A greener horizon: Azerbaijan welcomes its first Green Key certified hotels

Ibis Baku City Hotel

Four Seasons Hotel Baku

Green Key’s global mission for sustainable tourism has now reached Azerbaijan! Three hotels in Baku have achieved Green Key certification: Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Ibis Baku City Hotel and JW Mariott Absheron Baku. The certification rewards strong environmental commitment, confirmed by the hotels’ compliance with Green Key’s rigorous environmental and social responsibility criteria. 

Waste Management and Staff Training actions 

Both Ibis Baku City Hotel and Four Seasons Hotel Baku have taken meaningful steps toward a more environmentally responsible guest experience. Through its training program on “Energy Saving and Food Waste Reduction”, Ibis Baku City Hotel empowers its employees to reduce energy consumption while ensuring compliance with Green Key standards. Similarly, Four Seasons Hotel Baku engages every staff member in sustainable actions through color-coded bins and a monthly “No Bin Day”. 

The staff at Ibis organized a cleanup of the seaside, removing plastic and other waste.

Taking care of the local environment 

JW Mariott Absheron Baku and Ibis Baku City Hotel have also taken initiatives proving that their environmental commitment is not confined to their establishments but is expanding to their local community. Both hotels participated in cleanup activities like the ones organised during Earth Day. 

Innovation in Sustainable Practices 

Over the past months, every hotel has also developed its own innovative practices to reduce ecological footprints. At the Four Seasons Hotel this includes circular economy practices where food waste is repurposed for animal feed or fertiliser. Ibis Baku City Hotel has focused its efforts on energy savings, encouraging each department to analyse how small daily actions could lead to impactful changes in the long term. 

JW Marriott Absheron Baku

JW Marriott Absheron Baku stated “We are delighted to be recognised by Green Key International and look forward to continuing our journey toward a more sustainable future”. 

Thanks to EkoSfera,  our National Operators in Azerbaijan, these first certified hotels set an important benchmark for sustainable tourism in the country and demonstrate how high hospitality standards and ambitious environmental commitment can go hand-in-hand.  

News from our partners: Rethinking Plastic Waste with Diversey

From Guest Experience to Lasting Impact

Across the hospitality industry, plastic pollution has become one of the biggest sustainability challenges, and hotels are on the frontline. Hotels, being hubs of comfort and service, are also at the forefront of this issue. From single-use toiletry bottles and disposable packaging to the less visible plastic waste guests bring in, such as water bottles, takeaway containers, or shopping bags. 

What seems small in a single room becomes massive when scaled across an entire property or hotel group 365 days a year. Hoteliers need solutions that reduce plastic waste without compromising service or guest satisfaction. 

Green Key International partners with organizations that share its mission of measurable, practical impact. One such partner, Diversey, has taken major steps to rethink how cleaning and hygiene products can reduce plastic waste while maintaining high standards of safety, cleanliness, and guest experience. Together, Green Key & Diversey can accelerate impact and close the gap between intention and implementation because progress requires innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. 

Redefining Clean: From Hygiene to Responsibility 

Sustainability trends are reshaping how cleaning and hygiene are defined in hospitality. Hotels are no longer judged only by how clean they are, but by how responsibly they clean. 

Today’s new standards in hospitality include plastic minimisation, responsible packaging, and the ambition to become plastic neutral. Yet too many cleaning products are still packaged in virgin plastic that is difficult to recycle and nearly impossible to dispose of responsibly. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink 

Diversey approaches plastic reduction through four guiding principles Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink, turning plastic packaging from a waste challenge into measurable ESG impact. 

Optimised for Recycling 

Too many plastic items in hotels, including cleaning product packaging available on the market are still made of virgin plastic and are difficult to recycle, making proper disposal a challenge.  

To lead the shift to a circular economy, Diversey is reducing virgin plastic use, innovating sustainable packaging, and integrating recycled materials. By the end of 2025, all 5L canisters will have transitioned to Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastic, cutting virgin plastic while maintaining durability, safety, and performance.  

Redesigned Housekeeping Range 

Diversey redesigned also its Room Care SafePack® pouches into fully recyclable, mono-material packaging that empties completely, leaving no residue and supporting circularity in regions with advanced recycling infrastructure such as Europe By moving away from virgin plastic to fully recyclable pouches, Diversey not only reduces its own environmental footprint but also helps hotels reduce theirs. 

