Green Key

What Green Key does

Green Key is an international sustainability certification programme for tourism and hospitality establishments, operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) — a UK-registered private company limited by guarantee and charity. Founded in Denmark in 1994 and adopted by FEE as an international programme in 2002, Green Key certifies hotels, hostels, small accommodations, campsites, holiday parks, conference centres, restaurants, and attractions against documented environmental and social criteria. The programme has certified more than 9,000 establishments across 90+ countries, with formal recognition from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (since 2016) and a recommended-eco-label designation from HOTREC (since 2020).

The core technology stack comprises the ECO-OS sustainability accounting database, where certified establishments input monthly and annual data on energy, water, waste, food waste, and GHG emissions, and which returns annual performance reports and improvement recommendations. The platform is supplemented by a Carbon Calculation Tool, a Water Calculation Tool, a Waste Measurement Methodology (co-developed with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance), a public self-assessment form, criteria documents (2022-2026 and 2026-2031 cycles), and access to the FEE Academy online training platform. Certification is verified through documented evidence, third-party on-site or remote audits, and an independent certification body, with periodic renewal required to maintain status.

Green Key generates revenue primarily through recurring certification fees and annual renewal fees, with billing on an annual subscription cadence. Fees vary by establishment type and country and are published for each certification period. Distribution follows a dual-channel model: Green Key International handles direct applications in countries without National Operators, while 40+ National Operators (FEE member organisations) administer the programme nationally in their respective territories. Marketing and demand generation rely on a community-led approach — quarterly online intro sessions, criteria webinars, a good-practices showcase, newsletters, the FEE Academy, and cross-promotion across FEE's family of environmental programmes (Blue Flag, EcoSchools, ECOCampus, YRE, Leaf).

Name

Green Key

Legal name

Foundation for Environmental Education

Website

https://greenkey.global

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Green Key is an international sustainability certification programme for tourism and hospitality establishments, operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education since 1994, certifying 9,000+ hotels, hostels, campsites, restaurants, and attractions across 90+ countries against documented environmental criteria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Certification

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability/Green Certified Conference Hotels (THAGALAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative) (AFALAMAC)

Keywords

• Sustainability certification
• Eco-label hospitality
• Hospitality certification
• Tourism sustainability
• Environmental verification

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Certification Fees: Establishments pay participation/certification fees to obtain and maintain Green Key certification. The fees vary by establishment type and country. The program publishes participation costs for specific periods (e.g., 2026, 2026-2027) on their website.
2. Annual Renewal Fees: Certified establishments must pay annual re-application fees to maintain their certification status, supporting ongoing compliance verification and audits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Green Key operates an international sustainability certification programme for tourism and hospitality establishments. Establishments apply through Green Key International or National Operators, undergo documented evidence review and on-site audits, and receive a Green Key certificate confirming conformity with environmental and social sustainability criteria. Certification requires periodic renewal and covers hotels, hostels, small accommodations, campsites, holiday parks, conference centres, restaurants, and attractions.

Product overview

Green Key is a single, unified international sustainability certification programme for the hospitality industry, operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The programme certifies hotels, hostels, small accommodations, campsites, holiday parks, conference centres, restaurants, and attractions based on strict environmental criteria. The offering consists of the core certification programme itself, supported by complementary tools including the Carbon Calculation Tool, Water Calculation Tool, Waste Measurement Methodology, Self-Assessment Form, and access to the FEE Academy training platform. Establishments are guided through criteria documents (2022-2026 and 2026-2031), certification processes, and participate in quarterly intro sessions. The programme verifies compliance through third-party audits and maintains standards through periodic renewal requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Key Certification Programme An international sustainability certification programme that verifies environmental and social sustainability criteria for tourism and hospitality establishments. Establishments are assessed through documented evidence review, on-site audits, and periodic renewal, covering energy, water, waste, food waste, and GHG emissions performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 9,000 hotels and establishments certified in 90+ countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Key is operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). FEE provides governance through its International Steering Committee (with 2 members from Green Key founders and 2 from FEE), administrative support, and umbrella branding across programs including Blue Flag, EcoSchools, and others.
• Green Key National Operators (40+ countries)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFEE member organisations in 40+ countries act as National Operators, managing national program administration, local partner contacts, and establishment certifications within their territories.
• Sustainable Hospitality AlliancemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for waste measurement methodology development. Green Key references the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance's Waste Measurement Methodology as part of its criteria tools.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSTC recognition of Green Key criteria since 2016 validates the program's alignment with international sustainable tourism standards.
• HOTRECmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOTREC recommended Green Key as an eco-label for European hotels since 2020, enhancing credibility across the European hospitality industry.
• FEE AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline training platform for Green Key staff and certified establishments to access educational resources and best practices in sustainable hospitality.
• Third-Party AuditorscoreTechnology or IntegrationIn countries without National Operators and in most cases globally, third-party auditors conduct verification audits. The certification is confirmed by an independent Certification Body.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EarthCheck: EarthCheck is a sustainability certification and benchmarking program specifically for the travel and tourism industry, covering hotels, tour operators, and destinations — directly comparable to Green Key's hospitality sustainability certification focus and GSTC-aligned model.
• Green Globe: Green Globe provides sustainability certification for the travel and tourism industry, including hotels and resorts. It directly competes with Green Key in certifying hospitality establishments against sustainability criteria.
• Travelife: Travelife offers sustainability certification and training for hotels, tour operators, and travel agents, combining third-party verification with online training — directly comparable to Green Key's certification-plus-FEE-Academy approach.
• Biosphere: Biosphere certifies sustainable tourism businesses (hotels, destinations, experiences) and is GSTC-recognised, putting it in direct competition with Green Key for hospitality sustainability certification mandates across Europe and Latin America.

Broad incumbents

• LEED (US Green Building Council): LEED is a global green building certification that includes hospitality properties within a much broader portfolio of building types. It overlaps with Green Key when hotels pursue LEED instead of (or alongside) hospitality-specific certifications.
• EU Ecolabel: The EU Ecolabel is a government-backed sustainability certification covering accommodation services across Europe. It is a broad incumbent alternative to Green Key for European hotel sustainability claims, with a different (regulatory) distribution model.

Others

• Sustainable Hospitality Alliance: Sustainable Hospitality Alliance is a global alliance of major hotel chains working on sustainability; Green Key has a strategic partnership with the Alliance on waste measurement methodology. It is an ecosystem partner rather than direct certification competitor.
• Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE): FEE is the parent organisation that operates Green Key, alongside other environmental programs including Blue Flag and EcoSchools. It is the closest related entity and the umbrella under which Green Key's governance and administration sit.

Regional players

• Green Tourism (UK): Green Tourism is the UK's largest sustainable tourism certification scheme for hospitality and visitor attractions. It is directly comparable to Green Key's offering but primarily focused on the British Isles rather than the global footprint Green Key targets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Green-Key-130957623671591

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Green Key