Sustainable Travel International

Evidence-Based Sustainability Communication

Improve Your Sustainability Claims

Green claims rules are tightening in nearly every market our members sell into and facing growing scrutiny from travelers. Check your sustainability and climate communications for potential issues, see where they may not comply with regulations, and get guidance on how to improve.

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Select Regulations to Check

Every screening applies Global Best Practice as the baseline, reflecting common principles for avoiding misleading environmental claims. Sustainable Travel members can also check against specific regulations based on the markets they sell in.

Baseline applied

Global Best Practice

Additional regulations to check

European UnionUnited KingdomAustraliaNetherlandsCalifornia / US

Market-specific screening available to members includes the following regulations and guidance: European Union: Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (EmpCo) Directive · United Kingdom: CMA Green Claims Code · Netherlands: ACM Guidelines regarding Sustainability Claims · Australia: ACCC Environmental Claims Guidance · United States: FTC Green Guides and California AB 1305

Wording Patterns: Higher-Risk vs. Lower-Risk6 side-by-side examples

These show wording patterns, not pre-approved language. A lower-risk pattern is only as good as the evidence behind it — every figure, certification and supplier named must be real, current, and accessible to your customers.

Lower-Risk PatternHigher-Risk Pattern
SpecificOur hotel runs on 100% renewable electricity, supplied by [named provider] and verified annually by [named auditor].VagueOur hotel is eco-friendly and green.
CertifiedWe hold [certification name], independently audited every [X] years against published criteria.UnverifiedWe are a responsible, sustainable tourism operator. (no certification cited)
MeasuredWe reduced single-use plastic by [X]% between [year] and [year], documented in our impact report.AbsoluteWe are 100% sustainable and have zero environmental impact.
ContributionWe're lowering our own footprint through [actions], and we also support climate projects that accelerate emissions reductions around the world.NeutralityOur tours are carbon neutral. / We've balanced the footprint of your trip by purchasing carbon offsets.
Time-boundBy [date], we will [specific action], tracked through [monitoring arrangement].Vague futureWe are committed to becoming a sustainable company.
ScopedOur [named property] holds [certification] for its waste and energy systems.OverstatedAll our properties are sustainable. (when only one is certified)

What This Checker Is Informed By

Green claims guidance now converges on the same core expectations across markets: claims should be specific, scoped, substantiated, and not overstated. This tool screens your copy against those shared principles. It is a screening aid, not an authority — it tells you where wording is likely to attract scrutiny, not whether you comply with any particular law.

This checker provides educational guidance and claim risk-screening only. It does not provide legal advice, certification, or a final determination of legal compliance.

Green Claims Checker — Screen Your Sustainability Claims