Green Key South Africa

Via Green Key , Foundation for Environmental Education

🌿 Today, on International Day for Biological Diversity, we celebrate the richness of life on Earth and the importance of protecting the ecosystems that sustain us all.

Biodiversity is at the heart of sustainable tourism, from preserving natural habitats and supporting local communities to protecting wildlife and reducing environmental impact.

At Green Key, we are proud to work together with certified establishments around the world that actively contribute to biodiversity protection through responsible practices and environmental awareness. 💚

Every action counts. Together, we can help create a more sustainable future for people and nature alike. 🌏

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In South Africa WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa is the national operator for Green Key.

Green Key certified establishments are required to implement waste separation systems.

This includes:
- Separation into different categories
-Appropriate storage
- Clear instructions for staff
- Responsible disposal

All waste consumption is monitored and recorded monthly.

Learn more about the key requirements by visiting WESSA’s website: https://www.wessa.org.za/green-key/

If you need clarity on any of the requirements, reach out to our Senior Sustainable Programme Manager, Tevya Visser. Contact details available for the website link.

Green Key has issued a formal statement confirming its alignment with the upcoming EU Directive (2024/825) and the continued strengthening of the programme.

Read more about this via the LinkedIn article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/updated-green-key-statement-conformity-eu-directive-hc4ee

What to expect:

It includes updates to criteria, processes and policies, ensuring that Green Key certification continues to meet internationally recognised standards.

In South Africa, WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, as the national operator, is working closely with Green Key International to ensure full alignment with these developments.

We remain committed to supporting our establishments through this transition and ensuring continued credibility and impact across the tourism sector.

🔗 Learn more via the WESSA website – visit https://www.wessa.org.za/green-key/

UPDATED Green Key Statement – conformity with EU Directive 2024/825 16 April 2026 To whom it may concern Green Key is updating its criteria, processes, and policies and is transitioning to a model in which certification is conducted by an independent legal entity in preparation to meet the requirements of the upcoming EU Directive, Empowering Consumers for the Green

Reminder: For Global Action Days 2026, Green Key establishments are invited to celebrate Palette of Plenty, a colourful tribute to seasonal, sustainable food.

Read more below...

🌈 Taste the Colours of Sustainability

For Global Action Days 2026, Green Key establishments are invited to celebrate Palette of Plenty, a colourful tribute to seasonal, sustainable food.

Think vibrant vegetables, fresh local ingredients and plant-forward creativity. A plate full of natural colour isn’t just beautiful, it’s better for the planet.

How could your establishment take part?
🍅 Feature a seasonal special
🥕 Highlight local produce
🌱 Create a colourful plant-based dish
📸 Share your sustainable plate with us

From 22 April to 6 May, let’s show how responsible hospitality supports climate-smart food choices.
Every colourful plate tells a sustainability story.

👉Register and be part of the global movement. https://www.greenkey.global/global-action-days

Did you know? Green Key South Africa is operated by WESSA, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.
This year it marks its 100th year in conservation leadership.

Through Green Key certification, WESSA supports establishments to reduce their environmental impact and operate more sustainably over the long term.

Keen to learn more about out how to get your establishment Green Key certified?

Read more on WESSA’s website: https://www.wessa.org.za/green-key/

Image source: Boschendal

Important notice 📣 The updated Green Key Criteria for 2026–2031 have been released!

As the national operator of Green Key in South Africa, WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa is preparing for the implementation of these updated criteria and certification processes, coming into effect from October 2026.

Establishments certified up to 30 September 2026 will continue to follow the current criteria.

WESSA will be supporting its establishments throughout this transition and sharing further guidance in the coming months.

Establishments are strongly encouraged to join the upcoming international webinars on 5 May to better understand the changes.

Register to attend via Zoom >
Session A (09:00 SAST/CET): https://bit.ly/3Q0cjix
Session B (15:00 SAST/CET): https://bit.ly/4tIOgDw

🔗 Learn more via the WESSA website – visit https://www.wessa.org.za/green-key/

Have any questions? Email greenkey [at] wessa [dot] co [dot] za

Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank is now Green Key certified! (managed via the national operator WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.

What stands out is not just what has been implemented, but how:
1) Sustainability engineered into the building (solar, responsible borehole water use, heat recovery systems)
2) Daily operational behaviour driving measurable reductions in energy and water use
3) A guest experience where sustainability is seamless, not visible or disruptive
Meaningful community partnerships embedded into the model

As WESSA CEO Cindy-Lee Cloete puts it, “Sustainability does not sit in a file or a policy. It lives in daily actions.”

WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa CEO, Cindy-Lee Cloete: “This certification is a signal of intent and a signal of value – it shows what is possible when sustainability is not treated as a side project but woven into our everyday strategy and the decisions, we make in doing business.

What makes me most proud is the leadership that invests in both systems and people, and that understands sustainability must sit at the heart of how we operate if we want to remain a successful, resilient organisation. This award is not a final destination; it is the start of a journey that demands ongoing commitment and real courage to go beyond basic compliance, and to keep pushing for better practice every single day.”

Click post below by National operator WESSA for the full press release.

Sustainability isn’t a once-off initiative - it’s a way of operating. 💚

Green Key certified establishments embed responsible practices into their daily operations. From waste separation and eco-labelled products to staff-led procedures and resource monitoring - sustainability becomes part of how the establishment functions every day.

This is what certification looks like in practice.💯

Energy efficiency is an imperative Green Key criterion.💚

Certified establishments must:

• Monitor energy consumption

• Maintain efficient equipment

• Implement reduction measures

Energy management supports environmental and operational responsibility.