Environmental Management and Sustainable Labels in the Ski Industry: A Critical Review
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
2.1. Environmental Management Tools in the Hospitality Industry
2.2. Environmental Management Tools for the Ski Industry
3. Materials and Methods
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Systems for Environmental Management
4.2. Eco-Labels for the Ski Industry
4.2.1. Sustainable Slopes
4.2.2. Alpine Pearls
- mobility, with 16 mandatory and eight “objectives” criteria;
- environmental quality, with five mandatory and four “objectives” criteria;
- nature-biodiversity, with one mandatory and three “objectives” criteria;
- feel-good quality, with five mandatory and five “objectives” criteria;
- regional economy and food, with two mandatory and five “objectives” criteria.
4.2.3. Flocon Vert
4.2.4. Green Globe
4.3. Audit Process
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
CIPRA | Commission Internationale pour la Protection des Alpes |
EAC | European Accreditation Code |
EC | EarthCheck |
EMAS | Eco-Management and Audit Scheme |
ISO | International Organization for Standardization |
LCA | Life Cycle Assessment |
MS | Management System |
NSAA | National Ski Areas Association |
OECD | Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development |
UNEP | United Nations Environment Programme |
UNWTO | World Tourism Organization |
VEPs | Voluntary Environmental Programs |
References
- World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Climate Change and Tourism; World Tourism Organization (UNWTO): Djerba, Tunisia, 2003. [Google Scholar]
- World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Climate Change and Tourism. Responding to Global Challenges; UNWTO: Madrid, Spain; UNEP: Paris, France, 2008. [Google Scholar]
- Müller, H.; Weber, F. Climate change and tourism–scenario analysis for the Bernese Oberland in 2030. Tour. Rev. 2008, 66, 57–71. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Richard, D.; George-Marcelpoil, E.; Boudieres, V. Climate change and the development of mountain areas: What do we need to know and for what types of action? J. Alp. Res. 2010, 98, 2–13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Steiger, R. The impact of snow scarcity on ski tourism: An analysis of the record warm season 2006/2007 in Tyrol (Austria). Tour. Rev. 2011, 66, 4–13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Elsasser, H.; Messerli, P. The vulnerability of the snow industry in the Swiss Alps. Mt. Res. Dev. 2001, 21, 335–339. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Soboll, A.; Dingenldey, A. The future impact of climate change on Alpine winter tourism: A high-resolution simulation system in the German and Austrian Alps. J. Sustain. Tour. 2012, 20, 101–120. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Moen, J.; Fredman, P. Effects of climate change on Alpine skiing in Sweden. J. Sustain. Tour. 2007, 15, 418–437. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hopkins, D.; Maclean, K. Climate change perceptions and responses in Scotland’s ski industry. Tour. Geogr. 2014, 16, 400–414. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scott, D.; McBoyle, G.; Minogue, A.; Mills, B. Climate change and the sustainability of ski-based tourism in Eastern North America: A reassessment. J. Sustain. Tour. 2006, 14, 376–398. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scott, D.; McBoyle, G.; Minogue, A. Climate change and Quebec’s ski industry. Glob. Environ. Chang. 2007, 17, 181–190. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scott, D.; Dawson, J.; Jones, B. Climate change vulnerability of the US Northeast winter recreation-tourism sector. Mitig. Adapt. Stratrg. Glob. Chang. 2008, 13, 577–596. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rutty, M.; Scott, D.; Johnson, P.; Jover, E.; Pons, M.; Steiger, R. Behavioral adaptation of skiers to climatic variability and chance in Ontario, Canada. J. Outdoor Recr. Tour. 2015, 11, 13–21. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fukushima, T.; Kureha, M.; Ozaki, N.; Fujimori, Y.; Harasawa, H. Influences of air temperature change on leisure industries: Case study on ski activities. Mitig. Adapt. Strateg. Glob. Chang. 2002, 7, 173–189. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Heo, I.; Lee, S. The impact of climate change on ski industries in South Korea. In the case of the Yongpyong ski resort. J. Korean Geogr. Soc. 2008, 43, 715–727. [Google Scholar]
