On 11 November, a symbolic event marked the commitment of the School of Hospitality and Tourism of Porto (EHTP) to environmental sustainability. At the RP - Pedagogical Restaurant, those present enjoyed a sustainable lunch, followed by the hoisting of the Eco-Schools Green Flag. This distinction, awarded by the European Blue Flag Association (ABAE), recognises the school's efforts to implement ecological and educational practices that promote sustainability in the school environment and the surrounding community.
The ceremony was attended by figures such as Sónia Magalhães, from Porto City Council's Municipal Department of Environmental Planning and Management, and Juliana Santos, from of Lipor's education and training unit, as well as members of the EHTP board and the Sustainability Ambassadors from the classes. These representatives stressed the importance of promoting robust environmental education in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of the central goals of the Eco-Schools programme.
The Eco-Schools programme is of substantial importance to the education sector as it stimulates environmental awareness and action among young people, fostering a generation that is aware of global and local environmental challenges. For EHTP, participation in the Eco-Schools programme not only promotes environmental education but also strengthens the school's image as an example of ecological responsibility. The presence of the Green Flag at the school symbolises the recognition that its students and team members are actively contributing to building a more sustainable future, which benefits society as a whole by creating future professionals and citizens with a consolidated environmental awareness.
In addition, initiatives such as Eco-Schools help to develop essential skills in areas such as waste management and responsible consumption, skills that are increasingly valued in the tourism sector and the hotel industry, given the growing environmental concern and interest in sustainable practices in this sector.
