In February 2010, EC3 Global upgraded its global network of Members to the EarthCheck Program. This included Members who were previously certified using the Green Globe brand for certification and benchmarking solutions.
EC3 Global and the Australian Government's Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) developed the EarthCheck scientific benchmarking and reporting tools. Until 2009 these were made available to the travel and tourism industry as a certification program sold under the brand name "Green Globe with EarthCheck science inside". Since 1999, EC3 Global through its wholly owned subsidiary Green Globe Asia Pacific has been licensed to use the Green Globe brand. However, in early 2008, the Green Globe brand name was purchased by an American commercial company called Green Globe International, which changed the way the brand would be delivered worldwide. (Click here for the latest financials reported by Green Globe International). The changes included the licensing of the brand to a wide range of different companies across an array of scientific and operational platforms. This resulted in a diversity of approaches being taken in-market when it came to the delivery of third party certification and benchmarking.
In February 2010, EC3 Global upgraded its science and technology and then launched the standalone EarthCheck Program. This continues to offer EarthCheck benchmarking and certification tools, but now has a suite of other tools and templates for Member use as well. EarthCheck is now the science and technology system that underpins the benchmarking and certification programs of market leaders such as Banyan Tree, Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific, InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific), Langham Hotels International, and Sandals Resorts, among others.
For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the upgrade of Green Globe Members to EarthCheck, click here.
EC3 Global's Rights Relating to the use of the Green Globe brand:
Since 1999 Green Globe Asia pacific (GGAP) has had a license from the owner of the Green Globe brand, Green Globe Limited (“GGL”), to use the brand name and trade mark “Green Globe”, “Green Globe 21” and the Green Globe logo (together the “Green Globe Brands”) for the purpose of providing an environmental certification program and related products, services and activities for the travel and tourism industry.
GGAP’s current license is worldwide and is exclusive in the Asia Pacific Region. The Asia Pacific Region includes Australia, Antarctica, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Borneo, Cambodia, East Timor, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Kirghizia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajiskistan, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Western Samoa. To find out more, click here.