GreenSign Certification: Your Pathway to Sustainable Hotel Excellence

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The GreenSign Hotel program by the GreenSign Institut is a recognized and transparent sustainability certification originally designed for the hotel industry. It assesses sustainable management practices across the three pillars: ecology, economy, and social responsibility. Established in 2015, GreenSign has become a leading authority in sustainable hospitality, with over 900 companies in 19 countries currently certified or in the certification process.

The GreenSign Framework

Core Areas of Assessment

GreenSign evaluates hotels based on more than 130 criteria grouped into the following ten core areas:

Management and communication

Management and communication are the central components of a sustainable corporate orientation. They represent a system of values and responsible future in dialogue with stakeholders (e.g. employees, customers and suppliers).

Environmental performance - Energy

Energy consumption plays a crucial role in determining a hotel’s overall environmental impact. As one of the largest contributors to a property’s ecological footprint, energy use is directly linked to greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of natural resources. This core area focuses on identifying, monitoring, and reducing energy consumption through targeted strategies and technological improvements.

Environmental performance – Water

Water is a vital resource, and its sustainable management is essential for reducing a hotel’s environmental impact. This core area addresses the monitoring and efficient use of water throughout all operational areas. Strategies include the implementation of water-saving technologies, the use of alternative water sources, and the regular maintenance of infrastructure. By reducing consumption and avoiding pollution, hotels contribute to water conservation and ensure the long-term availability of this critical resource.

Environmental performance – Waste

Effective waste management is key to minimizing environmental harm and supporting circular economy principles. This core area focuses on reducing the volume of waste generated, promoting separation and recycling, and ensuring the responsible disposal of hazardous materials. Through prevention strategies, staff training, and guest awareness, hotels can significantly reduce their ecological footprint and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Biodiversity and cultural heritage preservation

Hotels operate within unique natural and cultural landscapes. This core area emphasizes the protection of local biodiversity and the preservation of cultural heritage. Measures include minimizing land use impacts, avoiding light and noise pollution, and integrating local cultural elements into hotel practices. By acting as stewards of their surroundings, hotels help protect ecosystems and foster respect for cultural identity.

Purchasing and supply chain practices

Sustainable procurement has a significant influence on a hotel's overall sustainability. This core area promotes responsible purchasing decisions and transparency in the supply chain. Priorities include selecting environmentally friendly, ethically produced, and locally sourced products, as well as engaging suppliers in sustainability efforts. Thoughtful procurement reduces upstream environmental impacts and supports fair, resilient supply chains

Regionality and sustainable mobility

Supporting the local economy and promoting low-emission transport options are central to sustainable hospitality. This core area encourages cooperation with regional partners, the use of local products, and the facilitation of environmentally friendly travel for guests and staff. Sustainable mobility offerings, such as bike rentals or public transport incentives, reduce emissions and enhance the guest experience.

Quality management

Continuous improvement is at the heart of long-term sustainability. This core area focuses on structured quality management systems that help ensure consistent performance, compliance, and innovation. By setting measurable goals, documenting processes, and regularly evaluating outcomes, hotels can strengthen their operations and maintain high standards in both service and sustainability.

Social responsibility and employee welfare

The social dimension of sustainability includes fair working conditions, staff well-being, and active community engagement. This core area promotes equal opportunities, personal development, and a healthy work environment. Hotels are also encouraged to support local communities through partnerships and social initiatives, thereby enhancing their positive social impact.

Economic management

Sustainability and economic viability go hand in hand. This core area addresses the integration of environmental and social goals into long-term business strategy. Efficient resource use, risk management, and innovation help secure profitability while aligning with sustainability values. Responsible economic management enables hotels to remain competitive and resilient in a changing market.

This holistic approach ensures that sustainability is integrated into all aspects of hotel operations.

GreenSign quote about certifications

Integration with International Standards

The GreenSign Hotel certification framework incorporates internationally recognized standards such as ISO 14001 (environmental management), EMAS, ISO 26000 (social responsibility), and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This integration ensures that the holistic certification is both credible and comprehensive.

Sustainable hotel certification standards

GreenSign Hotel is deeply rooted in the hospitality sector and was developed specifically for the operational realities of hotels. Its industry-specific origin ensures a strong focus on practicability, offering hands-on tools and clear criteria that are relevant across all departments. The certification follows a comprehensive sustainability approach, providing value for hotels of all types and sizes through an extensive catalog of criteria.

To support wide accessibility, pricing is scaled based on hotel size, making implementation feasible across all market segments. For hotel groups, GreenSign offers a streamlined and user-friendly process tailored to centrally managed operations, significantly reducing effort and ensuring consistency across locations.

