Eco-tags

FOOD

1. We don't serve meat

This tag is a signpost for vegetarian guests. According to the commonly accepted definition, vegetarianism excludes not only mammal or bird meat but also fish and seafood. 

This tag is for You, if:

• you don't serve ANY meat to guests in meals, including fish and seafood, and your menu is fully vegetarian ALL the time, not just occasionally.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• from time to time, you include meat in your gastronomic offer, or you serve fish and/or seafood,
• you don't serve meat because you don't offer catering to your guests.

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2. We limit meat serving

Do you consciously limit meat consumption (especially beef), or serve meat from "happier animals", sourced from private breeders who care for their livestock? Then this point is about your efforts.

This tag is for You, if:

• you limit meat serving (especially beef - a hefty water and carbon footprint) to no more than ½ of the dishes on your menu.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you occasionally add less meat to goulash just because the rest went earlier into croquettes. This is about intentional action (you made a conscious decision) and significant meat reduction (minimum 50% of the menu).

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3. We serve meat only from trusted sources

You avoid buying meat from industrial production and instead choose verified suppliers with limited production scale? Excellent. If you also have confidence that you are buying from a breeder, e.g., happy chickens, with good living conditions, all the better for both the environment and the health of your diners.

This tag is for You, if:

• you buy meat only from trusted sources, from small, backyard, and trusted "happy" animal farms that have good living conditions, access to outdoor space, are not spiked with synthetic growth hormones, etc.
• you buy organic meat, certified as organic food by the European Union.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you mainly buy meat from industrial farms (usually in supermarkets), without a certificate or from an unverified source ("because a friend said it's good, but actually, I don't know the breeding conditions").

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4. We grow fruits and vegetables without chemical substances

Big shoutout to our hosts who could easily zap their strawberries with a dose of this or that chemical solution in just 15 minutes. But nope, not these folks! Instead, they embark on epic quests across the internet, spending ages hunting down natural ways to tend to their garden quirks. They're like the green warriors of the gardening world, battling pests with homemade concoctions and a healthy dose of determination!

This tag is for You, if:

• you cultivate your garden with permaculture, Back To Eden, or other methods that involve the use of so-called ecological methods, without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and similar strong chemical substances.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you use artificial fertilizers,
• you use chemical plant protection agents – even "a bit". If you limit the use of chemicals, that's cool too. However, with this tag, we want to highlight hosts who don't use it at all.

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5. Meals mainly from local products

It's wonderful if the supply chain of products used in your kitchen didn't wrap around the Earth along the equator. In addition to reducing the carbon footprint in terms of transportation, it also provides additional economic support to local producers.

This tag is for You, if:

• over 60% of food purchases come from your region or are produced within 100 km radius of your property.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you occasionally buy local products (produced within a 100 km radius of your property or from your region), but they account for less than 60% of monthly food purchases,
• you buy products in a local market, but these products were not produced locally (or in the country),
• you don't offer catering to your guests.

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6. We minimize food waste

Food waste is not only a lack of food security and still present hunger in the world but also accelerates climate change. According to research conducted in the years 2010-2016, greenhouse gas emissions from discarded food accounted for 8-10% of anthropogenic emissions. Therefore, it is an important action in the fight to improve the state of the environment.

This tag is for You, if:

• you CONSISTENTLY take at least three specific actions to reduce the scale of food waste (e.g., every time you plan a menu and shopping list, you use leftovers from other dishes, store them in a way that extends their shelf life, offer guests the option to take leftovers with them or the option to purchase half portions).

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you compost food waste but do not take action to reduce unnecessary consumption,
• you occasionally repurpose leftover products, but avoiding food waste is not part of your regular habits.

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RESOURCE PROTECTION

7. We have tap water

Some guests may bring a pallet of bottled water with them, leaving behind their private landfill of plastic bottles. We appreciate it if you help visitors reduce the production of such unnecessary waste.

This tag is for You, if::

• the water in your property is drinkable (if needed – with the use of a suitable filter) and you encourage your guests to drink tap water.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• your water does not have current sanitary tests,
• your water is drinkable, but guests often complain about its taste (even after filtering), making it not an alternative to bottled water.