- Pickering, C.M.; Buckley, R.C. Climate response by the ski industry: The shortcomings of snowmaking for Australian resorts. Ambio 2010, 38, 430–438. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hendrikx, J.; Zammit, C.; Hreinsson, E.Ö.; Becken, S. A comparative assessment of the potential impact of climate change on the ski industry in New Zealand and Australia. Clim. Chang. 2013, 119, 965–978. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Elsasser, H.; Bürki, R. Climate change as a threat to tourism in the Alps. Clim. Res. 2002, 20, 253–257. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scott, D.; McBoyle, G. Climate change adaptation in the ski industry. Mitig. Adapt. Strateg. Glob. Chang. 2007, 12, 1411–1431. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scott, D.; McBoyle, G.; Mills, B. Climate change and the skiing industry in southern Ontario (Canada): exploring the importance of snowmaking as a technical adaptation. Clim. Res. 2003, 23, 171–181. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hennessy, K.J.; Whetton, P.H.; Walsh, K.; Smith, I.N.; Bathols, J.M.; Hutchinson, M.; Sharples, J. Climate change effects on snow conditions in mainland Australia and adaption at ski resorts through snowmaking. Clim. Res. 2008, 35, 255–277. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Morrison, C.; Pickering, C.M. Perceptions of climate change impacts, adaptation and limits to adaptations in the Australian Alps: The ski-tourism industry and key stakeholders. J. Sustain. Tour. 2013, 21, 173–191. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dawson, J.; Scott, D. Managing for climate change in the alpine ski sector. Tour. Manag. 2013, 35, 244–254. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hendrikx, J.; Hreinsson, E.Ö. The potential impact of climate change on seasonal snow in New Zealand: Part II–industry vulnerability and future snowmaking potential. Theor. Appl. Climatol. 2012, 110, 619–630. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Vlés, V. Ski resorts in crisis and territorial construction in French Catalonia. J. Alp. Res. 2012, 100-2, 2–11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Abegg, B.; Agrawala, S.; Crick, F.; de Montfalcon, A. Climate change impacts and adaptation in winter tourism. In Climate Change in the European Alps; Agrawala, S., Ed.; OECD: Paris, France, 2007; pp. 25–60. [Google Scholar]
- Hahn, F. Innevamento Artificiale Nelle Alpi. Una Relazione Specifica; CIPRA: Schaan, Liechtenstein, 2004; Available online: http://www.cipra.org/it/pubblicazioni/2709 (accessed on 10 February 2016). (In Italian)
- Steiger, R.; Mayer, M. Snowmaking and climate change. Mt. Res. Dev. 2008, 28, 292–298. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Steiger, R.; Stötter, J. Climate change impact assessment of ski tourism in Tyrol. Tour. Geogr. 2013, 15, 577–600. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Making Tourism More Sustainable—A Guide for Policy Makers; UNWTO: Madrid, Spain; UNEP: Paris, France, 2005. [Google Scholar]
- CIPRA. Turismo nel Cambiamento Climatico. Una Relazione Specifica della CIPRA; CIPRA: Schaan, Liechtenstein, 2011; Available online: http://www.cipra.org/it/dossiers/20 (accessed on 10 February 2016). (In Italian)
- Teich, M.; Lardelli, C.; Bebi, P.; Gallati, D.; Kytzia, S.; Pohl, M.; Pütz, M.; Rixen, C. Kli-Mawandel und Wintertourismus: Ökonomische und Ökologische Auswirkungen von Technischer Beschneiung; Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL: Birmensdorf, Switzerland, 2007. (In German) [Google Scholar]
- Trawöger, L. Convinced, ambivalent or annoyed: Tyrolean ski tourism stakeholders and their perceptions of climate change. Tour. Manag. 2014, 40, 338–351. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Wolfsegger, C.; Gössling, S.; Scott, D. Climate change risk appraisal in the Austrian Ski industry. Tour. Rev. Int. 2008, 12, 13–23. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bicknell, S.; McManus, P. The canary in the Coalmine: Australian ski resorts and their response to climate change. Geograph. Res. 2006, 44, 386–400. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Putz, M.; Gallati, D.; Kytzia, S.; Elasses, H.; Lardelli, C.; Teich, M.; Waltert, F.; Rixen, C. Winter tourism, climate change, and snowmaking in the Swiss Alps: Tourists’ attitudes and regional economic impacts. Mt. Res. Dev. 2011, 31, 357–362. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hopkins, D. The sustainability of climate change adaptation strategies in New Zealand’s ski industry: A range of stakeholder perceptions. J. Sustain. Tour. 2014, 22, 107–126. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ayuso, S. Adoption of voluntary Environmental tools for sustainable tourism: Analyzing the experience of Spanish hotels. Corp. Soc. Responsib. Environ. Manag. 