With Room Care Plus Pur-Eco, over 75% of daily room cleaning products now carry the EU Ecolabel. Using concentrated formulations and closed dosing systems, hotels can cut packaging waste by up to 98% compared to ready-to-use bottles. Less plastic waste, lower CO₂ emissions, and consistent performance without compromising hygiene or guest satisfaction. 

Plastic-Free Personal Care 

Guest amenities and handsoap often generate large amounts of unnoticed plastic waste. To address this hidden plastic waste stream, Diversey introduced LESSEAU®, a plastic-free hand hygiene solution made from 99% natural ingredients. Each solid soap bar replaces up to seven 1-liter plastic liquid handwash bottles, reducing both plastic and transport emissions. 

Used with a refillable dispenser that turns the bar into rich lather, hotels can maintain the same level of hygiene and guest experience without the use of plastic. Scaling innovations like this across thousands of rooms creates measurable progress toward circular hospitality, where every refill, reuse, and redesign counts. 

Take Back and Upcycling Where Needed Most 

In many parts of the world, recycling infrastructure is still limited. When there is no suitable recycling facility available for hotels, plastic waste must be treated as residual waste and incinerated the least sustainable option in the waste hierarchy, as it does not contribute to circularity. But every bottle or container discarded is a lost opportunity for circular progress.  

To change that, Diversey partnered with Corsair in Thailand to launch a plastic take-back initiative for hotels. Collected waste is diverted from the environment and converted into valuable materials such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): — reducing leakage, creating local jobs, and supporting circular progress and enabling hotels to make a tangible contribution to a cleaner future. 

Beyond Thailand, we expanded our PlasticShredssm programme, an upcycling initiative. The program transforms used plastic waste into durable materials for infrastructures replacing gravel in village roads, pavements, and even sports courts. 

By turning plastic waste into something that strengthens communities, Diversey closes the loop on materials that once caused harm. This is circular hospitality in action combining environmental responsibility with social impact, where every piece of plastic recovered builds both resilience and regeneration. For more information about PlasticShredsSM  or other CSV- programmes, click here. 

  Diversey reimagined its cleaning solutions to simplify recycling, eliminate plastic where possible, and give waste new purpose where recycling falls short. Because small design changes can spark big change helping hospitality turn sustainability goals into lasting impact for the environment, guests, and local communities. 

Disclaimer 

This article includes sustainability-related claims based on internal testing, customer case studies, and verified product specifications. All environmental data reflects available figures at the time of publication and assumes typical hotel usage scenarios. Claims regarding recyclability, CO₂ savings, and plastic reductions are based on current market conditions in the regions specified. For full methodology, verification data, or certificate references, please contact Solenis.   

Green Key and Shilla Hotels begin a sustainability journey across Asia

Green Key International and Shilla Hotels have begun shaping a new partnership that places education, behavioural change and long term sustainability at the centre of hotel management. The company has expressed a strong commitment to developing sustainability practices that are embedded in local culture and local hotel operations. 

During recent discussions, Finn Bolding Thomsen, International Director of Green Key International, emphasised that the heart of Green Key is not only in the registration of consumption and reduction of use of resources, but also in education. He explained that any true progress depends on the education of all stakeholders and noted that meaningful change requires awareness, knowledge and a shared sense of responsibility. Daniel Schaffer, CEO of the Foundation for Environmental Education, added that the challenge lies in placing emphasis on behavioural change, education and public awareness. He highlighted that changing minds remains difficult but essential. 

Shilla Hotels shares this ambition. The Group aims to develop initiatives that speak to long term commitments and is working towards ambitious sustainability goals, including carbon neutrality by the year 2050 and improvements to existing practices such as reducing plastic wrapping in favour of more efficient and environmentally responsible solutions. Shilla Hotels also plans to strengthen governance through the creation of an ESG Community. 

The Company already runs a wide range of projects that support communities and the environment. These include Delicious Jeju, programmes centred on employee welfare, and Unexpected Luck, a Jeju based customer service initiative offering complimentary rooms in the event of travel delays. Their Offline Environmental Activities bring together students and volunteers in environmental projects, while their Shilla Eco Bags, the use of electric vehicles and the transition from plastic to paper bags demonstrate the group’s intention to integrate sustainability into everyday operations. 

The collaboration aims to support Shilla Hotels in developing sustainability initiatives that lead to measurable progress and long-term behavioural change. By combining Shilla’s commitment to innovation with Green Key’s expertise in education and responsible operation, both organisations aim to inspire guests, staff and communities across Asia to adopt more sustainable habits. 