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8. We save water

Did you know that in terms of water resources per capita, Poland is comparable to Egypt - a desert country at approximately 96% of its surface? These statistics should make you think.

Saving water is not only about taking a bath instead of a shower or having a faucet with a flow regulator but also reducing the amount of artificial fertilizers and detergents (which reduces pollution of available drinking water resources), as well as reducing consumption and not buying unnecessary products (leaving a so-called water footprint).

This tag is for You, if:

• you CONSISTENTLY take at least three specific actions to reduce water consumption (e.g., educating your guests, collecting rainwater, monitoring annual water consumption in the property, using aerators and water flow regulators).

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you offer guests a bath in a pool or tub, where water needs to be changed frequently.

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9. We collect rainwater

This one's simple. This tag is for you if you intentionally collect rainwater.

This tag is for You, if:

• you collect rainwater, which you later use in your business, thus saving water resources from the water supply network.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• sometimes you get water in a bucket left in the garden after rainfall, so you use the collected water on the nearest flower bed.

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10. We segregate waste

This is more of a no-brainer, so unless you've been under an iceberg for the past epochs and you keep track of at least general news about the world, the relevance of this tag should not surprise you:) This is a basic activity, regulated by legal provisions.

This tag is for You, if:

• you segregate waste into at least basic categories: glass, paper, plastic, organic, and mixed, as well as non-standard waste (medicines, electronic waste, construction waste, etc.),
• you know the waste segregation rules applicable in your municipality and adhere to them.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you separate some waste into individual bins, but rather by "feeling," and mostly when it's convenient,
• you don't know the waste segregation rules in your municipality.

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11. We promote waste segregation among guests

Directing guests to segregate waste, ideally combined with an explanation of why it's important and how it's done at your property, is beneficial for the environment and part of guests' environmental education.

This tag is for You, if:

• you inform guests (preferably upon arrival) that waste segregation is mandatory, how to sort it, where the bins are located, etc.,
• your property's regulations state that waste segregation by guests is mandatory,
• you provide guests with easy and convenient segregation options (bins for different categories are available in every room/apartment or at least in the building).

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you segregate waste yourself but don't educate guests that it's expected of them,
• you don't provide them with comfortable conditions for segregation (e.g., bins for different waste types are only outside the property, you don't use clear labeling of bins to facilitate identification of waste categories, etc.).

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12. You can arrive without a car

If you facilitate guests' arrival at your place using public transportation, you support their efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of their travel.

This tag is for You, if:

• you usually (or in most cases) offer guests transfers from the nearest station (after prior agreement).

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you can only pick up guests occasionally, only in selected circumstances chosen by you.

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13. In every room, there's a bag or basket for shopping

Encouraging guests to use reusable bags during planned shopping trips or outings helps them reduce waste, thus contributing to a smaller environmental footprint from their travels.

This tag is for You, if:

• every room/apartment/residential unit has a reusable bag or basket available for guests to use for shopping, gathering fruits, etc. (ideally, as many as the maximum number of guests per room).

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• there's one standard bag somewhere in the hallway, but it's not readily accessible to guests, and its condition doesn't encourage use,
• guests aren't informed about the available bags and their purpose.

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14. We don't use single-use plastics

This tag includes items like individually packed portions (jam, ketchup, etc.), plates, cups and cutlery, plastic bags, straws, stirrers, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, unnecessary tea bag packaging, individual toothpicks, etc. It also applies to mini toiletries.

This tag is for You, if:

• you neither use nor offer guests items packed or made from single-use plastic (including those listed above).

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you occasionally offer guests mini toiletries, mini food products, or other items made or packaged in single-use plastic (e.g., tea bags).

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15. We limit plastic usage

Reducing plastic usage can involve everyday grocery shopping (choosing vegetables for the basket, bread in your own bag) as well as long-term purchases (e.g., investing in a linen blanket instead of its polyester version, furnishing interiors mostly with natural materials).

