Green Activities Certificate
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Green Activities is suited to establishments that offer outdoor activities, and it is the only sustainability certificate in the Nordic countries that includes criteria for ensuring tourism animal welfare.
A Green Activities certified company must commit to increasing the environmental awareness of its customers and staff as well as reducing the environmental impact of its activities. The certificate is based on a set of sustainability criteria specifically designed for activity program operators, and the applicants must commit to meeting and regularly reporting on these criteria. In order to ensure the well-being of tourism animals, those companies that use sled dogs and tourism reindeer must meet additional criteria. The program offers applicants personal consultation, as well as sustainability training and sustainability communications materials for certified members.
Companies that have been granted the Green Activities certificate may use the Green Activities label in their communications. The label confirms that the sustainability-related claims of the establishment have been verified by an auditor and that the certificate has been awarded by an independent jury.
The Green Activities certificate has been developed with the permission of FEE (Foundation of Environmental Education), and it is based on the Green Key Criteria for Attractions. The use of the Green Activities label and certificate is overseen by Going Green Oy that is a social enterprise fully owned by FEE Finland.
Green Activities Establishments
Finland currently has 48 certified Green Activities establishments, and their number is steadily increasing. The Green Activities operators offer outdoor activity programs or workshops based on the use of sustainable materials and methods all around Finland. They include companies focusing on winter activities such as dog or reindeer sled rides, as well as summertime operators offering mountain biking, zip-line programs and equipment rental. Many Green Activities operators have also achieved the Green Key certificate for their offered accommodation and catering services as well.
The Criteria
In order to achieve the Green Activities certificate, an establishment must meet the Green Activities criteria. They cover 5 areas of activity for all applicants, and in addition, chapter 6 for establishments offering activities with tourism animals. The criteria are updated every 1-5 years, and the latest version came into effect on 1.1.2022.
To be awarded the Green Activities certificate, an establishment must meet the Green Activities requirements, known as the criteria. The criteria are divided into three (3) chapters: 1. Governance and Reporting, 2. Activitiy programs, and 3. Tourism Animal welfare (Sled Dogs & Reindeer). The criteria are updated every one to five years. The latest version entered into force on 27 September 2026.
GOVERNANCE AND REPORTING
ACTIVITY PROGRAMS
TOURISM ANIMAL WELFARE
The Green Activities criteria are divided into 2 types:
IMPERATIVE CRITERIA
The imperative criteria define the basic level of requirements that the applicant must meet already when first applying for the certificate. If the establishment does not offer some activities or functions referred to in the imperative criteria, those requirements are excluded.
GUIDELINE CRITERIA
From first re-application onwards, the applicant must meet all the imperative criteria, as well as an annually growing number of guideline criteria.