2006, 13, 207–220. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bader, E.E. Sustainable hotel business practices. J. Retail Leis Prop. 2005, 5, 70–77. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Radwan, H.R.I.; Jones, E.; Minoli, D. Solid waste management in small hotels: A comparison of green and non-green small hotels in Wales. J. Sustain. Tour. 2012, 20, 533–550. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Park, J.; Kim, H.J.; McCleary, K.W. The Impact of Top Management’s Environmental Attitudes on Hotel Companies’ Environmental Management. J. Hosp. Tour. Res. 2014, 38, 95–115. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bohdanowicz, P. European Hoteliers’ Environmental Attitudes: Greening the Business. Cornell Hosp. Quart. 2005, 46, 188–204. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bohdanowicz, P. Environmental awareness and initiatives in the Swedish and Polish hotel industries—Survey results. Int. J. Hosp. Manag. 2006, 24, 662–682. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- International Standardization for Organization (ISO). ISO 14001:2015. Environmental Management System-Requirements with Guidance for Use; ISO: Geneva, Switzerland, 2015. [Google Scholar]
- European Economic Community. Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the Voluntary Participation by Organisations in a Community Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), Repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC. Available online: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32009R1221&from=en (accessed on 8 August 2016).
- Rodríguez-Antòn, J.M.; del Mar Alonso-Almeida, M.; Celemín, M.S.; Rubio, L. Use of different sustainability management systems in the hospitality industry. The case of Spanish hotels. J. Clean. Prod. 2012, 22, 76–84. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- International Standardization for Organization (ISO). Environmental Management System-Requirements with Guidance for Use; ISO 14001:2004; ISO: Geneva, Switzerland, 2004. [Google Scholar]
- Gonzáles-Benito, J.; Gonzáles-Benito, O. An analysis of the relationships between environmental motivations and ISO 14001 Certification. Br. J. Manag. 2005, 16, 133–148. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Perotto, E.; Canziani, R.; Marchesi, R.; Butelli, P. Environmental performances, indicators and measurement uncertainty in EMS context: A case study. J. Clean. Prod. 2008, 16, 517–530. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chan, E.S.W.; Wong, S.C.K. Motivations for ISO 14001 in the hotel industry. Tour. Manag. 2006, 27, 481–492. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bohdanowicz, P.; Zientara, P. Corporate Social Responsibility in Hospitality: Issues and Implications. A Case Study of Scandic. Scand. J. Hosp. Tour. 2008, 8, 271–293. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chan, E.S.W. Barriers to EMS in the hotel industry. Int. J. Hosp. Manag. 2008, 27, 187–196. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chan, E.S.W.; Hawkins, R. Application of EMSs in a hotel context: A case study. Int. J. Hosp. Manag. 2012, 31, 405–418. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sagarra-Oña, M.; Peiró-Signes, À.; Verma, R.; Miret-Pastor, L. Does environmental certification help the economic performances of hotels? Evidence from the Spanish hotel industry. Cornell Hosp. Quart. 2012, 53, 242–256. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Marimon, F.; Llach, J.; Bernardo, M. Comparative analysis of diffusion of the ISO 14001 standard by sector of activity. J. Clean. Prod. 2011, 19, 1734–1744. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Accredia-Ente Italiano di Accreditamento. Banche Dati sulle Organizzazioni con Sistema di Gestione Certificato. Available online: http://www.accredia.it (accessed on 20 April 2016). (In Italian)
- ISPRA. Elenco delle Organizzazioni Registrate EMAS. Available online: http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/certificazioni/emas/elenco-organizzazioni-registrate-emas (accessed on 19 April 2016). (In Italian)
- Buckley, R. Tourism Ecolabels. Ann. Tour. Res. 2002, 29, 183–208. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sasidharan, V.; Sirakaya, E.; Kerstetter, D. Developing countries and tourism ecolabels. Tour. Manag. 2002, 23, 161–174. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dabeva, T. The role of international eco certification system in the hotel industry. In Proceedings of the Sixth Black Sea Tourism Forum, Varna, Bulgaria, 2–4 October 2013; pp. 149–160.
