Sustainability resources for Brisbane tourism businesses

Increasingly, travellers are considering sustainability in decision making. Put your business on the front-foot by adopting sustainable practices.

No matter where you are on your sustainability journey, the following resources will help strengthen your business, reduce your environmental footprint and save on operational costs.

Measure your carbon footprint and take action

Queensland has a target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2035 to help mitigate climate change and the impact on our environment and communities. All businesses have a role to play. The first step is to measure your carbon footprint and then create an emissions reduction plan. Reducing carbon often reduces your operating costs too.

• ecoBiz: Free program for Queensland SMEs to manage carbon emissions (Scope 1 and 2) and receive personalised coaching and training.
• CarbonHalo: Low-cost climate action program to help your business measure, reduce and avoid emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3).
• Climate Active: Government-backed climate action program offering carbon neutrality certification.
• EarthCheck: Carbon calculator included for EarthCheck members as part of the certification program.

Increasing sustainability in your tourism business

The following free or low-cost resources have been created especially for tourism operators. They provide clear guidance on steps and approaches to bring more sustainability into your business.

• Sustainable Tourism Toolkit: A how-to guide to help Australian tourism businesses become more sustainable. 
• Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard: A pathway program by Ecotourism Australia suitable for any tourism business at the beginning of their sustainability journey. 

Sustainable Tourism Certification

Sustainability certification provides third-party assurance about the sustainable practices your business adopts. If your business is just starting out on your sustainability journey, certification helps provide a framework to help you benchmark and set action plans for long-term sustainability. Certification will become increasingly important as customer demand for sustainability growths and as greenwashing guidelines are further adopted.

• Ecotourism Australia: Offers eco-accreditation for tourism businesses with a nature-focus, and sustainable tourism certification for all businesses operating in the tourism supply chain. 
• EarthCheck: Offers global certification following a rigorous science-backed process. Suitable for any travel or tourism business.
• Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s Sustainable Tourism Accreditation: Australia’s largest and longest running sustainability program with more than 3,000 participating businesses. This accreditation program covers the best standards for tourism businesses across all aspects of sustainable tourism operations.

Other sustainability certification programs:

• Sustainable building design standards such as NABERS.
• Cross-sector sustainability programs such as B Corp.
• Environmental and climate action certification programs, such as Climate Active.
• Industry programs for ESG (environmental, social, and governance) certification.
• ISO standards for a wide range of topics including quality standards, energy management systems and sustainable events.

Regeneration and Nature-Positive Options

Be part of enhancing Brisbane’s biodiversity by supporting these nature-positive and impact programs so future generations can enjoy today’s opportunities.

• Biodiverse Brisbane Initiative: An initiative of Brisbane Sustainability Agency, the Biodiverse Brisbane Initiative aims to plant 1 million trees by 2032. Businesses can participate through team tree-planting days and land restoration sponsorship projects.
• Reforest: Social enterprise helping businesses take nature-positive action through tree-planting in local reforestation projects. 
• Everclime: For-purpose platform that provides a gamified experience that allows businesses to fund impact actions. 
• Queensland Trust for Nature: Non-for-profit that protects, restores and connects people to Queensland’s biodiversity. 

Accessibility

Find out how to make your tourism business more accessible.

• Business Queensland's accessibility resources: Checklists, learning videos and podcasts that can help you make sure everyone can take part in your tourism experience.

Sustainable Storytelling

Be inspired through these case studies that showcase sustainability best-practice and overcoming challenges.

• Tangalooma Island Resort: Read how Tangalooma Island Resort have integrated sustainability into their practices, including partnering with the Tangalooma EcoMarines. 
• Mt Barney Lodge: Learn about the sustainability initiatives this eco-tourism accommodation business has implemented. 
• Spicers Retreat: An off-grid solar system with battery storage supports this eco-tourism operator’s mission and bottom line.