A special thank you to Daniel Lee Rhi, Marketing Senior Manager, and Jooyoung Lee, Marketing Director, for sharing their insights and choosing Green Key as collaboration partner. 

If you wish to learn more about Green Key criteria, certified sites or the certification process, you may visit our homepage or register to one of our Intro Session below

Green Key partners with Corendon to advance sustainability in the hotel sector

Green Key has entered into a partnership with Corendon as part of the travel company’s growing commitment to responsible tourism and credible certification. Through this collaboration, both organisations aim to support more hotels and accommodations in obtaining recognised sustainability certification, helping the sector make measurable and transparent progress. 

Corendon’s Sustainability Manager, Floor Bregman, highlights the importance of certification in driving improvement: 

“Although certificates and labels are not the ultimate solution, they remain one of the few ways to make the sustainability performance of our partners comparable and transparent. The certifications Corendon works with are verified independently on an annual or biennial basis. A certified hotel may not make a holiday entirely sustainable, but it represents a meaningful step in the right direction.” 

Green Key is proud to be the leading international certification programme for sustainable tourism and hospitality. With around 8,000 certified establishments worldwide, the programme provides hotels with a clear and credible framework to strengthen their sustainability performance and gain recognition for their efforts. Bregman adds: 

“Green Key is a relatively well-known and accessible certification, which makes our collaboration with them a logical and valuable development.” 

To strengthen this joint effort, Green Key and Corendon will soon launch a series of webinars and training sessions designed to guide hotels through the certification process. These sessions will provide practical support to help properties meet the Green Key criteria and gain recognition for their achievements. 

Through this partnership, Green Key and Corendon are working together to encourage higher standards across the hospitality sector. The initiative not only helps hotels reduce their environmental impact and operate more responsibly but also enables travellers to make better-informed choices when selecting their accommodation. 

Advancing sustainable hospitality through responsible cleaning

How certified plant-based cleaning products contribute to measurable sustainability in the hospitality sector.

As global tourism continues to grow, the hospitality industry faces increasing expectations to reduce its environmental impact. At Green Key, we recognise that sustainability must be integrated into all aspects of hotel operations—including daily cleaning practices. 

While often overlooked, cleaning operations can significantly affect a property's environmental and health performance, from chemical usage and water consumption to indoor air quality. That’s why more hotels are moving toward verified, plant-based cleaning solutions that deliver measurable results.  

As part of our commitment to driving continuous improvement in hospitality, Green Key includes a criterion related to chemical use in daily cleaning. Specifically, we require that at least 75% of all chemical cleaning products used on a daily basis carry a recognised eco-label. This ensures that the majority of products used by certified properties meet strict standards for environmental responsibility, formulation safety, and overall impact. Choosing such products isn’t just about ticking a box—it reflects a broader commitment to responsible operations and transparent sourcing. 

Why responsible cleaning is integral to certification goals 

Properties pursuing or maintaining Green Key certification are expected to demonstrate clear action in areas such as chemical management, resource efficiency, and health and safety. Conventional cleaning products often rely on fossil-derived ingredients, single-use plastic packaging, and synthetic additives—all of which contribute to emissions, waste, and long-term environmental degradation. 

Responsible cleaning offers a practical and impactful path forward: one that aligns with the criteria of Green Key certification while supporting the well-being of staff, guests, and the wider environment. 

Certified solutions backed by independent assessment 

Our partner Diversey's SURE™ product range provides an example of a science-based, independently certified solution. These products are: 

• Plant-based from renewable rescources* and derived from agro-food waste—using materials that would otherwise be discarded. 

• 100% biodegradable, verified by OECD 301B testing standards. 

• Free from synthetic dyes and petrochemical ingredients, helping reduce chemical exposure and pollution. 

• Up to 100% recycled plastic, SURE packaging is made up to 100% Post Consumer Recycled plastic the reduce the amount of virgin plastic and plastic pollution. 

• Third-party certified, including EU Ecolabel and Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold, ensuring transparency and accountability across product lifecycles. 

These certifications are reviewed regularly, providing ongoing assurance of compliance with high environmental and safety standards. 

