Hidrodoe (Pidpa)

Boosting Sustainable Tourism Through Certification

EUROPEAN GOOD PRACTICE COLLECTION 2021

NOMINATION FORM

Please send until 6^th August 2021 to (herbert.hamele@ecotrans.de / cc diego.nunez@ecotrans.de)

NOMINATING CERTIFICATE

Contact Person:

NOMINATED BUSINESS

 Hidrodoe (Pidpa)

Internet contact

 www.hidrodoe.be; www.pidpa.be

Size of business (if known)

Hidrodoe = Small (from 10 to 49)

Pidpa = Large (> 249)

Category

Visitor attraction

Country

Belgium

Destination, with related protected area(s)

Herentals

Contact Person at the nominated business

 Mrs. Hilde De Laet – hilde.delaet@pidpa.be
 Mr. Kris Liekens – kris.liekens@pidpa.be

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS

according to following SDGs on Tourism4SDGs.org:

Please indicate very briefly their exemplary or innovative actions and measurable achievements (including quantified results if known)

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

The tourism sector needs to adopt sustainable consumption and production (SCP) modes, accelerating the shift towards sustainability. Tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for tourism including for energy, water, waste, biodiversity and job creation will result in enhanced economic, social and environmental outcomes.

Energy use:

-          We use 100% green energy (partially produced by solar panels at the drinking water plant nearby, the rest is bought from the energy supplier as 100% green energy).

-          Installation of various digital metering devices that register the energy consumption of the most important processes (Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, car charging station, …).

-          Periodic evaluation of our energy and water use.

-          Installation heat pump system in the near future - see further below (SDG 13)

Water use:

-          In collaboration with Aquafin we are redesigning our (waste)water infrastructure, 4 main goals:

o   Reducing our water use with > 50%

o   Infiltrating 100% of our collected rainwater in infiltration plants or via drip infiltration (for plants)

o   Upcycling of sanitary waste water with innovative and performant techniques (e.g. phosphorus removal with Iron oxide coated sands (= byproduct produced at the drinking water plant nearby); struvite recovery, …)

o   Closing our water circle (circular water)

-          Urinals without water

-          Focus on the benefits of drinking tapwater in our cafeteria and in our exhibits (carbon footprint of tap water is >500 times lower than the carbon footprint of bottled water, no single use plastic, …). 

Waste prevention:

-          Cooperation with “Too good to go”

-          Far-reaching selective waste collection and recycling

Biodiversity:

-          The use of pesticides by our own staff as well as our contractors is strictly forbidden.

-          We use alternative ecofriendly methods for the maintenance of our terrain.  

Responsible consumption:

-          Vegetarian meals (lower carbon footprint)

-          Regional, fairtrade, bio products in our cafetaria

Measurable achievements:

-          We measure the use of water, rainwater, energy and the production of waste on a monthly base. We report internally on a yearly base. Pidpa (Hidrodoe included) publishes an annual report on sustainable development.

-          Hidrodoe is Green Key (11x) and ISO 14001:2015 certified

-          Pidpa is UNITAR SDG Pioneer certified

-          Pidpa has a certificate “VOKA charter for sustainable business” (4 x)   

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Tourism contributes to and is affected by climate change. Tourism stakeholders should play a leading role in the global response to climate change. By reducing its carbon footprint, in the transport and accommodation sector, tourism can benefit from low carbon growth and help tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Carbon footprint:

-          Since 2016 we measure our Carbon Footprint (= global carbon CO2 footprint together with our parent company Pidpa (drinking water company)).

-          We draw up a climate plan and we defined our climate ambitions.

-          We take concrete actions to reduce our energy consumption and the emission of greenhouse gasses: Periodic energy audits, multidisciplinary workgroup on rational energy management, implementation of energy saving glass film, electrical charging point for cars and e-bikes, ….

Innovation:

-          2021 – 2022: installation of a heat pump system that gains its warmth/energy from 2 massive drinking water cellars nearby (constant temperature 11°C – 2000 m³).

Measurable achievements:

Since 2016 we managed to reduce our global carbon footprint by 14%. 

