The Green Key is a Programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education – FEE. The Foundation is a network of 72 NGOs from 63 countries. FEE is represented in Cyprus by CYMEPA.
The Green Key for hotels has been awarded to more than 2000 establishments in 27 countries. To be awarded with this label, successful candidates must meet different criteria regarding general environmental management, the involvement of employees, environmental information for customers (documents, appropriate signage etc.), water management, housekeeping and cleaning, energy management, waste management, food, nature-based activities, office administration, the interior environment and green spaces. The label combines environmental performance criteria with environmental management criteria.
In 2011 the first restaurants were awarded with the Green Key in France. Cyprus is the second country in the world to award restaurants with the prestigious ecolabel.
The National Steering Committee comprises representatives of the Cyprus Tourism Organization, the Department of the Environment, the Cyprus Hotel Association, the Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises, Louis Hotels, the Cyprus Hotel Managers Association and CYMEPA.
The first Restaurant in Cyprus to win the award is Arhontiko Papadopoulou, at Kornos. Archontiko Papadopoulou at Kornos is a multi-purpose centre that houses a variety of activities, revolving around wine-gastronomy and traditional pottery art of Kornos. In particular, Archontiko Papadopoulou includes a high-level Cypriot cuisine a la-carte restaurant, a coffee shop, a wine cellar specializing in Cypriot wines, a Commandaria bar, a shop selling traditional pots, a library and a pottery workshop open to all visitors.
The Award was presented on the 30th November 2011 by the Commissioner for the Environment Mr Charalambos Theopemptou in the presence of Committee Members.
Article taken from Travel Daily News. Read original version here.
