Intertek Cristal Standard Gains Global Sustainable Tourism Council® Recognised Status
August 02, 2023
London, United Kingdom: Intertek Cristal, a market-leading global health, safety, quality, and security risk management business focused on the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors, announced today that it has earned recognition from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council ® (GSTC ® ) for its EcoCheck Standard.
GSTC ® Recognised status indicates that a sustainable tourism standard or system has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Assurance Panel and demonstrates that our sustainable tourism standard, EcoCheck, has undergone rigorous review by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Assurance Panel. It confirms that our standard aligns with the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism, which is based on the four pillars of Sustainable Management, Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Environmental principles.
EcoCheck takes a systemic approach to sustainability through a series of checkpoints. EcoCheck criteria are based on the UN Global Compact 10 Principles which drive meaningful advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. EcoCheck can also be bundled with the Carbon Footprint Calculation service, which involves the evaluation of environmental impacts, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and water consumption attributable to a product, package, or facility operation.
Intertek Cristal's EcoCheck standard is part of a comprehensive suite of Environmental, Social, and Governance solutions routed in Intertek's more than 130 year's of experience supporting organisations sustainability efforts. Through our team of global sustainability experts and integrated assurance, testing, inspection and certification solutions, Intertek is uniquely placed to help organisations understand, achieve, and validate their existing and emerging sustainability goals.
Samir Ahmed, Managing Director, Intertek Cristal and Assuris said, "We are excited that our EcoCheck standard has achieved GSTC-Recognised status. EcoCheck encompasses all the essential sustainability criteria and adopts a systematic approach towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). EcoCheck is one of the 14 Cristal standards which provide a proactive risk management system and assurance to the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. The achievement of GSTC-Recognised status further strengthens the credibility of our solution."
"By incorporating the principles of the Four Pillars of the GSTC Criteria into its core, EcoCheck Standard showcases the organisation's commitment to a comprehensive and global approach," says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
Intertek Cristal, a division of Intertek Group plc, is a leading global provider of risk management, auditing, and certification solutions for the hospitality, leisure, travel, and tourism industries. With a rich heritage and extensive industry experience, Intertek Cristal combines innovation, technology, and specialised expertise to deliver comprehensive solutions that ensure the health, safety, and quality of organisations worldwide. Through its Check Safety First and Cristal Standards programmes, Intertek Cristal sets industry benchmarks and empowers businesses to enhance their operational resilience, mitigate risks, and maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and customer satisfaction.
For more information, please visit cristalstandards.com.
For Media Information
Please contact:
Lauren Whittemore
VP, Global Marketing Assurance & Commodities
E:
lauren.whittemore@intertek.com
For Technical Information
Please contact:
Jason Burnett
Director, Intertek Cristal
E:
jason.burnett@intertek.com
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 46,000 people in more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers' operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.
About the GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world's natural and cultural resources, while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.
The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for Accreditation of Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services; but it accredits those that do. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership , including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGO's, individuals and communities - all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.
Information for media and the press: https://www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/