Green Globe News: 2003 Restructure, NZ Guidelines, Training Opportunities

Green Globe news:

Green Globe Restructure
As the first step in a major worldwide restructure, Green Globe 21 the oldest and most comprehensive tourism sustainability system will centralise all of its sales, service and support activities in Australia from the GREEN GLOBE Asia Pacific Headquarters. This will ensure a consistent, high quality customer service to all members around the world. GREEN GLOBE will continue to advance policy and partnership relationships in the public and private sector from the organization’s European base.

The Asia Pacific arm, operated as a joint venture with the CRC for Sustainable Tourism, has had responsibility for development of GREEN GLOBE’s unique Benchmarking approach, as well as enhancement to the 3 ISO related Standards for tourism companies, communities and ecotourism – the latter in partnership with the Ecotourism Association of Australia. It has also driven the segmentation of GREEN GLOBE’s progressive Awareness, Benchmarking and Certification System for 20 discrete sectors of the industry.

New Zealand Product Guidelines
TIANZ and Green Globe are continuing to provide tool kits for companies and communities undertaking the benchmarking process. These guidelines include information on sustainable products, such as the use of recycled paper and cleaning products etc. that meet the Green Globe benchmarking standard. Landcare Research, TIANZ and Green Globe have jointly worked together to develop these guidelines. The product guidelines will be available shortly from [email protected] or for TIANZ members, on the members’ section of the website.

Green Globe training in 2003
Green Globe and TIANZ are seeking expressions of interest from people who would be interested in attending an Assessor and Proficiency Training course in New Zealand. Tentatively this is planned for Christchurch. Possible dates are either 3-6 March or 24-27 March 2003. (This could include a One Day Benchmarking course). Participants will work through the Green Globe programme for companies, communities and protected natural areas. This would be the third training course held in New Zealand, building on the success of this programme to date. If you are interested in training with Green Globe and would like further information, please send an expression of interest to [email protected] (please state a preferred date) by 31 January 2003. Also an International Ecotourism Standard Training Course is proposed for the second half of the year. Please contact [email protected] if you would be interested in attending this course.