This tag is for You, if:

• you deliberately and consciously give up some items to reduce plastic usage.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you buy apples by weight when packaged ones are sold out. If you only occasionally remember to reduce plastic, this tag isn't for you yet (though there's nothing stopping you from fitting into it soon).

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16. We use renewable energy sources (e.g., photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, heat pumps)

Do you use photovoltaics, solar collectors, or other renewable energy-powered installations? Then you can check this off.

This tag is for You, if:

• your place uses renewable energy sources for at least part of its energy needs (but not less than 30% of the electricity and/or heating demand), such as photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, heat pumps, ground source heat exchangers, wind turbines, etc.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• the only equipment powered by renewable energy is your garden lights. We're referring to a more serious commitment to the topic here.

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17. We have high-energy efficiency equipment

High-energy efficiency devices are friendly to both your wallet and the environment. You can check information about the amount of energy consumed by a particular device online or on the device's nameplate. Take into account the new energy class labeling introduced since March 2021.

This tag is for You, if:

• your electrical appliances purchased before 2021 have a minimum energy class of A (the old labeling system in effect until March 2021),
• equipment produced after March 2021 is energy-efficient and has at least a class B rating in the new labeling system.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• your electrical appliances purchased before 2021 have an energy class of B or lower,
• newly purchased equipment (manufactured after March 2021) under the new labeling system has a class of C or lower,
• your equipment remembers the beginnings of the industrial revolution and does not have an energy class designation.

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ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT

‍18. House made of natural materials (e.g., clay, straw, hemp)

Some travelers highly value properties made from environmentally-friendly materials that are suitable for recycling, so we want to highlight such places.

This tag is for You, if:

• your property is mainly constructed from natural materials, including clay, straw, wood, stone, etc.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• the main building material of your property is concrete,
• the main building material of your property is brick, even if it's reclaimed (we greatly appreciate the reclaimed material, but this tag is to showcase places built from natural materials).

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19. Our house is energy-efficient

An energy-efficient house is one in which the annual energy consumption for heating does not exceed 70 kWh/(m²/year), almost half the amount of a traditional single-family residential building (approx. 120 kWh/(m²/year)).

This tag is for You, if:

• the annual energy requirement for heating your property does not exceed 70 kWh/(m²/year), and your building has a current energy performance certificate confirming this fact.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you do not meet the above requirement - you have a traditional building without proof of energy efficiency in the energy performance certificate.

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20. Our house is passive

A passive house is still rather rare on the market (very much needed), and we're happy to distinguish it among other properties.

This tag is for You, if:

• the annual energy requirement for heating your property does not exceed 15 kWh/m² (according to the definition of a passive building).

Do not check this tag if:

• you do not have confirmation of your building's passive status in the energy performance certificate.

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21. There are no natural skins, furs, or hunting trophies in our interiors

Individuals with high environmental awareness also exhibit a high sensitivity to the natural world. This includes a strong aversion to displaying products that originated from animal suffering. Yes, you're right - deer antlers and wild boar skins over the fireplace are already quite passé and don't align with the image of people who want to be seen as nature lovers.

This tag is for You, if:

• you deliberately avoid such displays in your interiors.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you insist that your dining room looks unattractive without sheepskin,
• you have a weakness for displaying animal furs, skins, and hunting trophies and believe that a goat's head above the fireplace adds elegance to your playroom,
• in general: you display natural furs, skins, and hunting trophies anywhere on the property.

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22. A large part of the equipment comes from salvage (e.g., upcycling)

This tag is for all upcycling enthusiasts who can see the beauty in items with a history. In this tag, we're not just talking about individual actions but rather a situation where upcycling and promoting a circular economy is more of a habit than a random experiment.

This tag is for You, if:

• at least 50% of your equipment (or a significant portion of your property) comes from salvage (second-hand) or has been upcycled by you and given a new lease of life.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you have one cabinet salvaged from a dumpster sale, which you elegantly repainted. We're talking about a consistent commitment to the topic.

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ECO-COSMETICS AND CLEANING PRODUCTS

23. We use ONLY eco-friendly detergents

This isn't always an easy task, so we particularly appreciate the dedication and want to highlight committed hosts.