- Font, X. Environmental certification in tourism and hospitality: Progress, process and prospects. Tour. Manag. 2002, 23, 197–205. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Plüss, C.; Zotz, A. Sustainability in Tourism. A Guide through the Label Jungle; Naturefriends International: Vienna, Austria, 2012. [Google Scholar]
- Nicholls, S.; Kang, S. Going green: The adoption of environmental initiatives in Michigan’s lodging sector. J. Sustain. Tour. 2012, 20, 953–974. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Beltramo, R.; Giovinazzo, A.; Duglio, S. Modelling of environmental and economic costs and benefits of the management of the mountain huts of the Aosta Valley—Italy. J. Commun. Sci. Technol. Qual. 2006, 45, 81–97. [Google Scholar]
- Duglio, S.; Beltramo, R. Quality assessment in the Italian mountain huts. Eur. J. Tour. Res. 2014, 8, 115–142. [Google Scholar]
- Campisi, B.; Marinatto, F.; Bogoni, P. The European Ecolabel in the Tourist Sector: An Analysis of the Italian Experience of Mountain Huts. In Pathways to Environmental Sustainability; Salomone, R., Saija, G., Eds.; Springer: Berlin, Germany, 2014; pp. 257–266. [Google Scholar]
- Beltramo, R.; Pandolfi, E.; Duglio, S. La creazione di un Sistema di Gestione Ambientale Multisito come promozione del turismo montano. Ambiente 2005, 6, 591–597. (In Italian) [Google Scholar]
- Ayala, H. Ecoresort: A “green” masterplan for the international resort industry. Int. J. Hosp. Manag. 1995, 14, 351–374. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Varley, P.; Medway, D. Ecosophy and tourism: Rethinking a mountain resort. Tour. Manag. 2011, 32, 902–911. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Smerecnik, K.R.; Andersen, P.A. The diffusion of environmental sustainability innovations in North American hotels and ski resorts. J. Sustain. Tour. 2011, 19, 171–196. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Little, C.M.; Needham, M.D. Skier and snowboarder motivations and knowledge related to Voluntary Environmental Programs at an alpine ski area. Environ. Manag. 2011, 48, 895–909. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Needham, M.D.; Little, C.M. Voluntary environmental programs at an alpine ski area: Visitor perceptions, attachment, value orientations, and specialization. Tour. Manag. 2013, 35, 70–81. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Cohen, B. Going green: A bumpy run for ski areas. LOHAS J. 2001, 2, 43–46. [Google Scholar]
- Rivera, J.; de Leon, P.; Koeber, C. Is greener whiter yet? The Sustainable Slopes Program after five years. Policy Stud. J. 2006, 34, 195–221. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- George, A. Managing ski resorts: Perceptions from the field regarding the sustainable slopes charter. Manag. Leis 2003, 8, 41–46. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- George, A. Managing ski resorts: The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) of the United States’ 2001 and 2002 Annual Progress Reports on the Environmental Charter and the reaction from conservations groups. Manag. Leis. 2004, 9, 59–67. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Luthe, T. Label Touristiques Européens. In Proceedings of Les Stations de Montagne en Transition, Label Touristiques et Durabilité, La Manège, Chambery, France, 19 November 2013. (In French)
- Luthe, T. Measuring, Labeling and Communicating Sustainability in Alpine Tourism. In Proceedings of the Comparison and Classification of Existing Labels—Towards a Common Standard, SMAT Symposium, Chur, Switzerland, 15–16 January 2015.
