Google has launched an "Eco-Certified" badge for hotels that now shows in its search results, that it has verified are making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. 

In order to qualify for the designation, hotels will have to be certified by independent organisations such as Green Key or EarthCheck.

When you search for hotels on Google, you'll now see information about the hotel's sustainability efforts. Hotels that are certified for meeting high standards of sustainability will have an eco-certified badge next to their name.

To find out more about a hotel's sustainability practices, the "About" tab will give a list of what the hotel is doing — from waste reduction efforts and sustainably sourced materials to energy efficiency and water conservation measures.

Google said the new search feature was introduced because "we want to make it easier for you to find sustainable options while traveling — no matter what you're doing or where you're going."

Hotel owners can add their eco credentials via their Business Profile on Google My Business facility.

Google also announced it is joining forces with the Travalyst coalition to help develop a standardised way to calculate carbon emissions for air travel. This free, open impact model will provide an industry framework to estimate emissions for a given flight and share that information with potential travellers.

It is also expected that Google will contribute to Travalyst's sustainability standards for accommodations and work to align our new hotel features with these broader efforts.

Launched by Prince Harry in 2019, Travalyst is a non-profit organisation "working to identify – and help bring about – the systemic changes needed in order for sustainable travel to be taken out of the niche, and into the mainstream". Its partners include Booking.com, Google, Skyscanner, Trip.com Group, Tripadvisor, and Visa.

Rosa Medea is Life & Soul Magazine's Chief. She writes about lifestyle including sustainable and green living