Examples of Italian tourist structures that are using Eco-label Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory The EU Eco-label for Tourist Accomodation and Camp Site Service Bucharest, March 2008

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment2 The presentation Different types of structures that achieved the EU Ecolabel Drivers towards Ecolabel Complying with the criteria: difficulties, challenges, time spent, costs Benefits achieved In particular in 2 Regions active in promoting the EU Ecolabel: Puglia Piemonte

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment3 Structures awarded in Puglia Active since 2005 Around 40 students qualified as Eco- label consultants in the tourism field 3 hotels have obtained the Eco-label and others are on their way the Region also supports companies willing to be awarded by the Eco- label

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment4 Structures awarded in Puglia 135 rooms; /year overnights Restaurant and Congress Centre (up to seats) Swimming pool and fitness centre green areas private beach clients: mostly North European tourists

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment5 Grand Hotel Masseria Santa Lucia Drivers towards the EU Ecolabel: - Funding opportunities - New markets - Competitiveness - Personal beliefs of the owners (younger generation)

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment6 Grand Hotel Masseria Santa Lucia Time needed to comply with all criteria and obtain the Eco-label: 8 months Personnel involved: hotel director, 1 consultant

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment7 Examples of criteria: Energy Crit. n.1 - Electricity from renewable sources: Purchase of 150 RECS certificates for 2006, corresponding to 150 MWh from renewable sources (30% of the annual electric consumption) Cost: 165 Crit. n.6: Window insulation Double glazing Cost: 0 - already existing Crit. n.9: Energy efficient light bulbs Installation of 550 high efficiency lamps corresponding to Kw Cost: 1400 Crit. n.44: Heat pump (1,5 points) Cost: 0 - already existing Crit. n.54 Automatic switching off outside lights (1 point) installation of 7 twilight's (sensors) Cost: 500

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment8 Examples of criteria: Water Crit. n.12:Water flow from taps and showers < 12 litres/minute Cost: 0 - already existing Crit. n.17: Changing towels and sheets On clients request Cost: 0 - included in consultant costs Crit. n.60 Tap water temperature and flow (1 point) Precise and prompt regulation Cost: 0 - already existing

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment9 Examples of criteria: detergents Criteria n.21 e 22: Staff training on detergent and disinfectant use - Not to exceed the recommended amount - Cost: 0 - included in consultant costs

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment10 Examples of criteria: Waste Criteria n.23 and 25:Waste separation by guests and Waste separation Cost: for containers + information prepared by the consultant

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment11 Examples of criteria: Waste Crit. n.27: Disposable products - use of dispensers instead of one-use toiletries (cost 500) - replacement of plastic glasses in mini-fridges with glasses made of polycarbonate washable in dishwashers (cost 300)

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment12 Examples of criteria: Waste Criteria n.70 Fat/oil disposal (2 points) Cost: was planned before the Ecolabel Criteria n.71 Used textiles and furniture (2 points) Used furniture, textiles and other material that were kept in the storeroom have been given to charity Cost: 0

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment13 Examples of criteria: other services and general management Criteria n.29-37: - Public transportation - Policy setting and action program - Staff training - Information to guests - Energy and water consumption data - Other data collection Cost: 0 - included in consultant costs

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment14 Examples of criteria: other services and general management n.74 - Bicycles (1 point) Cost: 0 - already existing n.75 - Refillable bottles (2 points) Cost: 0 - already existing n.76 - Paper products (up to 2 points) Cost: slightly more expensive than ordinary paper (+ about 50 / yearly ) n.79 Local food products (1 point) pasta, bread, cheese Cost: 0 - already existing

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment15 Benefits achieved Very satisfying response from tour operators, especially German ones Local green image in press and media Lower response from tourists; not all seem interested and fills in the environmental questionnaire proposed

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment16 Hotel Tenuta Moreno Was originally a 18th century farm 89 rooms with all facilities Two swimming pools restaurant and bakery with local products tennis court

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment17 Hotel Tenuta Moreno The hotel was built since the beginning with the aim of making it a sustainable structure and is managed according to high performance standards: Energy efficient boilers Own waste water treatment plant Energy efficient lamps Window insulation separate waste collection

