More regenerative tourism resources
do more
A curated collection of links to further regenerative tourism resources that visitor economy businesses and organisations may find useful. These are not VisitEngland resources and links will take you to external websites.
Aim for net zero
Save energy and reduce climate change impacts
Grow your knowledge of carbon impacts in the hotel industry, calculate your own emissions, and understand the business case for low-carbon hotels with this suite of resources from the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
Measure your personal carbon footprint
Find out your personal carbon footprint with the World Wildlife Fund’s calculator, see where you stand compared to the rest of the country and get tips on ways to lower your footprint.
Calculate your business emissions
Use the SME Climate Hub’s tools help measure your business emissions. Measuring and understanding where you are is the first step to taking action and finding some quick wins to reduce emissions.
Reduce your food business’ impact
Find information, case studies and tools to measure then reduce the carbon footprint of your food business, with Foodsteps’ food sustainability platform.
Promote car-free travel to your business by signing up to website Good Journey, the site for by finding adventures and attractions by train, bus, bike and foot around the UK.
Emission reporting can seem daunting, but the Emission Possible campaign shows you how to report your carbon emissions and make sector-specific changes.
Measure your emissions
Read this guide for small business users on how to measure and report your greenhouse gas emissions, from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Reduce waste
Find out how to cut food waste with the Food Waste Reduction Toolkit from The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
Making reusable and refillable packaging mainstream
A practical guide from WRAP on transitioning to reusable and refillable packaging.
Textile waste is increasing in England and is relevant to the tourism sector which uses textiles for uniforms and furnishings. WRAP’s Textiles 2030 campaign has guidance on reducing textile waste.
Hospitality workplace recycling guide
A guide to implementing recycling in hospitality workplaces - part of WRAP’s Business of Recycling website.
Specific advice for the restaurant sector
The Sustainable Restaurant Association connects businesses around the world to accelerate change towards a hospitality sector that is socially progressive and environmentally restorative.
Single-use plastic ban in England
Get the latest, detailed information from Gov.uk on the restrictions on single-use plastic items in England, including plates, bowls, trays, containers, cutlery and balloon sticks.
Stem the rising tide of electronic waste with advice and information from the Energy Saving Trust.
Travel Without Plastic estimates an average hotel consumes around half a million individual pieces of single-use plastic each year. They offer a range of free or low-cost resources to help hospitality businesses reduce plastic.
Save energy
Measure your energy usage with this free online tool from Hotel Energy Solutions for hoteliers.
Energy saving advice for hotels
A free guide from the Carbon Trust shares energy saving opportunities for the hospitality sector and demonstrates how simple actions save energy, cut costs and increase profit margins.
Energy saving tips for small businesses
Explore money and energy-saving tips suitable for small businesses from Smart Energy GB.
Find out more from Energy Saving Trust about what’s available when it comes to generating your own energy.
Business and commercial energy explained
Learn more about Business & Commercial Energy with TCD Energy.
Manage water
Busting the myths about water reuse
Find useful explanations of terminology and information on various water reuse approaches from the UK’s water efficiency organisation, Water Wise.
Practice responsible water stewardship
Use this hotel water measurement tool from the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to foster responsible water usage.
The Water Efficiency Network provides useful information on greywater recycling.
Practical suggestions to reduce water use
Detailed, sector-specific information and tips from Green Ideas for Tourism on how to run a sustainable tourism business.
Sewage treatment and composting toilets
Find out if reedbed-sewage treatment could work for your business and learn about water free toilets from the Centre for Alternative Technology.
Support rural communities in the developing nations without access to running water by twinning your toilet.
Promote your efforts
Sign up to the Good Business Charter’s small business programme
Find out how to get Good Business Charter accreditation, for small businesses with less than 50 employees.
Establish what you can or can’t say and find information from the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) about new regulations on how to avoid misleading or confusing customers.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise
Apply for The King’s Awards for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.
WTM Global Responsible Tourism Awards
Apply for the World Travel Market (WTM) Global Responsible Tourism Awards for a chance of world-recognition in categories such as reducing plastic waste.
Funding for sustainability improvements
Clean Growth Financing from Lloyds
Learn more about Lloyds Bank’s Clean Growth Financing Initiative, offering discounted lending for sustainable purposes.
Grants for EV charging infrastructure
The government offers grants to support the wider use of electric and hybrid vehicles via the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). Read OZEV guidance on government grants for the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Ongoing sustainability
Sustainability tools and calculators
Plenty of practical tools from the British Business Bank.
Latest information on sustainability in tourism
Keep up to date on global sustainability initiatives with UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Understand environmental sustainability
Learn the principles of sustainable development, communities, energy management and the responsibility of business with this training from Free Courses England.
Join the Considerate Hoteliers community and enjoy membership accreditation, web listing, advice and support.
Learn more about the Tourism for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) platform, set up by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNTWO).
Sustainable Tourism Programme training videos
Online training in sustainable supply chain management from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) training programme.
Sustainability Business Recovery webinar
Watch the VisitBritain Sustainability Business Recovery webinar to learn about the challenges we face as an industry and how to build a sustainable future.
Join thousands of UK businesses reducing emissions and setting a sustainability strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, with this initiative by the UK Business Climate Hub.
Find a GSTC-recognised certification
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) manages global standards for sustainable tourism. Find certifications that apply sustainability standards recognised by the GSTC.
Design sustainable accommodation
Read the National Forest design guide for sustainable accommodation.
