Step up your sustainability
Sustainability makes business sense
Take a look at our BETTER BUSINESS case studies for inspiration from those who have taken the lead in improving sustainability and seen real business benefit as a result
Being a better business
The businesses featured are drawn from across England. We’ve included everything from activity providers and holiday parks, to museums and stately homes. We’ve selected a range of businesses that have one thing in common - they’ve all built sustainability into the heart of their operations. And they’re all better businesses as a result.
Whatever stage you’re at on your sustainability journey, you’ll find ideas and inspiration to help you take the next step. You may even realise that you’re already doing more than you think!
If you’re already acting to improve sustainability
Learn how to promote your credentials and stay up to date with advertising regulations with our Communicating Sustainability toolkit.
We show you how to access funding and/or apply for a certification scheme.
Getting started: Simple steps to sustainability
The basics
If you’re new to sustainability the World Travel and Tourism Council has outlined the key basics to address in your business.
The background
What is sustainable tourism and how can you apply its key principles to your business? This brief from the Travel Foundation gives a neat overview.
Top tips for coastal businesses
Start your journey to sustainability, with these top 10 tips from the National Coastal Tourism Academy.
Special advice for small businesses
Discover how you can make a difference with a suite of sustainability resources designed by the Federation of Small Businesses.
Going beyond the sustainability basics
Hotel energy calculator
Measure your energy usage with this free online tool from Hotel Energy Solutions for hoteliers.
Uncover energy inefficiencies
Measure energy usage in your hospitality business, with accredited data-management platform Con-Serve.
Energy saving advice for hotels
This guide from The Carbon Trust introduces the main energy saving opportunities for the hospitality sector and demonstrates how simple actions save energy, cut costs and increase profit margins.
VisitEngland Webinar
Watch this recording of our VisitEngland Webinar - Cut energy, save money and reduce carbon emissions with experts in energy procurement and billing, energy saving and renewables installation.
Smart meter and energy tips for small businesses
Explore money and energy-saving tips suitable for small businesses from Smart Energy GB.
Renewable energy options
Find out more 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.
The journey to 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.
Calculate your carbon footprint in 5 minutes
Take this free online test from ClimateHero and discover how to go carbon neutral, in just minutes.
Calculate your greenhouse gas emissions
Work out your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with this free tool from Greenhouse Gas Protocol and World Resources Institute.
Join Emission Possible
Get on board with the World Wildlife Fund’s campaign Emission Possible and learn how to report your carbon emissions and make sector-specific changes.
Reduce your food business’ impact
Find tools to measure and reduce your carbon footprint in your food business, with Foodsteps’ platform.
Low carbon transport
Promote car-free travel to your business by signing up to website Good Journey, for car-free adventures around the UK.
Plan your net zero journey
Get a how-to guide for small businesses on achieving net zero, with Zero Carbon Business.
Make a climate commitment
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.
Visit the Zero Carbon Business Portal
Access a sustainability hub, with articles, information and advice for small businesses to reach net zero, from the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses (FSB).
Turn your SME Net Zero Now
Join the online platform Net Zero Now, which helps small businesses achieve net zero as soon as possible, with sector-specific advice.
Visit the Net Zero Hub
For a simple approach to going net-zero, visit Inspired Energy’s Net Zero Hub, with an online plan builder and advice.
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).
Water
Practice responsible water stewardship
Use this hotel water measurement tool from the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to foster responsible water usage.
Practical suggestions to reduce water use
Detailed, sector-specific information and tips on how to run a sustainable tourism business.
Water recycling and reuse
The Water Efficiency Network provides useful information on greywater recycling.
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.
Sewage treatment and composting toilets
Find out if reedbed-sewage treatment could work, and learn about water free toilets from the Centre for Alternative technology.
Water scarcity and tourism
We Are Water Foundation shares lots of information and advice on how to cut water usage.
Toilet twinning
Support rural communities in the developing nations without access to running water by twinning your toilet.
Waste
Reduce food waste and save money
Find out how to cut food waste with the Food Waste Reduction Toolkit from The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
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.
Cutting single-use plastics
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.
Reducing electronic waste
Stem the rising tide of electronic waste with advice and information from the Energy Saving Trust.
Act on textile waste
Textile waste is increasing in England, and is relevant to the tourism sector which uses textiles for uniforms and furnishings. Find out how to reduce textile waste.
Planning for the long term
Sustainability tools and calculators
Plenty of practical tools from the British Business Bank.
Get a tailored sustainability action plan from Plan it with Purpose
Receive an action plan for your business with the sustainability discovery tool from Enterprise Nation.
Design sustainable accommodation
Read the National Forest design guide for sustainable accommodation.
Find funding for sustainability improvements
Government funding to help your business become greener
Access some of the £5 billion allocated for businesses in order to meet net zero by 2050.
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) for accommodation businesses
Find information about the WCS £350-per-socket grant for charitable organisations and small accommodation businesses to buy and install electric vehicle (EV) charge points.
Grant schemes for electric vehicle 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 guidance on government grants for the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Clean Growth Financing from Lloyds
Learn more about Lloyds Bank’s Clean Growth Financing Initiative, offering discounted lending for sustainable purposes.
Market your sustainability
Promote your business with our Communicating Sustainability guide
Learn how to tell people about your eco credentials and use your business’ sustainability to attract more customers.
Sustainability certifications
There are a range of certifications suitable for tourism businesses. Find out which is right for you.
Find a Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)-recognised award
The GSTC manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, and acts as the international accreditation body. Check which certifications apply sustainability standards that are recognised or accredited by the GSTC here.
Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) Greenwashing Regulations
Establish what you can and can’t say and find information about new regulations on how to avoid misleading or confusing customers.
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.
Learn more about the ban on single-use plastics in England
From 1 October 2023 businesses must no longer supply, sell or offer certain single-use plastic items in England, including plates, bowls, trays, containers, cutlery and balloon sticks.
Apply for a sustainability award
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.
VisitEngland Awards for Excellence
Enter the sustainability category in your local awards for the chance of national recognition at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
More sustainability resources and courses
UN information on sustainability in tourism
For the latest research and information on global sustainability initiatives, keep up to date with The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), from the UN.
Understand environmental sustainability
Learn the principles of sustainable development, communities, energy management and the responsibility of business with this free course.
Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency
Join Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency and publish your commitment to develop an action plan, share your progress and cut carbon emissions.
Considerate Hoteliers
Join the Considerate Hoteliers community and enjoy membership accreditation, web listing, advice and support.
Tourism for SDGs
Learn more about the Tourism for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) platform, set up by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNTWO).
UNWTO
Online training in sustainable supply chain management.
Certificate in Sustainable Tourism
Become certified in sustainable tourism with The Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
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.
