The EU Ecolabel is a European standard awarded to manufacturing companies and accommodation providers for sustainable practices and environmental awareness in their businesses.
Having worked as a mentor in 2005 on the EU Ecolable and, recently been awarded the label for my own self-catering premises in Ireland, I have experienced the process from both sides! For a lot of people it’s a bit daunting starting off, the very large application form doesn’t help either, but, on closer inspection, many people find they have a lot of the criteria in place already.
Breaking the whole application process down into the main sections of Energy usage, water usage and waste management makes it a much more workable document. For energy, applicants are required to retain and analyse their electricity, gas and oil bills, have their boilers serviced annually and record all data. Energy saving appliances, class A rated must be used where possible. Water usage must be measured and reduced where possible. Waste must be reduced, reused and recycled where possible. Chemicals, detergents and disinfectants must be used only where absolutely necessary.
There are 84 criteria in total, 37 of which are mandatory and the remainder, which are optional (optional in so far as you can choose which ones you want to incorporate to reach the necessary score). This makes it easier for applicants to use measures already in place such as information on biodiversity, heritage and culture, organic and locally supplied foods and rainwater harvesting systems.
As the EU Ecolabel, commonly called the EU Flower because of the symbol, seems a lot of work and record keeping, why should someone bother? The payoff for all this work is an auditable and thoroughly researched and tested award, which confirms the businesses commitment to the environment. It prevents ‘green washing’ and is common to all EU countries. A tourist wishing to choose a true eco-tourism or responsible tourism destination can rest assured that that one with the EU Flower is exactly that. Ireland, North and South has over 20 premises with the label, most of which are located in the North West. Each country has its own ‘competent body’, which audits the premises having received the application form with back up documentation. In Northern Ireland this body is DEFRA (Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs) and in Southern Ireland it is NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland).
Having met the standards, successful applicants can use the logo on their e marketing, paper material and display the logo and flag at their premises. Costs for the application and verification process varies greatly between member states.
By Nuala McNulty - Tawnylust Lodge 
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