Are you a holiday home owner that has taken some steps to make your holiday home more respectful of the environment and the community? And if so, have you wondered how you can communicate your actions and get recognised for them? Wonder no longer! Sustonica is the first sustainability validation for holiday homes worldwide and getting their badge of approval is accessible and easy.

The Sustonica Criteria

Based on 10 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their approach focuses on tackling the underlying causes of climate change, rather than just reducing its effects. For example switching your electricity contract to 100% renewable energy or installing a smart leak detector monitor to avoid wasting thousands of litres of water because of a leak.

Additionally, they include a social responsibility aspect, so you as an owner can highlight your dedication to wider sustainability efforts. For example providing a display opportunity for local artists including notes that the artwork is local and for sale, or installing a noise monitoring system for the respect of neighbours.

The criteria categories with quick win examples:

• energy conservation – e.g. 80% of your light bulbs are LED + 12 other criteria
• promoting destination and community – e.g. there a list of local volunteering work + 7 other criteria
• waste reduction – e.g. you provide refillable shampoo and soap dispensers + 7 other criteria
• water conservation – e.g. the washing machine have an eco-setting + 5 other criteria
• swimming pool / hot tub environmental impact (if applicable) – e.g. your pool and/or hot tub is naturally filtered + 4 other criteria

Check the Criteria on Sustonica’s website

Getting your badge

After studying the criteria and taking the test ensuring that your holiday home scores at least 20% of the criteria, you will need to sign up with Sustonica (adding Earthstays in the referral field), pay €49 (approximately £42, depending on the exchange rate) for a validation credit per property and submit proofs.

Proofs are part documentation (for example the invoice from the purchase or renting of your eco-friendly linen) and part of photo tour of the holiday home. See how to prepare for the photo tour.

Once your proofs are submitted they are sent to an external auditor who validates the information and gives Sustonica the go ahead to issue the badge.

How to market your badge

Your badge will be visible on your Earthstay listing page and you can also use it for your own website. Sustonica encourages you to print a “sustainability chart” as a poster in your holiday home that lists all the criteria you have been validated for.

The Sustonica badge is a great way for holiday home owners to convey their sustainability efforts to travellers. It not only encourages them to choose your property for booking but also inspires them to implement similar changes in their own homes upon their return.

I would like to thank Vanessa for this guest blog post, Vanessa is the Co-founder & CEO of Sustonica. If you would like to know about Sustonica or have any questions, you can get in touch by filling in the contact form on their website by clicking here.