Catch Some Eco-Certified ZZZs
As you research places to stay, watch for hotels that belong to the Green Key Global program. Green Key Global is a leading environmental certification body with a suite of industry-standard programs and resources designed specifically for the lodging and meetings industries. Members are provided with a comprehensive guide on how to reduce their utility consumption, waste, and emissions. Some Green Key-certified options in Ontario’s Southwest include:
Have Fun Trying Greener Ways To Travel
Not everyone can afford an electric vehicle yet, but there are other great ways to get from Point A to Point B with a lighter environmental impact.
- Travelling as part of a larger tour group doesn’t just reduce your carbon footprint, it’s also a great way to meet new people and have a lot of fun. Ride The Bine’s group tours in Norfolk, London, Huron-Lambton, and Chatham-Kent are an excellent way to get whisked around to a selection of wineries, breweries and cideries. Most of their vehicles have eight seats, but they do have a 12-seat vehicle available for tours in Norfolk County.
- Cycling tours are another excellent way to tour Ontario’s Southwest without carbon emissions. WindsorEats offers craft beer tours, winery tours and tours of downtown Windsor by bike. They also have a fun new electric scooter tour that showcases Windsor’s amazing street art scene.
Show A Little Extra Love To Places That Are Investing In Sustainability
Making better choices for the environment can sometimes come with a higher price tag. In Ontario’s Southwest, there are examples around every corner of decision-makers who are putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to doing the right thing for the planet.
- Meuse Brewing has transitioned a former irrigation pond into a native wetland surrounded by tallgrass prairie, planted a pollinator hedge row and has a free-range flock of chickens that snack on spent grain from the brewing process.
- Rather than tear down old tobacco kilns, Burning Kiln Winery has repurposed them to create award-winning Appassimento-style wines.
- Anderson Craft Ales is investing in carbon capture technology to reuse the CO generated from its brewing process.
- Apple Hill Lavender embraces environmental stewardship efforts in its growing and manufacturing practices and is Biosphere certified.
- Jarful Refillery has built its entire business around reducing single-use plastics and wasteful packaging.
- Our beaches and marinas that have earned Blue Flag status work hard to meet 33 criteria related to environmental education, water quality, environmental management and safety.
Photo courtesy of the Jarful Local Refillery Facebook page.
Sign the Ontario's Southwest Responsible Travel Pledge
As a way to ensure Ontario’s Southwest can continue to be enjoyed by future generations, we ask that you please sign the Responsible Travel Pledge.
Bring Your EV Along For The Ride
Don’t let the fact that you may be racking up a few extra miles deter you from setting out in your electric vehicle. A growing network of EV charging stations throughout Ontario’s Southwest makes it easy to top up your charge on your travels. Even smaller, rural businesses, like Heeman’s and New Limburg Brewery, are investing in electric vehicle chargers. Use the PlugShare website to find convenient places to charge on your next trip.
