Eco-friendly places to stay

Footprint Certification

A dedicated eco-certification programme, launched in 2019, for hoteliers, resorts, camps, B&Bs and other accommodation providers across South Asia.

What is Footprint Certification?

Footprint is a dedicated eco-certification programme for hoteliers, resorts, camps, B&Bs and other accommodation providers. Its aim is to help reduce costs, support operations, motivate staff, enhance guest satisfaction, encourage better travel and tourism practices across South Asia, and contribute towards a healthier planet.

Footprint Certification was launched in 2019, building on TOFT India’s experience and expertise in responsible tourism and eco-certification across wilderness landscapes in South Asia. With a decade of experience and expertise running the internationally recognised PUG certification programme across wilderness landscapes in South Asia, TOFT India’s Footprint Certification enables owners, operators and managers of accommodation properties to obtain credible eco-certification aligned with the Indian Sustainable Tourism Criteria (ISTC) of the Indian Ministry of Tourism and the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Version 1.

The certification process is undertaken by qualified experts with extensive experience and follows international standards. It enables accommodation providers to gain recognition for their commitment to eco-friendly, green and sustainable tourism while receiving expert guidance to assess and improve their operational and environmental practices.

5 Great Business Reasons to Be Eco-Certified

1. Real Cost Savings

The TOFT India Green Team conducts a detailed assessment of key operational cost areas and identifies opportunities for cost savings and best practices, including:

• Waste management and rubbish disposal
• Water use, water harvesting and water conservation
• Energy use and energy efficiency
• Purchasing and supply chains
• Staff retention, recruitment, job satisfaction and training
• Client promotion, feedback, retention and referrals

2. Better and More Profitable Operational Practices

• The Green Team provides management with a Sustainable Management Plan and Action Plan to improve the property’s environmental performance.
• During the audit, the Green Team provides practical advice on improvements that can be implemented quickly and, where possible, at little or no cost.
• Ongoing consultation and relevant case studies can support operational management in implementing improvements.
• Benchmarks and incentives may be offered to help drive higher standards.

3. Greater Staff Retention and Recruitment

• Staff are more likely to value working with organisations that demonstrate care for their workplace and the wider environment, which can contribute to improved staff retention and reduced recruitment and training costs.
• Integrating environmental practices into staff training, incentives and workplace improvements can help motivate employees.
• Building good relationships with local suppliers and communities helps create fairer, stronger and more positive local relationships.
• Your operations can become a role model for others while supporting staff retention and long-term employment.

4. Greater Visitor Satisfaction

• Good environmental practices can contribute to visitors’ overall satisfaction with their stay, supporting better feedback, ratings and reviews.
• Demonstrating credible environmental practices can turn past visitors into advocates for your property, helping generate repeat and referral business.

5. Promotional Benefits

• Independent certification allows you to highlight your environmental and operational efforts with greater credibility.
• Footprint certification provides a green point of differentiation in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
• Certified properties can use the Footprint certified logo on their website, banner advertisements, visiting cards and other publicity materials to communicate their commitment to eco-friendly practices.
• Certification helps properties reach consumers looking for responsible holidays and credible sustainability credentials.
• It helps businesses respond to growing consumer expectations and evolving government requirements around sustainable tourism.

Footprint Audit Process

The Footprint Audit process is designed to help you measure your environmental, economic and socio-cultural impacts while supporting and enhancing the positive impacts of your operation.

Your reward is the Footprint certificate, which you can display and use to highlight your eco-friendly certification on your website, brochures, literature, in your rooms, on social media or other promotional materials.

 Accommodation Providers Handbook to Best Practice

It’s a Six-Step Process – The Key Components

1. Online application and self-audit
2. Secondary research and Google mapping by the audit team
3. Arrange and undertake a 24-hour on-site audit by our Green Team
4. Evaluation undertaken by the auditors
5. Draft audit report sent to you, with an opportunity to appeal before the final report is submitted
6. Subject to passing, the Footprint Certificate and Footprint ranking are granted by TOFT India

You are reassessed every two years to ensure ongoing standards.

How Long Does It Take?

The entire Footprint process is normally completed within 90–120 days, depending on the complexity of the application, the extent of the background information provided, and mutually agreeable dates for the on-site audit.

Once the on-site audit has been completed, the indicative timescales are:

Footprint Ratings

Undertaking the Footprint certification scheme is a journey towards greater sustainability for your business and its surrounding environment. The Footprint Audit Report highlights the areas where your operation is performing well, as well as areas that need improvement. Our Green Team provides guidance and support during the site visit and, where required, afterwards.

Our aim is to help every accommodation provider achieve the minimum Footprint rating and ultimately work towards the highest Outstanding Practice rating.

• Our aim is to provide advice and support through the confidential report and the Green Team’s visit to help you achieve Footprint certification.
• Nobody is perfect or good at everything, Footprint assesses your operation as a whole.
• We recognise your strengths while identifying areas where you can improve.
• If you do not initially achieve a rating, we will advise you on what needs to be improved and you can invite us back to review your progress.

Footprint Eco-Friendly Rating – Under Process

At this stage, the accommodation provider has completed the on-site audit and is awaiting evaluation and rating by the TOFT India evaluation committee. This status may also apply where minimum standards have not yet been met and the provider is awaiting reassessment after completing the required corrective actions.

Footprint Eco-Friendly Rating – Good Practice

Providers have passed the minimum standards and demonstrate a degree of environmental and social responsibility in their operational decisions and practices. They may make choices based on environmental and social responsibility, although monetary, time or efficiency considerations may sometimes limit their ability to follow best-practice sustainability measures.

Footprint Eco-Friendly Rating – Quality Practice

Accommodation providers demonstrate strong environmental and socio-cultural responsibility. They continuously work to improve their operations and enhance their sustainable travel practices. Management is knowledgeable about environmental and social issues related to their business and is working towards becoming an exemplary industry leader.

Footprint Eco-Friendly Rating – Outstanding Practice

Accommodation providers are exemplary industry leaders within the Indian subcontinent. They make sustainable development and environmental and socio-cultural responsibility a priority. They strive to be environmentally innovative and socially responsible, creating positive impacts for the environment, local communities and their clients. They invest time and resources in maintaining sustainable travel practices and can serve as examples and case studies for others to follow.

Member Logo

All member accommodation providers are eligible to display the Member Logo (plaque) once they have completed the Footprint Audit. The logo highlights their TOFT India membership and commitment to sustainability.

The Footprint Eco-Friendly Rating Certificate

All member accommodation providers achieving a Good Practice rating or above receive a Footprint certificate to display for guests and staff.

The certificate recognises their journey towards sustainability and demonstrates their commitment to responsible operations and the long-term wellbeing of their local community and destination.

The Footprint certificate is valid for three years.

Start Your Footprint Certification Process

The online form takes approximately 6 minutes to complete and is the first step in your audit journey. It collects your key contact details and provides an initial understanding of your establishment and its operations through simple Yes/No questions.

This information forms the basis for the on-site audit and should be completed by the owner, proprietor or senior management of the property.