This tag is for You, if:

• you ONLY buy products that are more environmentally-friendly (ideally, if they have an ecological certification, such as the well-known Ecolabel or Nordic Swan),
• you create your own cleaning agents or cosmetics from natural and safe ingredients.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you buy a lot of environmentally friendly products, but occasionally also purchase standard detergents. The next tag might be more suitable for you.

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24. We use MAINLY eco-friendly detergents

We understand that it's not always easy to use only eco-friendly products. If you're already on the "eco journey" and have swapping traditional chemicals for eco-detergents on your list, we support your efforts and want to acknowledge them with this label.

This tag is for You, if:

• your place primarily (at least 50%) stocks environmentally friendly cleaning agents and cosmetics.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you once grabbed a dish soap labeled "eco" on sale, but environmentally friendly products don't dominate your shelf of cosmetics and cleaning agents.

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25. We have cosmetics and cleaning agents in refill packaging

A round of applause if you're fighting excessive production of plastic waste, including packaging from cosmetics and cleaning agents. It's also a good practice to buy concentrated products and dilute them, as it reduces the number of used packages and waste production.

This tag is for You, if:

• you buy soap in a three-liter package and refill the depleted product,
• you purchase refills, which are increased capacity inserts for products (e.g., 2 liters), allowing you to effectively use multi-use packaging for cosmetics and cleaning agents (instead of buying 10 products with a capacity of 200 ml and thereby producing more waste).

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you buy cosmetics in standard capacity (e.g., 300 ml) or mini (e.g., 20 ml) and only replace used products with new ones.

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OTHERS

‍26. We plant and care for trees

Trees win the title of Humanity's Nature Benefactors by a landslide. You can read about their wonderful properties, for example, here, and now we'll just emphasize: planting AND CARING for trees is an exceptionally beneficial action for the environment—especially in large cities.

This tag is for You, if:

• you've planted a lot of trees (let's agree for statistical purposes that the minimum is 30, but this threshold is arbitrary because we're mainly interested in the commitment), which you've cared for and which have mostly reached maturity (or are well on their way because you're constantly caring for them), contributing significantly to air purification.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you planted two apple trees and a gooseberry bush once, but your main motivation was fruit consumption,
• you have many trees on your property, but you didn't plant them yourself,
• you once planted a symbolic tree during a local harvest festival, but that was the extent of your dendrological enthusiasm,
• after planting trees, you didn't check if they managed to grow, nor did you take actions to support their growth and development.

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27. We take up environmental cleanup actions

How many times during walks have you seen trash thrown in the woods, beer cans lying by the roads, or plastic bags on urban sidewalks? Environmental awareness in Poland is still alarmingly low, so every environmental cleanup action is very much needed.

This tag is for You, if:

• you clean up the surrounding environment yourselves (at least once in a while),
• you encourage others (friends, local residents, guests, followers of your profile, etc.) to participate in even small environmental cleanup actions,
• you promote the idea of plogging, plalking, and other activities promoting environmental cleanup.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• the last time you participated in an environmental cleanup was during school walks on Earth Day,
• you once picked up a candy bar wrapper from the street and heroically threw it in the trash (commendable, but it's still a bit too little for the purposes of this tag),
• you're not CONSISTENTLY involved in such initiatives.

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28. We support biodiversity (e.g., uncut grass, shelter for animals)

Biodiversity is extremely important because every loss of a species disrupts the stability of the ecosystem. As one of the basic observations of ecology indicates, living organisms interact with each other, so the loss of even one, seemingly insignificant bug can upset the natural balance in nature (where each creature fulfills a specific function). Therefore, if you support nature in its daily struggle for harmony in the world—kudos to you.

