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Adopters versus Non-Adopters of the Green Key Ecolabel in the Dutch Accommodation Sector

Author

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  • Eelco Buunk

    (KplusV, P.O. Box 60055, 6800 JB Arnhem, The Netherlands)

  • Edwin van der Werf

    (Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8130, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Accommodation providers such as hotels, campsites, and holiday villages can use ecolabels to show their green credentials to potential customers. Whereas there is extensive literature on ecolabel adoption in the Hotel and Bed and Breakfast (B & B) sector, no such research exists for other accommodation sectors. In this paper, we present the results of statistical analyses of survey data from firms in the Dutch accommodation sector (including hotels, campsites, and group accommodations) with and without the Green Key ecolabel, which is a third-party certified international label for the tourist and leisure sector. We obtain insights into the motivations for adopting (or not), analyze the characteristics of firms with and without the label, and get an indication of the perceived impact of ecolabel adoption on costs and profits. We find that previously found results for hotels and B & Bs do not always apply to other subsectors of the accommodation sector. We also find that obtaining the label required a limited investment for almost half of the sample, and resulted in cost reductions for more than half of the responding firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Eelco Buunk & Edwin van der Werf, 2019. "Adopters versus Non-Adopters of the Green Key Ecolabel in the Dutch Accommodation Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:13:p:3563-:d:243764
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Roman Švec & Stanislav Martinát & Kamil Pícha & Petr Klusáček & Jaroslav Knotek & Justin Calvin Schaefer & Monika Březinová & Josef Navrátil, 2021. "What drives visitors to tourist sites to choose “green” accommodation facilities?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 15074-15099, October.
    5. Zahid Yousaf & Magdalena Radulescu & Crenguta Ileana Sinisi & Luminita Serbanescu & Loredana Maria Paunescu, 2021. "Harmonization of Green Motives and Green Business Strategies towards Sustainable Development of Hospitality and Tourism Industry: Green Environmental Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    6. Ahmed Hassan Abdou & Thowayeb Hassan Hassan & Mohammed Moustafa El Dief, 2020. "A Description of Green Hotel Practices and Their Role in Achieving Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Lucie Severová & Karel Šrédl & Marie Prášilová & Roman Svoboda & Alexandr Soukup & Marek Dvořák & Jitka Prachařová, 2021. "Change in the Structure of the Accommodation Capacity of the Czech Hotel Industry under Conditions of Economic Globalization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-24, August.

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