SDG 14 – Life below Water

Coastal and maritime tourism rely on healthy marine ecosystems. Tourism development must be a part of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in order to help conserve and preserve fragile marine ecosystems and serve as a vehicle to promote a blue economy, contributing to the sustainable use of marine resources.

Due to our geographical location (not near the coast/sea) our focus is on prevention of river pollution:

-          Access roads to our facility are cleaned (by hand) on a regular basis. Installation of waste bins outside along the access road.

-          We organize several initiatives related to prevention of litter (River Clean Up, Beach clean-up, plogging action for children and employees, …)

-          Serving only tapwater for schools = no single use plastics

-          Exhibit ecosystems (game that demonstrates the effect of human behavior/choices on nature and biodiversity, example of a closed ecosphere)

Measurable achievements:

-          We reach +/- 50.000 visitors a year

SDG 15 – Life on Land

Rich biodiversity and natural heritage are often the main reasons why tourists visit a destination. Tourism can play a major role if sustainably managed in fragile zones, not only in conserving and preserving biodiversity, but also in generating revenue as an alternative livelihood to local communities.

Hidrodoe is integrated in a green environment (woods, meadows). The land we own is rather limited, so we focus on small projects:

-          Beehives & insect hotel in collaboration with a local beekeeper

-          Wild flower meadows in cooperation with the drinking water plant nearby

-          Educational nature trail for children

-          Conscious choice for regional vegetation if possible

 Measurable achievements:

-          6 beehives and 1 insect hotel (2020: 612 honey jars)

-          The honey is sold as a local product in our shop

-          We also sell our own beer (nen blonde drup) – collaboration with local brewery Leysen

SDG 8 - Decent work and Economic Growth

Tourism, as services trade, is one of the top four export earners globally, currently providing one in ten jobs worldwide. Decent work opportunities in tourism, particularly for youth and women, and policies that favour better diversification through tourism value chains can enhance tourism positive socio-economic impacts.

Hidrodoe was founded in 2003.

The amount of visitors has increased over the years from +/-35.000 in 2004 to 60.000 in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the amount of visitors in 2020 dropped to 17.000.

We take care of our employees:

-          Pidpa is a sustainable employer that provides the option of 100% reimbursement of public transport and a bicycle allowance.

-          We focus on well-being through a good work-life balance (sufficient vacation days, working at home, vast health insurance,…).

-          We provide various training sessions for our employees for example on stress prevention, safe behavior, sustainability,…

-          In selection and recruitment of new employees, Pidpa does not make a difference based on age, gender, religion or race.  

Measurable achievements:

 We use several KPI’s that measure:

-          The amount of visitors

-          The amount of green miles (km’s driven by public transport or bike)

-          The amount of trainings

-          …

SDG 17 - Partnership for the Goals

Due to its cross-sectoral nature, tourism has the ability to strengthen private/public partnerships and engage multiple stakeholders – international, national, regional and local – to work together to achieve the SDGs and other common goals. Public policy and innovative financing are at the core for achieving the 2030 Agenda.

By collaborating with external and local partners we manage with manage to go the extra mile: 1+1 = 3

Hidrodoe was SDG voice for Belgium in 2019. Since than we inspire our visitors on the importance of the 17 SDGs and invite them to take action themselves.

We work together on different topics with many partners, for example

-          City of Herentals

-          STEM-academies

-          Travel to tomorrow (Visit Flanders)

-          Join for water (NGO)

-          OXFAM

-          Iedereen Verdient Vakantie (everyone deserves a holiday)

-          Toerisme voor autisme (tourism for autism)

-          Inter (audit accessibility and inclusion)

-          VOKA (partnership)

-          …

We are an active member of:

-          The Water Museums Global Network

-          ECSITE

-          ASTC

-          …

Hidroplus:

Subsidy for projects in developing countries (the south)

Measurable achievements:

2021: > 100.000 euro donation via Hidroplus

Link to further information about the nominated business (if available):

Green Key – checklists available via Goodplanet

Website:

-          www.hidrodoe.be

-          www.pidpa.be

More information on request