building Sustainability in your business

Building sustainability into your tourism business benefits the environment, local communities, and builds your businesses for success! It will align your experience with the growing demand for responsible and ethical travel experiences, helps identify effieciences and savings, and plays a role in global efforts to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability is not an end goal, it is an ongoing process that involves continuous improvement and adaptation. To help our industry members no matter where they are on their sustainability journey we have developed this page to provide access to key resources to build sustainabiltiy practices into your business. 

Getting Your Business ECO Certified

Whether your business is an accommodation provider, a restaurant, a tour operator or an attractions there is a ECO Tourism Australia certification program for your business.  Bundaberg Regional Council is offering a subsidy to offset your first annual certification fee.

Advantages of being ECO Certified

- Global quality assurance
- Operator credibility and recognition
- Demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement
- Free Listing on Eco Tourism Australia Green Travel Guide
- Free Product Listing on Our Planet Travel
- Meeting consumer expectations

WHICH CERTIFICATION IS RIGHT FOR MY BUSINESS?

CARBON CALCULATOR

As a tourism business, measuring your carbon footprint can have significant environmental benefits. By tracking your emissions, you can identify areas of your operations that are contributing the most to your carbon footprint (and consequently your bills), and then take steps to reduce your emissions. By doing so, you can help to mitigate the impact of climate change on the environment and the communities you serve, whilst creating financial savings. This can be achieved in three easy steps:

- Sign up to the EarthCheck Carbon Calculator HERE free of charge thanks to Bundaberg Tourism
- Enter your energy, water and waste data through the online system
- See how you compare to others in your sector and region and determine where your efforts can sit to reduce your impact

REEF HEALTH

Here on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, we are blessed with a year-round temperate climate perfect for visitors to experience our abundant marine life and discover the intricate details of the reef they call home.

As citizens of the reef, we can help manage the risk of marine heat waves leading to coral bleaching.

An early warning system helps us predict, forward plan, and respond to coral bleaching events.

- Climate forecasts
- Real-time monitoring of temperature stress
- Monitoring to detect and report the early signs of bleaching

Be part of and encourage your visitors to help the reef thrive with these tools:

BUILDING GREAT CARE FOR OUR TURTLES IN YOUR BUSINESS

As an Eco Certified Destination, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and home to the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific we pride ourselves on being a community that takes Great Care in protecting and conserving our natural experiences for future generations, especially our Turtles!

With the Mon Repos Turtle Centre bringing over 30,000 visitors to our region each year, our industry has a Great responsibility to build Great Care for Turtles into our business operations and share the message with visitors to the region too.

Get involved in encouraging visitors to take Great Care of our turtles, with this assets.

OTHER SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS RESOURCES