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FAQ

1. Brief overview of GSTC, ESG and SDGs



The criteria presented on this platform have been formulated by integrating key insights from ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria, GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) criteria, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


ESG Criteria: 


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What is ESG? 

ESG, which stands for environmental, social, and governance, constitutes the three primary focus areas for company reporting. ESG aims to encompass all the non-financial challenges and prospects inherent to a company's daily operations.


Why is integrating ESG imperative? 

A large number of  investors are integrating ESG factors into their deliberations when making investment choices. Consequently, ESG is gaining greater significance in terms of attracting capital, encompassing both debt and equity financing.


Environmental Pillar

This is the most complex pillar from a reporting perspective. It captures data on Climate Change and Energy, Natural resources Management, Pollution and Emissions, as well as biodiversity and conservation disclosures. 


Social Pillar

Under this pillar, companies report on Employee Well-being, Community Engagement, Supply Chain, Labor Practices, Health and Safety, Product Safety and Quality as well as Visitor Engagement. 


Governance Pillar

The primary concerns reported under this pillar are Shareholder Rights, Board Diversity, Compensations, Stakeholder Engagement while also highlighting Ethics and Compliance issues such as anti-competitive practices and corruption.




GSTC - Global Sustainable Tourism Council

Reference Link


The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC) is responsible for developing and overseeing worldwide benchmarks for sustainable travel and tourism, recognized as the GSTC Criteria. These sets of criteria emerged from a worldwide effort to create a shared language surrounding sustainability in the tourism sector. 




The criteria are arranged in four pillars: 


1. Effective sustainability Planning 

Sustainability Policy

Sustainability Management System

Continuous improvement

Compliance with laws and regulations 


2. Maximising Social and Economic Benefits for the Local Community: 

Local community benefits

Cultural heritage conservation 

Local employment

Fair business practices


3. Enhancing Cultural Heritage

Cultural Heritage conservation 

Cultural heritage promotion

Respect for local cultures


4. Minimising Negative Impact on the Environment

Efficient use of resources

Climate change mitigation and adaptation 

Pollution prevention and waste management

Biodiversity conservation




2. Best Sustainability practices/ supporters in Mauritius e.g recycling/conservation


SECTION 1: Collection/Recycling


BEM Recycling

Specialises in the management and recycling of e-waste. 

Polygreen Ltd

Provides circular economy solutions, hazardous/non hazardous resources, oil/chemical spill prevention and ancillary environmental services.

Precious Plastic Mauritius

Collects plastic through mangroves, beach clean-ups and households to be transformed into products such as tables, benches, sports equipments, bins, tiles and coasters

We-Recycle

Collects PET bottles, other plastics, aluminium cans from District Council eco-bins, gated residential communities, schools, recreational facilities and restaurants in the West, South and Centre which are sent to recycling facilities. 

WeCycle

Specialises in waste collection (paper, cardboard, low density plastic), archive destruction and confidential paper shredding.

Mauritius Glass Gallery

The MGG upcycle glass into art pieces and contributes to the production of asphalt by integrating glass particles in the mixture.






SECTION 2: Conservation


Company

Overview

Durrell

Durrell works closely with the Mauritian Wildlife foundation, the Government of Mauritius and other key partners to remove invasive species, manage and monitor population and restore ecosystems.

Mauritian Wildlife Foundation

An NGO that focuses on conservation and restoration efforts to safeguard the rich biodiversity and ecosystems of Mauritius and its associated islands. 

Reef Conservation

An NGO dedicated to the promotion of sustainable use of Mauritius’ marine ecosystem through a collaborative partnership approach involving all relevant stakeholders

The Mauritius Oceanography Institute

Contributes to valuable scientific knowledge and insights for better decision making, conservation efforts and sustainable management of marine resources. 

3. Glossary/ terms 


Atmospheric Polluting Substances

Chemicals and tiny particles released into the Earth’s atmosphere due to human activities, industrial processes and natural sources e.g carbon dioxide. They have the potential to negatively impact air quality, the environment and human health. 

Biodegradable

It refers to materials or substances that can be broken down naturally into smaller pieces over time and that can integrate back into the environment without causing lasting damage. 

Carbon footprint

It focuses on the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other carbon-related emissions resulting from human activities. 

Circularity

The main concept is about giving products a second life – that is, by designing, producing and using them in a way that minimises waste and maximises the use of resources. 

Collective bargaining

Where a group of workers negotiate with their employer to agree on matters like wages, working hours and workplace conditions. 

Compliance

It refers to the act of following rules, laws or guidelines established by an authority or governing body. 

Conscious consumption

Involves considering the environment, social and ethical impacts of products before making purchases.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)

It promotes diversity in terms of identities, race and backgrounds, ensures the same treatment and access for everyone and cultivates a culture that embraces the contributions of all individuals. 

Employee turnover

It refers to the rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced by new ones. High turnover – Employees are leaving; low turnover – People tend to stay longer in the establishment. 

