Companies and Organizations

Restaurant Nolla – Nolla is a zero waste Restaurant who works directly with suppliers to rethink, reject, and control packaging while at the same time sourcing local and organic produce, which are the core of their menus. Nolla’s approach to sustainability goes far beyond food, and they work closely with designers, engineers, and architects to rethink waste. Their goal is also to inspire and encourage our community and other restaurants to get involved.

Big Wheel Burger – This burger place diverts at least 90% of their waste, and is considered Canada’s first carbon-neutral fast food restaurant. 

Azurmendi – This restaurant’ hilltop atrium building uses solar panels and a geothermal energy system to keep the restaurant warm in winter and cool in the summer. It has twice won the most sustainable restaurant in the world.

Nada grocery – this is a zero waste grocery. Vancouver’s first package-free grocery store sells a range of foodstuff, such as bulk dry goods, artisanal teas, local organic bread and baked goods and seasonal produce. Customers are asked  to bring their own containers and reusable bags from home, and for those who are empty-handed, there’s a selection of glass jars, cloth bags and stainless-steel containers for purchase.

Innotour – this website hosts a multitude of innovative sustainable tourism case studies

Goodlife Institute – not your typical institute, this is an organization that offers ‘good life’ restful, volunteer experiences for those wishing to give back in Sri Lanka.

American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) – has a fairly comprehensive list of greening initiatives for hotels as well as case study examples of impacts and savings

Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism
The Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism (GMIST) is intended to advance the quality and success of Atlantic Canadian tourism operators through an array of training programs to be developed and offered at the Institute. The objective is to enhance the quality and sustainability of outdoor/nature-based experiences afforded throughout
Atlantic Canada, by providing developmental training programs
respecting: sustainable tourism practices, experiential tourism
services and eco-adventure tourism.

WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
The World Travel and Tourism Council took over the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards from British Airways last year. There are four winners – one in each category:
– Destination Award – Jurassic Coast, UK
– Conservation Award – Damaraland Camp, Namibia
– Investor in People Award – Haciendas del Mundo Maya, Mexico
– Global Tourism Business Award – Casuarina Beach Club, Barbados
More information can be found here.

The Tourism-Site
The Tourism-Site network is a network for the exchange and the dissemination of information about sustainabletourism development. There is an Internet webpage with a virtual library and interesting information about various tourism issues. Starting two years ago, the network was officially lauched in October 2002. Tourism-Site is a Network open to members from all sectors from the Tourism Industry. Most of the Tourism Networks around Europe are specialised in one field, sustainable development in coastal Regions, etc.. Tourism-Site gives his members the opportunity to exchange different opinions and informations through the whole of the tourism industry. Tourism-Site is an example of a “European idea” put into practise. I think there is a lot potential.

Green Travel Market
‘Although the need for tourism to be more sustainable is widely recognized, the travel trade has been slow to embrace sustainability. Sustainable products are available, but few international tour operators are promoting them. The objective of Green Travel Market is to help European and North American tour operators become more aware of sustainable products, integrate them into the packages they offer, and reach relevant markets.’ A nice idea but not yet quite established on-line although a few good examples of community initiatives. This site is mainly geared towards tour operators but the future expects to have a consumer site as well. For more info see www.greentravelmarket.info