“Green Key” returns to hotels with verification visits

The Regional Directorate for the Environment and the Sea (DRAM) has begun technical inspection visits to tourist establishments in Madeira as part of the 2026 edition of the Green Key program. These inspections, conducted by the Division of Environmental Education and Citizenship, aim to assess compliance with environmental and social criteria, such as water and energy efficiency, waste management and the use of eco-friendly products. The aim is to ensure that establishments maintain the high standards required for the award of this sustainable international tourism accolade.

In 2025, the Region achieved a historic record with 78 tourist establishments receiving the award, more than triple the 25 establishments recognized in 2015. According to the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Environment and Culture, Eduardo Jesus, this growth reflects the sector’s commitment to implementing environmentally responsible practices and consolidates Madeira as an international benchmark in sustainable tourism, whilst also emphasizing that these visits are fundamental to ensuring that sustainability is integrated into the management model and the experience offered to visitors.

The Green Key award, promoted by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and coordinated in Portugal by ABAAE, serves as a guarantee of environmental commitment and strengthens Madeira’s competitiveness in an increasingly demanding global market. Eduardo Jesus points out that tourists are increasingly seeking out destinations that respect the environment and that responsible resource management and the promotion of natural heritage are an inevitable path for the future of tourism in the region. The scheme recognizes not only hotels, but also includes local accommodation, campsites and restaurants that adopt good environmental management practices.