- International Standardization for Organization (ISO). Energy Management Systems—Requirements with Guidance for Use; ISO 50001:2011; ISO: Geneva, Switzerland, 2011. [Google Scholar]
- Assolombarda; Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi–IEFE. ISO 14001:2015. Le novità della norma e le linee guida per l’applicazione dei nuovi requisiti. Ambient. Sicur. 2015, 20, 1–103. (In Italian) [Google Scholar]
- Nicoletti, G.M.; Di Noia, A.E. Risk Management: A proposal for the practice of the “new” ISO 14001:2015. In Risk Management: Perspectives and Open Issues. A Multi-Disciplinary Approach; Cantino, V., de Vincentiis, P., Racca, G., Eds.; McGraw-Hill Education: London, UK, 2016; pp. 608–621. [Google Scholar]
- NSAA-National Ski Areas Association. Sustainable Slopes. The Environmental Charter for Ski-Areas; NSAA: Lakewood, CA, USA, 2005; Available online: https://www.nsaa.org/media/20665/charter.pdf (accessed on 3 December 2015).
- Mentil, K.; Grabenweger, E. “Alpine-Pearls-Hosts”: A cooperation with family enterprises. A field report of Alpine Pearls. J. Co-oper. Org. Manag. 2015, 3, 96–97. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alpine Pearls. Catalogo dei Criteri; Alpine Pearls: Werfenweng, Austria, 2014; Available online: http://www.alpine-pearls.com/fileadmin/userdaten/Downloadbereich/Downloads_IT/Catalogo_dei_criteri_NUOVO.pdf (accessed on 3 December 2015). (In Italian)
- Association Mountain Riders. Cahier des Charges–Flocon Vert; Association Mountain Riders: Chambéry, France, 2015; Available online: http://www.mountain-riders.org/FLOCONVERT/CahierDesChargesFloconVert.pdf (accessed on 4 December 2015). (In French)
- Geerts, W. Environmental certification schemes: Hotel managers’ views and perceptions. Int. J. Hosp. Manag. 2014, 39, 87–96. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Green Globe Certification 2016. Available online: http://greenglobe.com/ (accessed on 30 June 2016).
- International Standardization for Organization (ISO). Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems; ISO 19011:2011; ISO: Geneva, Switzerland, 2011. [Google Scholar]
- Pro Natura Pro Ski Foundation. Auditing in Ski Areas. A Guide to Ecological Upgrading; Pro Natura Pro Ski Foundation: Vaduz, Liechtenstein, 2009; Available online: http://www.skiaudit.info/media/files/pdf/short_version_ski_auditing_english.pdf (accessed on 14 January 2016).
Tools | Name | Application | Aspects Taken into Account |
---|---|---|---|
Management systems | ISO 14001 Standard [44] | Company/territorial area | Environment |
ISO 50001 Standard [79] | Company/territorial area | Energy | |
EMAS Regulation [45] | Company/territorial area | Environment | |
Eco-labels | Sustainable Slopes | Ski resort | Environment |
Flocon Vert | Ski resort | Sustainability | |
Alpine Pearls | Ski resort | Sustainability | |
Green Globe | Ski resort | Sustainability | |
Audit Process | Pro-natura pro ski | Ski resort | Environment |
Reporting | Global Report Initiative 1 | Company | Sustainability |
© 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Duglio, S.; Beltramo, R. Environmental Management and Sustainable Labels in the Ski Industry: A Critical Review. Sustainability 2016, 8, 851. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8090851
Duglio S, Beltramo R. Environmental Management and Sustainable Labels in the Ski Industry: A Critical Review. Sustainability. 2016; 8(9):851. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8090851
Chicago/Turabian StyleDuglio, Stefano, and Riccardo Beltramo. 2016. "Environmental Management and Sustainable Labels in the Ski Industry: A Critical Review" Sustainability 8, no. 9: 851. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8090851
APA StyleDuglio, S., & Beltramo, R. (2016). Environmental Management and Sustainable Labels in the Ski Industry: A Critical Review. Sustainability, 8(9), 851. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8090851