The process of becoming a GEO Certified® Development is one which is overseen by the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL) and is compliant with their codes of practice. There are a number of assurances that authenticate and give accreditation through our subsidiary GEO Certification Limited to the independent verifiers who are part of the certification process.
The Sustainable Golf Development - Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS) document is the latest edition and results from a 6-month open consultation with the general public and impact review with the International Expert Working Group of golf and non-golf representatives. The 2nd Edition was published in September 2021.
Presented below is an open-access document, designed to inform the process of delivering an internationally recognized sustainable golf development. It encompasses issues of nature protection and enhancement, resource efficiency, climate action, and community connections. Applicable to all scales of golf courses, the practices within the document are adaptable, open, and affordable for all.
The standards that GEO Certified® Developments are built to are of the highest caliber. They evolve with the times to ensure they are relevant and push the boundaries of sustainability in golf. The Sustainable Golf Development - Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS) document is the latest edition of these and results from a 6-month open consultation with the public and impact review with the International Expert Working Group of golf and non-golf representatives. The standards are revised every five years with the 2nd Edition published in September 2021.
Presented here is an open-access document, designed to inform the process of delivering an internationally recognized sustainable golf development. It encompasses issues of nature protection and enhancement, resource efficiency, climate action, and community connections. Applicable to all scales of golf courses, the practices within the document are adaptable, open, and affordable for all.
The criteria points held within the VSS are what a project is measured against during the certification process. This ensures that each project is designed and constructed in the most sustainable way possible.
Click below to download the standards