Landhotel Voßhövel

Certification process

The certification involves three main steps:

  1. Self-assessment: Hotels use the self-explanatory, interactive and highly developed online GreenSign tool to evaluate their sustainability performance against the criteria.
  2. Audit: An on-site audit verifies the self-assessment and checks compliance with the standards.
  3. Certification: Upon successful verification, the hotel receives a GreenSign certificate valid for three years. Result is visualized with a transparent bar chart showing performance in each core area, allowing hotels to track improvements over time as well as share them with stakeholders. An extensive audit report additionally gives transparent insights through documentation.

GreenSign is a third-party hotel sustainability certification. This means that the evaluation and certification process is carried out independently, ensuring objectivity, credibility, and transparency. Hotels are assessed based on clearly defined criteria by trained auditors who are not involved in the hotel's operations. This external verification helps guarantee that sustainability claims are reliable and aligned with international standards.

Conformity of the GreenSign Certification

At the heart of the GreenSign Hotel certification lies a clear and fair evaluation system. Every deviation from our criteria catalog is assessed in detail – and we distinguish between major and minor non-conformities. A certification can only be granted if all mandatory “knock-out” (KO) criteria are met and the hotel achieves at least 50% overall compliance.

The final result includes a transparent overall compliance score in percentage, along with a detailed percentage breakdown for each core area. This not only ensures comparability between hotels but also enables clear progress tracking during recertification.

GreenSign Barometer Lost Lindenberg Hotel

Benefits of GreenSign certification for hotels

Structured environmental management

GreenSign provides a practical framework for hotels to systematically manage and improve their environmental impact. This includes energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, and biodiversity conservation, helping hotels reduce their ecological footprint.

Enhanced social responsibility

The certification encourages hotels to engage in fair labor practices, support local communities, and promote social equity, strengthening their social commitment and reputation.

Economic advantages

Sustainable management often leads to cost savings through optimized resource use and operational efficiencies. Certified hotels can also enhance their market competitiveness by appealing to the growing segment of eco-conscious travellers.

Transparency and credibility

GreenSign’s transparent evaluation and public reporting build trust with guests, partners, and stakeholders. The certification GreenSign Hotel is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), adding international credibility. Secondly, it has been evaluated as credible and trustworthy by Stiftung Warentest, Germany’s leading independent consumer organization, known for impartial and rigorous testing of products and services. It is furthermore listed on the Travalyst "Certifications Initiative" as well as on the ABTA (UK Travel Association) trustable certifications list.

Marketing and branding

Being GreenSign certified allows hotels to differentiate themselves in a crowded market by showcasing their commitment to sustainability. This can attract environmentally aware guests and improve customer loyalty. GreenSign is well known by Hotel guests and has perfected it’s visibility within the hotel industry through it’s widget implementation offering on the hotels website.

Community and networking

Certified hotels gain access to the GreenSign community, including events and knowledge sharing, fostering continuous learning and collaboration in sustainable hospitality.

GreenSign certification offers hotels a clear, credible, and practical pathway to integrate sustainability into their operations and to understand their status quo. By addressing ecological, social, and economic aspects comprehensively, hotels can improve their environmental performance, social responsibility, and economic viability. This not only benefits the planet and society but also enhances guest trust and business success in an increasingly sustainability-conscious market.

Frequently Asked Questions about a GreenSign certification

What is the GreenSign certificate?

The GreenSign certification program, launched in 2015, was originally developed for hotels and now covers additional sectors. It evaluates sustainability performance across over 130 criteria in ten core areas, aligning with the 17 SDGs. The result is presented in a certificate displaying a conformity score.

Is the GreenSign Hotel certificate credible?

Yes. It applies practical standards from EMAS, ISO 14001, and ISO 26000. The program is recommended by the German Federal Environment Agency and recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) since June 2022.

How does the certification process work?

It unfolds in three steps:

  1. Submit the application form.
  2. Complete your self-assessment via the online GreenSign tool within about four weeks.
  3. Undergo an on-site audit. After successful review, the sustainability performance is awarded a conformity score from 50% to 100%

How long is a GreenSign Hotel certification valid?

Each certification is valid for three years. During this period, hotels can continue improving to achieve a higher level at re-certification.

Are sustained efforts monitored?

Yes. The audit is conducted on-site—either by the GreenSign Institute or a qualified external auditor—who reviews the information and evidence provided in the online tool.

What are the benefits of GreenSign Hotel certification?

Key benefits include:

  • A structured environmental management system
  • Resource efficiency and cost savings
  • Enhanced employee satisfaction and retention
  • Positive brand image and guest loyalty
  • Access to the GreenCommunity partner network and events

How can I communicate our sustainability efforts?

Certified hotels receive:

  • A certificate highlighting their GreenSign level
  • A bar chart showing performance across core areas
  • The option to use the GreenSign logo and sustainability visuals on their website and in marketing materials

More resources.

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