Green Leaf Eco Standard

The Green Leaf Eco Standard (GLES) is a sustainability certification and assessment framework developed by the Wilderness Foundation for hospitality properties and organisations operating internationally. It evaluates performance across environmental, social, and economic dimensions, going beyond traditional triple-bottom-line thinking to encourage genuine behavioural and operational change within a business.

The standard is designed as an integrated concept, meaning it looks at how a property's environmental practices, community relationships, and economic activity interact and reinforce one another. Rather than treating these as separate compliance checkboxes, GLES encourages organisations to find synergies across all three areas as part of a broader sustainability strategy.

The certification is suited for hospitality businesses — such as lodges, hotels, and eco-tourism properties — that want a structured, internationally recognised way to measure and demonstrate their sustainability commitments. It is particularly relevant for organisations seeking credibility with sustainability-conscious guests, partners, and investors.