Green Key Certification Body
Audit Independer is the independent Certification Body for Green Key. We bring together the coordination, the auditor network and the certification decision that stand behind every Green Key award — so that establishments, National Operators and auditors can rely on a consistent, impartial and professional process worldwide.
What is Green Key?
Green Key is one of the world's leading eco-labels for sustainable tourism and hospitality. Operated internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and its network of National Operators, Green Key recognises hotels, campsites, attractions and other establishments that meet rigorous standards for environmental management and sustainable operation.
For a guest, the Green Key is a trusted sign that a business takes its sustainability commitments seriously; for an establishment, it is a globally recognised mark of quality and responsibility.
Green Key criteria
The 2026–2031 criteria raise the bar further, reflecting the sector's growing commitment to measurable, credible sustainability.
Operated internationally by FEE and its National Operators
Our role
As the Certification Body for Green Key, Audit Independer is responsible for assessing establishments against the Green Key criteria and for the integrity of the certification decision. We do this through two complementary roles, deliberately separated to safeguard independence.
We organise and run the certification operation: planning and scheduling audits, managing and supporting our international network of qualified auditors, administering the certification platform, and handling the practical and financial coordination from first application through to certificate and surveillance.
The formal decision on whether Green Key certification is granted is made separately by Unified Auditing, which safeguards the impartiality and independence of that decision. The auditor who performs the on-site assessment does not decide the outcome; the decision rests with a function kept independent of the assessment and of any commercial interest.
ISO/IEC 17065
This separation — operational delivery on one side, the certification decision on the other — is the heart of how we work. It is designed in line with the principles of ISO/IEC 17065, the international standard for bodies certifying products, processes and services, so that every Green Key award rests on an assessment that is competent, consistent and free from conflicts of interest.
How certification works
Certification follows a clear, transparent path:
The establishment registers and provides the information needed to assess it against the Green Key criteria.
EstablishmentA qualified auditor carries out the assessment — preparation, the on-site audit and reporting — and documents the findings.
AuditorAudit Independer reviews the audit and its evidence.
Audit IndependerUnified Auditing takes the independent decision on whether Green Key is granted.
Unified AuditingOnce granted, the certificate is maintained through scheduled surveillance that confirms continued compliance over its validity period.
OngoingThroughout, the roles stay clear: the auditor assesses and reports, the Certification Body reviews, and the certification decision is taken independently.
Who we work with
You deal with a single, professional point of contact for your Green Key certification, backed by a structured process and a global auditor network. Our focus is on making certification clear and dependable, so you can concentrate on the sustainability work that earns the Green Key.
We work with experienced, qualified auditors and partner audit companies around the world, under a consistent framework aligned with Green Key International. If you are a Green Key auditor or a certification body interested in cooperating, we would be glad to hear from you.
We work alongside Green Key International and the National Operators to deliver certification consistently across markets, while respecting the local knowledge and relationships that make the programme strong in each country.
Get in touch
Whether you are an establishment seeking certification, an auditor interested in joining our network, or a National Operator looking to cooperate, we would be pleased to talk.
