, all bearing the organic certification.

It’s located in a Regional Park Area: Parco della Maremma Toscana

10 rooms restaurant with organic and local products offers education and training activities

related to organic agriculture, local and home made cuisine


32

Agriturismo Il Duchesco

Drivers towards the EU Ecolabel: willingness to further environmentally

qualify the activity, in particular the tourism activity.

The Ecolabel was the right instrument to reduce the environmental impact promote locally sustainability awareness obtain an international recognition


33

Benefits obtained with the Eco-label

Resource efficiency improvements: reduced gas consumption for heating and hot water: -

38%; reduced electricity consumption: - 20,7%; reduced use of detergents, disinfectants and paper

products reduced production of waste: - 11,8%; reduced consumption of water: - 31%;


34

A town hotel: Hotel Cristina

In the town centre of Vicenza 33 rooms family owned mostly business clients but also foreign

tourists open minded management drove the

Ecolabel (the hotel has personalised rooms, services for disabled, children, special diets, organic breakfast)


35

Hotel Cristina

Time needed to comply with all criteria and obtain the Eco-label: 12 months.

Main problems encountered: decision to eliminate the use of mono-portions and single use bath products, involvement of staff (mostly foreign workers), involvement of clients, limited range of ecolabelled products on the market

Benefits: improvement in management of energy and water and reduction of waste

Thank you

Renata MirullaMinistero dell’Ambiente - DSA [email protected] +39 06 57223085

Documents

Examples of Italian tourist structures that are using Eco-label Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory The EU Eco-label for Tourist