Jura Ecology

Ecology in the Jura region: La Pergola has been committed to caring for the environment for a number of years now, and has been awarded the Clef Verte (Green Key) label.

La Clef Verte,

a label that tells you your tourist accommodation cares about the environment.

La Clef Verte recognises efforts made by tourist accommodation to become more eco-friendly.

La Clef Verte was first created in 1994 in Denmark, by Danish hotel federation HORESTA, and was adapted to suit French campsites in 1998, by the French office of the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (of-FEEE), in collaboration with professionals in the industry (FNHPA).

In February 2005, the label was expanded to include French hotels, also in partnership with professionals in the French hotel industry (UMIH).

La Clef Verte is gradually being extended to all categories of tourist accommodation in order to meet demand, and a few holiday cottages and B & Bs have already been awarded the label. 185 establishments obtained the label in France in 2006, with 500 being awarded the label in Europe the same year.

La Clef Verte is an international program aiming to provide education about the environment

Based on two fundamental principles regarding sensible use of natural resources and responsible everyday practice that protects the environment, the program simultaneously addresses the needs of clients who want to protect the environment and professionals who want to reconcile top quality service with reducing their impact on the environment.

Criteria for awarding the label are regularly updated so as to ensure that the establishments involved keep up their high standards of environmental management.

La Clef Verte has become an excellent promotional tool for the tourist industry, without in any way neglecting its primary vocation of environmental education.

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Completing their application gives accommodation owners and managers an opportunity to assess their position with regard to environmental issues and decide what improvements they need to make in order to obtain/keep the label. Each year, all applicants and establishments which have already been awarded the label, receive visits and advice from the panel of judges, and the off-FEEE offers experience and expertise in any matters related to environmental education.

Criteria:

In order to be awarded the Green Key label, applicants must satisfy a range of criteria, which fall into the following 6 categories:

• Environmental education: involvement of campsite staff, raising customer awareness concerning issues related to nature and respect for the environment

• General environmental management issues: compliance with the law, introduction of 2 year environmental projects, supplier involvement, use of environmentally friendly products, promotion of regional produce and products

• Waste management: reduction of quantities of waste at source (multipacks), waste sorting (including recommendations for ensuring all waste is sent to the best possible recovery streams, as indicated by Eco-Emballages).

• Water management: compliance with sanitation standards, regular meter monitoring, water-saving equipment (taps, showers, WC), use of rainwater for watering plants, etc.

• Energy management: regular monitoring of consumption, insulation of heated buildings, use of energy from renewable sources, low-energy light bulbs

• Management of site (for campsites): green areas, density of pitches, vehicle traffic

Labels are awarded for one year at a time.

Recognition for establishments achieving certification

Sites are promoted on both French and international websites

(www.laclefverte.org and www.green-key.org)

Green Key certified campsites are listed in the Bel Air guide, the Guide Officiel des Terrains, and the Germany's ADAC guide.

They are also promoted in regional and national newspapers at a press conference which takes place each year when the labels are awarded.

Partner organisations:

Fédération Nationale de l'Hôtellerie de Plein Air, Fédération Française de Camping-Caravaning, Union des Métiers de l'Industrie Hôtelière, Guide Bel Air, François Tourisme Consultants, Eco-Emballages, O'Hara, Fédération des Offices de Tourisme et Syndicats d'Initiative.

International development

Since 2002, Green Key has been the fifth largest program run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which currently has 41 member countries and has itself been a member of the World Tourism Organisation since 2005.

The Green Key program is currently running in 6 countries (Denmark, France, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, Holland), and is being developed in a number of other countries in the FEE network, including Morocco, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and Cyprus.

Further details from: Marie Leplay

Of-FEEE, 36 rue Amelot 75011 Paris, Tel.: +33(0)1 45 49 02 09

contact@laclefverte.org