Official launch of voluntary environmental certification — ECO KG — took place in Kyrgyzstan for the first time. Unison Group reported.
HoReCa enterprises (hotels, restaurants, cafes) were the first to join the project. The pilot scheme for voluntary eco-certification ECO KG was developed within the framework of the project «Promoting Energy and Resource Efficiency in the Tourism Industry of Kyrgyzstan (PERETO), implemented with financial support from the European Union within the framework of SWITCH-Asia program.
Eco-certification is recognition of products and services that have a lower environmental impact than similar products and services.
«The mechanism will contribute to additional demand for eco-hotels and eco-cafes. This will mitigate the impact of the business sector on the environment. The initial stage of eco-certification introduction is carried out within the framework of PERETO project. The main goal is to popularize the use of «green» technologies in construction, provision of services and use of food products. A regulation «On eco-certification in the HORECA sector» was developed,» Unison Group said.
An environmental audit was carried out in 23 hotels, cafes and restaurants throughout the republic. During the official launch of voluntary environmental certification, tourism enterprises that successfully passed the eco-audit were awarded confirming certificates and special quality marks in the categories «gold», «silver» and «bronze». As a result, five tourist facilities won gold, 18 won silver and bronze. Certificates of conformity were included in the unified register of certified facilities of the Green Alliance of Kyrgyzstan.
All interested entrepreneurs can take the preliminary online self-assessment test for eco-certification. You need to answer each question, and based on the results, the system will automatically calculate the level of «environmental friendliness» of your company.
The category of environmental certification is assigned for two years. Tourist facilities can gradually introduce «green» technologies and strive for the highest award — «platinum».