ESG screening

It is a process used by investors and organisations to evaluate ESG practices of establishments or investments to make informed decisions. 

Freedom of Association

It refers to the right of individuals to join, form groups and associate with others for a common purpose without restriction/ 

Genetically modified organisms

Living organisations such as plants, animals or microorganisms whose genetic content have been changed using biotechnology. While they are increasingly used in agriculture and medicine for enhanced productivity, they raise concerns about environmental and health impacts.

Green Waste

Waste derived from plants that can be composted or naturally broken down. E.g leaves, branches, garden trimmings, grass clippings. 

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions 

Gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) that are released into the atmosphere have the ability to trap heat, create global warming and cause climate change. 

Grievance mechanisms

A process which allows working individuals to voice their complaints, concerns or grievances in a formal way. It helps in addressing issues related to harassment, disputes and discrimination. 

Impact assessment

It helps to evaluate the positive and negative outcomes of a proposed project on the environment, society and economy before it is implemented. 

Organic waste

It refers to waste that comes from plants and animals e.g food scraps and coffee grounds. 

Scope 1 Emissions

It refers to direct emissions produced by the establishment and which can be owned or controlled by them. E.g burning fossil fuels on-site like company owned vehicles and equipment.

Scope 2 Emissions

It refers to indirect emissions resulting from the consumption of purchased electricity, heat or steam by an establishment.

It is classified as so because the establishment is not directly responsible for the emissions at energy sources but for emissions associated with its consumption. 

Service innovation

It involves developing novel approaches, methods or concepts to meet the evolving needs of customers, users or clients. It can include processes, technologies, service quality and experiences. 

Stakeholder mapping

It is a process that helps to identify the various individuals, groups or entities that have an interest or influence in the establishment’s activities, decisions or projects. 

Value chain

It describes the complete sequence of activities and processes involved in bringing a product or service from its conception stage to the final customer. It shows how value is added at each stage to create competitive advantage and customer satisfaction. 



Glossary for labels/certifications/standards


Eco-label

It is a certification placed on a product to indicate that it meets certain environmental standards or social criteria.

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Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

An international nonprofit organisation that operates a certification program for sustainable seafood. It works to safeguard seafood supplies and  promotes responsible fishing practices to ensure viability of marine ecosystems.

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Global Organic Textile Standard

A globally recognised certification for textiles made from organic fibres. It further sets high standards in terms of environmental and social aspects of textile production throughout the entire supply chain. 

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Fair-trade label

It promotes transparent supply chains by creating more equitable and ethical relationships between producers in developing countries and customers. It focuses on providing fair wages and safe working conditions for them. 

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International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) 

It helps farmers switch to organic farming by providing them with the necessary training and tools. It also raises awareness of the need for sustainable production and consumption through agro-ecological farming policies. 

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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 

It is a comprehensive inventory of the conservation status of various species of plants, animals, fundi and other organisms, which is created and maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

It is a globally recognised certification and symbol of sustainable building achievement. To become LEED certified, an establishment needs to address carbon, energy, waste, water, transportation, materials, health and indoor environment quality criteria.

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Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)

It is a leading assessment method for building and infrastructure that assesses the environmental performance of a building including its design, construction and operation. 

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Green Building Council Mauritius (GBCM) 

It aims to facilitate and advance a sustainable approach to planning, conception, building and utilisation of the built environment, so as to reduce its impact on well-being and ecosystems.

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International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001

This standard sets the criteria for quality management system to ensure that customers receive high quality and consistent products and services

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Social Accountability (SA) 8000

This standard provides a framework for establishments to conduct business fairly and decently for workers and demonstrate their compliance to the highest social standards including matters such as child labour, discrimination, working hours etc.

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4. Important links and resources (Global)


  1. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The CBD is a key global instrument for addressing: Conservation of Biodiversity, Sustainable Use of Biodiversity and Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing. Establishments are encouraged to follow their principles and objectives particularly if their activities involve the use of biological resources, genetic resources and ecosystems. 


  1. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 

The UNFCCC serves as the foundation for international efforts to combat climate change and its impacts. It organises annual Conferences of the Parties (COP) where member countries gather to discuss progress, negotiate agreements and make decisions on climate-related issues. 


  1. UN Biodiversity Conference 

The main goal of the conference is to review the progress made by member countries in achieving the objectives of the CBD and to set future priorities and targets  for biodiversity convention.


  1. UN Food Systems Summit

The summit aims to bring together governments, organisations, businesses, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss and catalyse actions for more sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems. 


  1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

It operates through a collaboration between worldwide experts and scientists. Its main role is to assess the scientific knowledge related to climate change, its impacts, and potential adaptation and mitigation strategies. 


  1. Green Key

The label is granted to businesses that meet specific environmental and sustainability criteria. These criteria often involve factors such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, use of renewable energy sources, environmental education, and promoting local culture and heritage.


  1. SDG Compass

The SDG Compass is a guide developed to help businesses align their strategies and operations with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides practical guidance for companies to integrate the SDGs into their business models and practices.