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Rêves nature is an event organised by Megève tourisme. It is aimed at children of all ages, and its aim is to raise awareness of the natural environment surrounding them. Learning while having fun, discovering the environment on holiday through trips to the forest, an organic farm or understanding how recycling works, the rêves nature programs opens children’s eyes to their environment.
EVERYONE CAN DO THEIR BIT
Water :
I repair all water leaks
I never leave the water running when I am cleaning my teeth or shaving
Upkeep or cleaning products:
I choose products which are recognised as being environmentally friendly
I pay attention to the amount of product used
Household appliances:
I choose products with low energy consumption
I choose recyclable goods
Energy:
I choose low wattage light bulbs
I turn the light off when I leave a room and the computer rather than leaving it on standby.
Rubbish:
I follow advice on rubbish sorting
Transport:
I prefer to wash my vehicle in a specialist place equipped with a water separator
I take it easy when I drive, reducing my speed
I use a scraper to de-ice my car instead of the heater
When I can I prefer to use my bike
Nature: I respect fauna and flora I don’t throw away paper or cigarette butts – I pick up all my litter
The decision to work towards obtention of ISO 14001 certification was taken with the aim having our actions legitimised and recognised. What is more, this certification requires perfect control and attentive management of all our actions. All Megève Tourisme services are involved (promotion, communication, press, reception, administration), and everyone involved needs to consider each decision in the light of this certification before undertaking an action. It is also a useful internal management tool to unite a team around a project.
This ISO 14001 certification is awarded to any company (VSB, SME/SMI, large groups) which integrate environmental considerations into their business, in whatever sector. It is currently uncommon in tourism, but more and more organisations are becoming interested in this standard. Currently in France, no tourism office has been ISO 14001 certified. It is thus a first for the AFAQ/AFNOR certifying body to work with a tourist office. Becoming ISO 14001 certified represents a significant investment. ISO criteria are very demanding, requiring the establishment of important internal criteria. It involves firstly accounting for everything relating to the consumption of electricity, water, internal and external paper, fuel etc. It is then necessary to set up, monitor and explain all procedures used and the targets set.
Here are a few examples of the investments made:
- This year, Megève Tourisme has invested in two Toyota Prius. These are hybrid cars which consume less and pollute less than normal cars. A Toyota Prius issues 104g of CO2/ km while a normal car consumes between 110 and 115g. Mixed consumption is 4.3L at 100km.
- Megève Tourisme therefore gets across its interest in the environment when travelling, and displays its “responsible tourism” positioning. Megève Tourisme now uses mainly recycled paper or PEFC paper. PEFC paper comes from controlled forests and is a sustainable forestry certification. This paper is 55% recycled and 45% PEFC.
- Megève Tourisme sells USB keys in reception, which has been developed as a WIFI zone. Numerous tourists come to Megève Tourisme to go online or pick up documentation. To limit the amount of paper leaving the office, Megève Tourisme offers a USB key on which Megève magazine is stored.
The audit necessary to obtain the ISO 14001 standard certificate took place on Thursday 19th July. Of course we were really thrilled to receive this certification but this is not an end in itself. On the contrary, it is just the beginning of a long adventure, both internally at Megève Tourism and externally in the village. So many ideas and projects are flying around. To join us in this journey you can visit our » Current Developments » column.