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment18 Hotel Tenuta Moreno Drivers towards the EU Ecolabel: The Hotel management decided to additionally improve its environmental efficiency and enforce its environmentally friendly image the Hotel achieved in 2005 the ISO Environmental management system certification in 2007 has achieved the EU Ecolabel award

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment19 Hotel Tenuta Moreno Electricity from renewable sources: Purchase of 370 RECS certificates for 2006, corresponding to 150 MWh from renewable sources (30% of the annual electric consumption); solar panels have been installed for sanitary water heating. Waste: the courtesy set made of one use bathroom products was replaced by dispensers both for soap and shower gel; the separate waste collection has been improved by introducing 3 ecological platforms for the collection of paper, plastics, batteries, used medicines, batteries. Communication: communication with guests has increased and improved (through a communication plan, an Ecolabel brochure, an environmental questionnaire)

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment20 Masseria Angiulli Nuova Small family run guest house, located in the country side and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves 3 mini apartments with traditional furniture, a restaurant, reading rooms

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment21 Masseria Angiulli Nuova Drivers towards the EU Ecolabel: regional funding personal environmental awareness: already used energy saving lamps, local and organic food Benefits: Clients satisfaction Improvement in the management of the structure

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment22 Structures awarded in Piemonte Piemonte is among the most advanced regions in terms of Ecolabel licences in tourism. The Region wants to keep this leadership by promoting awareness raising and promotional campaigns and supporting companies achieving the Eco-label EcolaBELPIEMONTE The Project EcolaBELPIEMONTE was launched by the environmental dpt, in co- operation with the tourism dpt and managed by the Centre for Environmental Studies in Turin

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment23 EcolaBELPIEMONTE EcolaBELPIEMONTE Project: activities Promotion of networks between different organisation involved in tourism to develop joint promotional activities Training and awareness raising seminars with companies already holding or going to achieve the Eco-label Technical assistance for pilot structures Information points Enforcement of environmental communication with guests in companies holding the Ecolabel: the hotel communication has impacts on guests and their behaviour also outside the hotel, in the destination and once back home

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment24 Focus on communication: mountain huts

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment25 Focus on communication: hotels

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment26 The Rifugio Arlaud Alpine Track stopping place, 1770 meters above the level of sea 16 beds, 40 sitting places at the table inside and a summer patio

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment27 Rifugio Arlaud: benefits obtained with the Eco-label Easier access to funding opportunities growth of the number of guests, especially German, Austrian and French ( 20% in one year) High international visibility of the hut (interest of the Commission, publication on sector media and press, presentation on local and national TV) Savings obtained: around 20% saving in one year both for electricity and heating

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment28 Communication at the Rifugio Arlaud

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment29 The Environmental management manual

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment30 The Web site

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment31 The first Ecolabel Award in Italy: Agriturismo Il Duchesco Agritourism (farm house), in Tuscany, awarded in 2004 Its a family run agriculture company, with 10 ha of land, producing wine, olive oil, fruits and vegetables, all bearing the organic certification. Its located in a Regional Park Area: Parco della Maremma Toscana 10 rooms restaurant with organic and local products offers education and training activities related to organic agriculture, local and home made cuisine

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment32 Agriturismo Il Duchesco Drivers towards the EU Ecolabel: willingness to further environmentally qualify the activity, in particular the tourism activity. The Ecolabel was the right instrument to reduce the environmental impact promote locally sustainability awareness obtain an international recognition

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment33 Benefits obtained with the Eco-label Resource efficiency improvements : reduced gas consumption for heating and hot water: - 38%; reduced electricity consumption: - 20,7%; reduced use of detergents, disinfectants and paper products reduced production of waste: - 11,8%; reduced consumption of water: - 31%;

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment34 A town hotel: Hotel Cristina In the town centre of Vicenza 33 rooms family owned mostly business clients but also foreign tourists open minded management drove the Ecolabel (the hotel has personalised rooms, services for disabled, children, special diets, organic breakfast)

Renata Mirulla Italian Ministry of Environment35 Hotel Cristina Time needed to comply with all criteria and obtain the Eco-label: 12 months. Main problems encountered: decision to eliminate the use of mono-portions and single use bath products, involvement of staff (mostly foreign workers), involvement of clients, limited range of ecolabelled products on the market Benefits: improvement in management of energy and water and reduction of waste

Thank you Renata Mirulla Ministero dellAmbiente - DSA Tel