Our History

The Green Key certificate for tourism facilities has been in existence for more than 25 years and has developed from a national initiative in Denmark to become the world's leading eco-label for accommodation.

Below you can find some important dates in relation to the history of Green Key:

  • 1994: Green Key launched in Denmark by HORESTA (Association of the hotel, restaurant and tourism industry in Denmark), the Danish Outdoor Council and the Association of Danish Tourism Executives.

  • 1998: FEEE France created a Clef Verte programme based on the Danish Green Key programme.

  • 2000: HORESTA exported the Green Key concept to Sweden, Estonia and Greenland.

  • 2002: Green Key was formally approved as an international programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), and the Green Key programme was offered to all FEE member organisations for implementation.

  • 2010: Green Key became eligible for hotels in international hotel chains, allowing Green Key International to manage hotels in international hotel chains also in countries without Green Key National Operators.

  • 2014: Green Key became eligible for all applicant establishments, allowing Green Key International to manage sites in countries without Green Key National Operators. In most cases, a third-party auditor is in charge of the audits.

  • 2016: Green Key’s criteria are recognised by GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council).

  • 2020: Green Key is recommended as an eco-label by HOTREC (Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés in Europe).

  • 2021: New Green Key criteria/explanatory notes for 2022-2025 are released.

Green Key Denmark has prepared a document describing the history of Green Key that can be downloaded here as a document (pdf file, opens in a new window).