WHAT IS THE STRIVE 4 SUSTAINABILITY SCORECARD?
In 2022, Ecotourism Australia and Tourism Australia teamed up to unveil the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard program.
The Scorecard aims to foster genuine, sustainable experiences for travellers while promoting sustainability within the tourism industry. The scorecard is not a certification or accreditation: it is a series of benchmarks for businesses to strive for sustainability, based on globally recognized criteria.
This initiative was launched in response to the rising demand for responsible travel options. The program is supported by Tourism Australia, which is committed to encouraging more tourism businesses to prioritize sustainability.
THE STRIVE FOR SUSTAINABILITY SCORECARD PROGRAM
Program Overview
The Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard supports visitor economy businesses to assess their current performance across the four pillars of sustainability:
1. Environmental impacts
2. Socio-economic impacts
3. Cultural impacts
4. Sustainable management
By measuring your business performance, you can make informed decisions and take steps to enhance and promote your sustainable practices.
Eligibility for the program is broad, encompassing any tourism-aligned business. Examples include accommodation providers, tour and transport operators, attractions, food and beverage establishments, retail shops, visitor information services, and venues and event organizers.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR YOUR ACCOMMODATION BUSINESS?
Your assessment helps to de-mystify what sustainable and responsible tourism is, both for you and your customers.
You will also receive tailored feedback recognising what you are doing well and identifying where you could improve, specific to your business.
No matter how high or low your score is, identifying areas you do well in and areas for improvement is an important step in your business’ sustainability journey.
The Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard gives you an industry-recognised rating that you may choose to share in your communications to suppliers, providers and tourists choosing to align their sustainability values with yours.
SCORECARD DETAILS
Cost: The scorecard costs $275 ($250 + GST) for one year of completion and includes a comprehensive assessment report and a public-facing scorecard (optional for operators who achieve 50% or more and who choose to communicate this externally).
Completing the scorecards’ 50 criteria and uploading evidence should only take between four and eight hours.
Your scorecard responses will be assessed by a trained sustainability assessor within the Ecotourism Australia team before a personalised score is provided to you.
Your scorecard is valid for 12 months from completion of your criteria. You may decide to keep striving for sustainability and to aim for a higher score in your next scorecard assessment.
Your scorecard can be displayed publicly, or you may choose to keep it internal for education of your staff, supply chain and stakeholders.
FURTHER BENEFITS
The benefits for participating businesses are numerous:
Affordability: For a small annual fee, businesses receive a public-facing scorecard and a comprehensive assessment report.
Efficiency: Completing the 50 criteria and submitting evidence typically takes between four and eight hours, and can be done in multiple sessions using an easy online portal.
Validity: The scorecard is valid for 12 months, allowing businesses to track their progress over time.
Education: The assessment helps demystify the concept of sustainable tourism for both businesses and their customers.
Continuous improvement: Regardless of the initial score, identifying areas for improvement is a crucial step in a business’s sustainability journey.
Personalization: The feedback provided is tailored to each business, highlighting areas of strength and areas for improvement.
Practicality: Businesses receive practical insights and feedback for all four pillars of sustainability.
Benchmarking: The scorecard allows businesses to compare themselves to others in the industry.
Recognition: Achieving a high score can serve as industry-recognized proof of a business’s sustainability practices.
Influence: By participating, businesses become part of a larger movement towards a more sustainable future for the tourism industry.
OUR SUPPORT
Green Getaways totally supports the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard program offered by Ecotourism Australia.
Any accommodation business which has achieved a 50+ score will be able to list with Green Getaways Australia at no cost with their achievements recognized on our site.
You can apply for the SCORECARD 4 SUSTAINABILITY here on the Ecotourism Australia website. And don’t forget to come back to us to let us know for your free listing.
This article has been based on information supplied by Ecotourism Australia and Tourism Australia. You can find more information about the program on the Ecotourism Australia website.
Images supplied courtesy of Amanda Lambert (Avana Retreat), Unsplash, Tathra Beach Eco Camp, Billabong Retreat, Binna Burra Skylodges and Tiny Houses
Author: Amanda Lambert
February, 2024
