Hoteliers can now measure their green impact throughCheck Safety First's new environmental module, an add-on to its existing E-Cristal risk management system. The solution will provide the hotel industry with an independent accreditation of their green policies to avoid accusations of "greenwashing".

Check Safety First works with over 1,600 hotels worldwide to provide them with a framework to improve standards of health and safety at their establishments, via its E-Cristal system. The new module will measure the performance of hotels in areas of environmental dedication, energy management, water usage, waste, commitment to the local community and how open minded the hotel is to investing in green alternatives such as solar power. Hotels using the module will be monitored monthly by specially trained Check Safety First auditors.

The issue of green washing in the hotel industry has been highly publicised, and this new solution will aim to address this growing problem.

"With the rise in popularity of ethical travel, it is easy for hotels to claim they are green. The problem is the industry lacks a tool to substantiate these claims. Our new module will provide hoteliers with a method of measuring and improving their environmental impact. Essentially, we are giving hotels a green stamp of approval they can use to market themselves to this growing segment of travellers," explains Jason Burnett, technical director at Check Safety First.


About Check Safety First

Check Safety First supplies health and safety risk management audit systems to hotels, holiday properties and restaurants around the world.

The company enables these organisations to meet and exceed local and international legislative and best practice requirements for health and safety, through the implementation of HACCP and compliance management systems. Check Safety First also offers training, ongoing assessment and appraisals in accordance with the Cristal Mark, a standard developed in line with World Health Organisation's guidelines and the benchmark for food safety since its launch in 1997.

In November 2007 the company launched Via Cristal, a health and safety system developed specifically for overseas holiday properties. Based on the best practice principles of the Cristal Mark, Via Cristal enables property owners to mitigate the risk of guests becoming unwell or injured during their time in the accommodation by providing comprehensive health and safety guidelines backed by annual audits.

All hotels and holiday homes that meet the company's stringent criteria are listed on www.checksafetyfirst.com, the only resource which provides the travelling public with access to a database of venues that have obtained health and safety excellence.

Check Safety First is a member of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's 'Know Before You Go' campaign and an ABTA Travel partner. The company's global network is headquartered at The Wine Warehouse, The Back, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 5HH, UK.

Hannah Humphreys
0118 988 2992