EarthCheck Certification

EarthCheck is an environmental certification program developed in Australia in 1987 by the CRC for Sustainable Tourism, making it one of the oldest in the sector. It's accredited by GSTC. The structure has five tiers: Bronze (one year of commitment) up to Master Certified (10+ consecutive years with documented improvement). Indicators include energy use, water consumption, waste management, responsible purchasing, biodiversity impact, and governance. For travelers, EarthCheck is especially common in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East: Banyan Tree, Six Senses, Soneva, Crown Resorts, and several Marriott brands carry the label. Annual reporting is required with a full on-site audit every three years, which is stricter than self-declared programs.