Viva Italia!

Italy seems to be leading the rest of Europe in a green revolution, and their weapon is something called the Eco Label, which is awarded to businesses that have found alternative options that are better for the environment.

The Eco-label is a flower symbol that businesses must apply for. They have to fill out an application and explain projects that the business partakes in that benefit the environment.

According to the Eco Tip Web site, since early summer, Italy has taken a the lead over the other European nations by almost doubling the amount of tourist accommodations that have been accepted to bare the Eco-label.

In June and July the number of accommodations, like hotels and campsites, with the logo increased from 30 to nearly 60 awarded Eco-Labels!

"I just spent three months traveling around Italy, I wish I would have known to look for the flower at the places I stayed," said 21-year-old Corey Wlodarczyk. Wlodarzyk supports environmentally friendly travel. "I always recycle, but while I lived in Italy I felt like a lot of the younger Italians I hung out recycled way more that my American friends. Wlodarzyk understands that it is just little efforts that can make a difference. I also reused my own water bottle for the whole trip, I just refilled it instead of buying more and more plastic bottles."

The Eco Label aims to promote greener options for services and products that businesses provide, mostly involving the ever-growing tourism market. The Eco Label wants Europe and its visitors to know that the flower symbol is not given out easily, it is difficult to qualify for. Some credentials that businesses need to have in order to have the flower include the products/services must have scientific evidence to support its friendly potential to the environment, attainability, reasonable prices, and the list goes on. You can check out the list of credentials at the Eco Tip Website. http://www.eco-tip.org/Hotspot/hotspot.htm

Some places in Italy that have recently been awarded the Eco label Include the Hotel Villa Di Campo in Lomaso, the Hotel Tevini in Commezzadura, and the Hotel Scoiattolo in Andalo.

Italy's future with the Eco-label looks just as bright as the present, currently there are 39 businesses that have applied for the Eco Label.

If you are a business you can apply online to get your products/services awarded with the Eco-symbol. Also, there are a lot of opportunities for students who want to travel. There are offered traineeships that you can apply for based on what kind of businesses and/or products interest you. You are also able to choose from a list of European countries that are looking for students to help out and write thesis on certain projects.

"I went to Italy this summer, and all over Europe, now I really just want to go back," said 23-year-old, Business Management graduate from Northern Arizona University, Ryan Summers. "I have been looking into some career opportunities in Italy and Switzerland, this sounds like something I could be a part of, like maybe marketing or something," said Summers.

For another link with information about Europe's growing awareness of Eco-friendly tourism, check out this site as well http://www.ecotrans.org/2007/html/projects.html