Supporting the 4 Pillars of net positive hospitality 

Diversey’s  recent innovations aligns with Green Key’s vision of Net Positive Hospitality, where hotels actively contribute to regeneration and community well-being. Responsible cleaning directly supports this ambition by adding value across four key areas: 

• People 
  Products formulated to achieve the lowest  hazard classifications reduce health risks for cleaning staff and guests. Simplified labelling also aids safe handling and staff training. 

• Planet 
  The formulations are 100% biodegradable (based on independent assessments) and made from renewable, non-petrochemical sources. They reduce chemical and plastic pollution and help conserve water and energy, contributing to lower emissions and the protection of ecosystems. 

• Place 
  By embracing circularity and using products certified by Cradle to Cradle™, hotels become stewards of local environmental health. They reduce waste, support regenerative design principles, and can engage with suppliers that share sustainability values. 

• Prosperity 
  Efficient use of resources, combined with reduced waste and simplified processes, creates long-term operational savings. At the same time, it enhances brand reputation and supports compliance with sustainability standards and customer expectations. 

A practical step toward certification and continuous improvement 

For hotels committed to responsible tourism and high sustainability standards, reviewing and updating cleaning practices is a meaningful step. Adopting third-party certified cleaning products supports Green Key criteria related to chemical use, staff health and safety, waste management, and environmental communication. 

What circular cleaning looks like in practice 

Certified, plant-based products like SURE™ exemplify the principles of circularity—using waste as a resource, minimizing harm, and enabling continuous improvement. They allow hotels to move beyond reducing impact and begin actively contributing to more sustainable outcomes. 

For properties already certified, this represents a clear opportunity to enhance performance. For those beginning their Green Key journey, it is a strong foundation for building credibility and resilience. 

Discover the full SURE™ range here: 

Plant based professional cleaning products SURE™ 

Disclaimer 

This article includes sustainability-related claims supported by third-party certifications (EU Ecolabel, Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold), internal performance data, and independent lab testing (e.g., OECD 301B biodegradability assessment). Environmental impact claims (e.g. CO₂ reduction) are based on modelled comparisons with conventional, high-temperature or ready-to-use products and may vary with actual usage. For full methodology, verification data, or certificate references, please contact Solenis. 

Green Key is happy to introduce you to Replacer!

We’re pleased to announce that Replacer is now available directly through the Green Key Toolbox, offering all Green Key certified sites a practical, free-to-use tool to help reduce single-use and disposable waste. 

Replacer is a platform designed in London by Ed Perryman, Achille Leduc, and Dominik Reed to support the hospitality sector in shifting away from disposables and towards a circular economy model. What can Replacer do for your establishment?

By accessing Replacer via the Green Key Toolbox, your site can: 

• Identify and prioritise impactful changes to reduce single-use items across operations, from guest rooms to food service 

• Explore sustainable alternatives for common disposable products, with options suited to different budgets and operational needs 

• Project environmental and financial benefits using a built-in ROI calculator - helping you understand the value of every change 

• Connect with trusted suppliers offering innovative, sustainable products to support implementation 

Whether you’re just starting your sustainability journey or working to deepen your impact, Replacer makes it easier to take action.  

You’ll find Replacer listed in the Green Key Toolbox under the section on waste and resource management. From there, you can access the full Replacer platform free of charge and begin exploring opportunities specific to your business type and goals. 

So how does Replacer work? 

1. Browse a comprehensive list of replaceable items and choose which items you want to tackle first. 

1. For each item, discover the solutions that other organisations have already implemented. 

1. Explore the financial viability and impact of any solution, with an ROI calculator. It helps you to model different scenarios 

1. Connect with the best suppliers to get quotes and answers to your specific needs. 

1. Build a case to convince your organisation. Replacer gives you the arguments you need to make your case. 

We encourage all Green Key sites to explore Replacer and make use of this new resource.  

Green Key and Green Care Professional empower businesses to measure and certify their environmental impact

At Green Key, we know that every step toward sustainability matters - and we’re proud to work alongside partners who turn commitment into measurable action. That’s why we’re highlighting the Green Care Performance Calculator from Werner & Mertz Professional, a trusted Green Key partner. 

With the Green Care Performance Calculator, businesses can quantify their resource savings - specifically CO₂ emissions, crude oil, and plastic - achieved by switching to Green Care Professional products. The tool offers more than just numbers: it provides a certified, transparent foundation for sustainability claims, helping Green Key-certified establishments clearly demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility. 