This tag is for You, if:

• you rarely mow the lawn, and when you do, you don't shave it to 1.3 mm,
• you nurture a flowery meadow,
• you mainly planted native plant species,
• you planted honey-producing plants, friendly to pollinators (including bees and butterflies),
• you don't rake the yard to the last leaf, but also leave untrimmed areas,
• you set up nesting boxes for birds,
• you set up nesting boxes for bats,
• you create habitats friendly to frogs and toads (the latter eat both mosquitoes and ticks!),
• you don't use synthetic chemicals in the garden,
• you appreciate so-called weeds and don't try to remove them at all costs.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you mow the lawn shorter than recruits in the army,
• you rake pine cones in the forest,
• your property is surrounded by a row of thuja trees,
• non-native plant species dominate in your garden,
• you use artificial fertilizers and synthetic insecticides,
• your garden/meadow is the size of a postage stamp, and the rest is paved with cobblestones. If your area is concrete and has a small biologically active area, this tag is not for you (although there's nothing stopping you from changing that over time).

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29. We nurture local cultural heritage

Many people think that sustainable development focuses only on eco-related issues. However, an integral part of it is also caring for the welfare of the local community, as well as preserving cultural heritage—especially from a local perspective.

This tag is for You, if:

• you support events promoting local folklore and promote them among your guests, such as workshops, festivals, gatherings, concerts, exhibitions. It's important that you do this consistently, not just once every decade,
• you provide guests with materials and sources of knowledge about the region and its cultural attractions,
• you inform guests about local events promoting the cultural values of your area.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you shared a Facebook post twice about a concert in your region, but generally, you're not involved in promoting culture.

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30. We cooperate with the local community

Good neighbors are worth their weight in gold. We suspect we don't need to convince you of that. Besides invaluable support, it's also a source of additional attractions for your guests, as you can send them for a massage, woodworking workshops, or a jar of plum jam with chocolate, which alone triggers a salivary flood.

This tag is for You, if:

• you buy products from local producers, providing them with an opportunity to earn income,
• you involve local residents in your activities, send guests to them, recommend their products or services,
• you enable local artists and craftsmen to sell their products in your facility (or using your media),
• you hire staff from the local community,
• you consider the opinions and needs of local residents regarding tourism in the region. If they complain about guests, you seek solutions, giving high priority to the needs of the local community,
• you engage in community volunteering.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you have a good relationship with your neighbors, but you don't directly involve them in cooperation with guests and/or they don't benefit from this contact,
• you do something for the community from time to time, but it's more about posting on Facebook than providing serious support for a specific action.

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31. We increase guests' environmental awareness

It might surprise you, but you have a significant impact on shaping the environmental awareness of your guests and followers of your social media channels.

This tag is for You, if:

• you CONSISTENTLY engage in environmental education for visitors. You inform them, for example, about how to sort waste, how to set the dishwasher to eco mode, how to behave on a nature walk in the nearby forest, what to do with leftover food, where to find a shopping bag,
• you conduct classes/workshops/lectures where visitors can learn how to better care for the environment not only during their travels but also in their daily lives,
• you communicate to guests your commitment to environmental actions,
• environmental protection rules are included in the stay regulations,
• you provide guests with materials and tools to expand their environmental awareness (e.g., online),
• you point out to guests what they can do to help you run the facility in a more environmentally friendly way (but it's more than just a message like "use this towel throughout your stay and save the planet").

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• you take environmental actions in the facility, but you don't directly communicate with guests, indicating to them specific actions they can take during their stay to reduce their environmental footprint,
• you talked about it with guests twice, but then gave up. This tag is for hosts whose environmental education of guests is a CONSISTENT part of their offering.

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32. Electric vehicle charging available

Are you sourcing electricity from renewable sources and providing guests with the ability to charge electric cars? Excellent!

This tag is for You, if:

• you enable guests to charge their electric cars from clean energy sources.

Do not check this tag if, for example:

• the electricity you offer comes from an unverified source, fossil fuels, or other non-renewable, environmentally harmful energy sources.

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Finito!

So, is it a bit clearer now? Alright then – let's tidy up your eco-tags. Uncheck the ones you haven't fulfilled yet or check the ones that apply to you.

If we notice that you're being too modest or, on the contrary, overestimating your efforts, we can modify the list of eco-tags in your property's profile. In such modifications, we'll also consider the opinions of your guests.

But no pressure – if you're still unsure whether a particular eco-tag currently fits your place, or if you're wondering what to do to start implementing some eco-friendly tasks, just write here – we'll help :)

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