Protecting our environment
The R.Tucker Thompson has been awarded the Qualmark Enviro-Silver Green award. This means that the organisation has achieved a level of standard that has been assessed under Responsible Tourism Operations criteria as part of the overall on-site quality assessments.
This measures how well we are performing in reducing our envirornmental impact in a five key action areas:
- energy efficiency
- waste management,
- waterhalf conservation
- community activities
- conservation initiatives
The R.Tucker Thompson was also a member of the Northland Sustainable Tourism Charter. This is a regionally developed project whose mission is to assist tourism operators to identify and adopt appropriate sustainable business practises.
Active members of the charter have a vision to have a successful Northland tourism industry, committed to continual improvement in sustainable business practices that protect and enhance the natural, cultural, social, and economic environment.
The process began with an assessment with a Charter Assessor, which the R.Tucker Thompson has undertaken. This assessment enables the following:
- Understanding what practices the business has in place through a brief self –assessment carried out by the business
- On-site assessment of opportunities for improvement, with a Charter Assessor. (This considers such things as community engagement, waste management, water and energy efficiency, protection of water quality and biodiversity, workplace practices, use of hazardous substances, support for cultural heritage in the region, and supply chain issues)
- Compilation of information into an Action and Monitoring Plan
- Ongoing communication, monitoring and support
Members of the project gain practical, manageable, specific information and insight into resources which they can implement within their business as they choose. As an existing environmentally friendly "green" organisation, the R.Tucker Thompson is delighted to be a member of the project and supports this initiative.