The tool produces a personalised certificate, complete with the user’s company logo, showcasing the verified environmental savings. This document is not only ideal for internal sustainability reporting but also enhances external communication - for example, in public tenders or green procurement processes that prioritise verified sustainable practices. 

The latest version of the calculator includes two new indicators: the recyclate content of the container and the recyclate content of the entire packaging (including caps). These additions reflect a deeper commitment to the circular economy, aligning with Green Key’s own sustainability criteria. 

“Our goal is to best prepare companies for the transition to a genuine circular economy,” says Thomas Ulbricht, Head of Werner & Mertz Professional. “With the Green Care Performance Calculator, we’re turning our sustainable product design into a competitive advantage - especially in the face of evolving regulatory landscapes.” 

This shared vision aligns perfectly with Green Key’s mission to support accommodations and businesses that want to make credible, responsible choices for people and planet. The calculator’s methodology has been independently validated by INTECHNICA GmbH, ensuring a robust and reliable foundation for its results. 

We encourage all Green Key-certified businesses - and those aspiring to certification - to explore the benefits of this tool. Use it to make your sustainability journey visible, back your actions with certified data, and strengthen your environmental credentials. 

Learn more and start calculating your impact at: 
www.green-care-professional.com/calculate-now 

Green Key intro sessions for interested establishments

Discover the Green Key advantage: Join our introductory online sessions on Wednesday 27 August

Are you a hospitality establishment looking to boost your sustainability credentials? Green Key International invites you to explore the benefits of certification through our upcoming Introduction to Green Key for interested establishments on Wednesday 27 August 2025. 

Two Sessions Available 

To accommodate different schedules, we’re offering two identical sessions: 

• Session A: Wednesday 27 August 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (CEST). Register here 

• Session B: Wednesday 27 August 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (CEST), Register here 

Whether you're a hotel, campsite, restaurant, or another establishment, this is your chance to learn more about our famous certification. 

Meet the Speaker 

The sessions will be hosted by Finn Bolding Thomsen, International Green Key Director, who will guide participants through the key elements of the programme and share insights from his extensive experience in sustainable tourism. 

 What to Expect 

Each one-hour session will include a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the Green Key programme. Topics will include: 

• Overview of Green Key criteria and certification process 

• Participation costs and available support tools 

• The benefits of joining the Green Key community 

• Guidance on how to get started 

• Key contact information for follow-up 

After the presentation, we’ll open the floor to a Q&A session, giving you the opportunity to ask specific questions and engage directly with Green Key International representatives. 

 Who Should Attend? 

These online sessions are ideal for interested establishments considering Green Key certification or simply wanting to learn more about sustainable operations in tourism and hospitality. 
Registration is free but required to receive the links.  

• Register for Session A 

• Register for Session B 

Join us on Wednesday 27 August and take the first step toward a more sustainable future for your business. 

Benerg joins the Green Key network

Green Key and Benerg Oy have entered into a partnership aimed at raising awareness and demand for food waste-to-energy solutions among the hospitality industry.   

Green Key x Benerg partnership

The partnership focuses particularly on supporting Green Key applicant establishments around the world, helping them meet Green Key criteria related to sustainable energy, waste disposal, and reduction.  

Benerg Oy, based in Helsinki, operates in the EU region with scalable and modular solutions starting from 60kg of food waste daily to 120kg.  

Benerg deploys scalable building-scale biogas machines to the hospitality industry to convert food waste into electricity with remarkable efficiency. Our technology can deliver up to 1 million kWh of energy with 120kg of food waste daily. With this technology, hotels can save money on energy bills, reduce their carbon footprint, and eliminate food waste disposal costs. 

About Benerg  

Benerg Oy was established in 2024 as a result of 4 years of research and development, focusing on flourishing and maintaining biogas production per kg of food waste. Benerg has 4 different capacity machines for the hospitality industry, starting from 60kg to 120kg.  

Key Features 

• Daily Capacity: Processes between 60kg - 120kg of food waste per day (plant-based, animal-based, or mixed). 

• Energy Generation: Produces 915,000 kWh/year (enough to power 250 households annually). 

• CO₂ Reduction: Avoids 96 tonnes of CO₂e/year (equivalent to planting 4,400 trees). 

• Organic Fertilizer: Produces 30 tonnes/year of nutrient-rich fertilizer. 

• Compact Design: Fits in small spaces 

• Smart Monitoring: IoT-enabled for real-time performance tracking. 

For additional information about Benerg, please visit www.benerg.io.