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SECTION 2:
VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES
AND PARTNERSHIPS
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Experience shows that traditional command-and-control legislation is not sufficient
to bring about environment improvement. Environmentally-sound development
calls for a wider range of incentives, and voluntary self-regulation is now a
popular force for environment-related improvement in several industries, including
hospitality and tourism.
Voluntary initiatives are voluntary agreements and voluntary standards, which
promote product stewardship and environmentally responsible entrepreneurship 1 .
• Voluntary agreements include environment-related principles, charters
and codes of conduct, which set out guidelines to environmentallysound
operations and procedures;
• Voluntary standards not only provide guidelines, but also indicate
specific levels of environment-related performance that need to be
achieved.
Voluntary initiatives are popular because they:
• Do not compel a business to join or comply;
• Provide a framework for implementing environment management
systems in businesses of diverse sectors and sizes;
• Provide formal recognition to businesses implementing environment
management systems and improving environment performance.
This recognition is provided through certification, accreditation or
eco-labels, which allows consumers, investors, legislators, local
communities and the entire market at large, to recognise and reward
environmentally-responsible businesses. Current practice shows that
environment certification is increasing sales, enhancing brand and
corporate reputation, and improving dialogue with stakeholders. In
the case of tourism and hospitality, eco-labels are proving to be very
successful in promoting widespread environment improvement. Over
30 eco-labelling schemes, operating on the international, national
and regional levels, are discussed in the United Nations Environment
Programme’s publication, Eco-Labels for the Tourism Industry.
• Promote networking and the sharing of good environment practice and
expertise;
• Create opportunities for similar businesses to learn from one another;
• Encourage environment improvement in areas that are not within the
scope of environment legislation.
Voluntary initiatives are being launched, managed and monitored by industry and
the government in a joint effort, or by a third party such as a non-government
organisation, an entity specially set up for the purpose.
1
In a global context, the terms
‘voluntary agreement’ and
‘voluntary standards’ may not be
used consistently. For example,
in the Netherlands a voluntary
agreement refers to a formal,
negotiated, legally binding
contract between industry and
the government. In the USA a
voluntary agreement implies a
non-binding agreement and
companies can decide if they wish
to participate.
Environmentallysound
development
calls for a wider
range of
incentives,
and voluntary
self-regulation is
now a popular
force for
environmentrelated
improvement.