HomeExchange, a pioneer in home exchange vacations for over three decades, has recently introduced HomeExchange Collection—an exclusive community catering to like-minded travelers seeking to connect, share, and swap their luxurious homes. As a Certified B Corporation, HomeExchange Collection actively supports sustainable travel initiatives. By promoting the use of existing homes as accommodations, the platform reduces the need for constructing new hotels. Many homes in the collection boast eco-friendly features such as solar power, electric vehicle charging, handcrafted construction with local materials, and even bicycles for exploring local neighborhoods. 

Membership in HomeExchange Collection comes with a host of benefits, including dedicated support from a specialized team, alternative accommodation options, and coverage in case of cancellations or non-compliance. Moreover, members enjoy property damage protection of up to $2,000,000, providing peace of mind during their luxury home exchanges. 

One of the unique luxuries for members is the opportunity to feel at home anywhere in the world, immersed in homes with distinctive character. Host members contribute invaluable pre-arrival advice, offering insights into authentic travel experiences that unveil the rich tapestry of local culture and customs. Noteworthy is the diverse membership, encompassing sustainable fashion designers, international consultants, interior designers, scientists, architects, artists, and engineers—all dedicated to sharing their homes and offering meaningful recommendations in various destinations. 

The emphasis on community sets HomeExchange Collection apart. Members are encouraged to embrace a local lifestyle, supporting small businesses and adhering to recommendations from their hosts. With no financial transactions involved, the platform fosters a sense of hospitality where guests are welcomed as friends or family, promoting responsible tourism that respects the local ecosystem. 

But, HomeExchange Collection goes beyond its immediate operations, annually calculating and working to reduce its carbon footprint. The company actively contributes to global carbon neutrality through partnerships with the GoodPlanet Foundation, investing in impactful social and environmental projects.

Operating from its Paris headquarters, HomeExchange enforces a stringent waste management policy, ensuring the recycling of all workplace materials through collaboration with “Les Joyeux Recycleurs.” Furthermore, the company’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its use of electricity supplied exclusively by Enercoop, a French utility company harnessing renewable energies.

Here’s a look at some of our favorite properties in the MENA and Mediterranean region that can be exchanged through HomeExchange Collection:

Mountainside Family Villa 

Nestled in a traditional Turkish village, Villa Alara offers peace and proximity to attractions like Kalkan, Fethiye, Kas, and Antalya. The spacious 5-bedroom family retreat overlooks Patara beach. Ideal for a relaxing family holiday, the villa features a private pool area with stunning sea views. Spread across three floors, the ground floor offers an open-plan lounge and a well-equipped kitchen, while the second floor boasts four ensuite bedrooms with access to a large balcony. The third floor provides a rooftop terrace with sunbeds and a BBQ. Outdoors, enjoy a large infinity heated pool, jacuzzi, and various activities like table tennis and basketball. Family-friendly amenities cater to babies and toddlers. 

Charming House in the Cyclades

Serifos offers beautiful beaches, historic sites, and hiking trails, maintaining its authentic character despite tourism development. With 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, this residence sleeps 4, offering a delightful retreat in the village of Hora, a Greek village island paradise. The house is divided into two independent floors, each featuring a terrace with a view. The ground floor includes a small living/dining room, a well-equipped open kitchen, and a bedroom. The south-facing green terrace offers a beautiful view of the village and the sea.

The first floor, independent and air-conditioned, hosts a bright bedroom with a private bath. The terrace with a pergola provides a magnificent panoramic view of the Aegean Sea. The village of Hora, considered one of the most beautiful in the Cyclades, is a small fortified medieval settlement with breathtaking views. Guests can enjoy peace and quiet, a short walk to the village center, and proximity to shops, bars, and restaurants. 

Seaside Retreat in Greece

Villa Liba is a luxurious retreat on Meganisi Island, Greece, in the Ionian Sea. This residence accommodates 6 guests across 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, offering contemporary elegance. The villa features a spacious terrace, garden furniture, pergola, infinity swimming pool with a jacuzzi, outdoor kitchen, and a panoramic sea-view rooftop. Inside guests will find well-appointed bedrooms, a living room, and an equipped kitchen. The home is located a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute bike or car ride from Vathy village, known for its authentic fishing port and specialty restaurants.

Stylish Getaway in Dubai 

This luxurious apartment located in Dubai accommodates up to 4 guests. This residence is located in the prestigious Creek Harbour neighborhood with stunning views of the marina and central park. The space features 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Guests can enjoy an elegant living room, balcony, and world-class amenities like a gym, swimming pool, and 24-hour security in the high-end building, complete with a designated parking spot. Dubai Creek Harbour provides a perfect blend of natural beauty, luxury living, and cultural significance, making it an ideal destination for travelers.

The post Discover Unique Homes and Sustainable Getaways with HomeExchange Collection appeared first on Green Prophet.

For some years having a B Corp certification in the United States meant you were leading the competition on how to build a sustainable business. Is it organic? Do you pay your adult workers a fair wage? Are you reducing the carbon cycle of your product in a meaningful way? Can you see 100 years into the future? If you passed a series of challenges, and paid the yearly dues, you could join the B Corp club. 

But the Fair World Project – a fair trade advocacy organization and certification watchdog – is calling bluff on B Corp. By letting Nespresso wear the badge of honor as a B Corp company, they petition, the trusted B Corp label is no longer meaningful.

“There’s a long history of certifications getting co-opted by corporations as they reach the mainstream,” says Dana Geffner, Executive Director of Fair World Project. “We’ve seen it with fair trade certification as well as with organics. Unfortunately, Nespresso’s certification suggests that B Corp Certification is heading that way as well.”

Among those calling to retract B Corp status from Nespresso, which makes the polluting coffee pods, are other ethical coffee brands and sustainable businesses such as Cooperative Coffees, Exilior Coffee, Peace Coffee, and Thanksgiving Coffee Company.

Dr. Bronner’s, Grove Collaborative, LAUDE the Label, and Lotus Foods have also signed the letter to B Lab Global, the organization that runs the B Corp certification process and label.

Here is the Nespresso B Corp marketing page they list on their site with a score of 84.

The companies against Nespresso joining as a B Corp collectively write: 

“The fact that Nespresso can achieve a score that allows them to be certified as a B Corp and use the Certification to greenwash its business model and practices demonstrates that the B Impact Assessment scoring system and certification process is in serious need of repair.”

Nespresso produces single-serve coffee capsules. George Clooney who is a part owner of the company along with Nestlé is “saddened by child labor on Nespresso farms’ – article from 2020. While they do provide a bag to encourage recycling of their pods, few people bother to do it. But there are bigger problems than that:

Nespresso received B Corp status on May 2022 and this is “despite a recent history of human rights violations on farms that grow their coffee including child labor, wage theft, and abuse of factory workers,” writes the Fair World Project in a press briefing they sent Green Prophet.

B Lab, a non-profit organization, created and awards the B Corp certification to for-profit companies that voluntarily meet certain standards of transparency, accountability, sustainability, and performance, with an aim to “Be a Force for Good” in the business community and create value for society beyond shareholder profits.

One example: In 2018, Peace Coffee was named among B Lab’s “Best For Community” list, which includes businesses that earned a Community score in the top 10 percent on the B Impact Assessment. 

“We take the commitment to be ‘In it for Good’ seriously,” says Lee Wallace,” CEO of Peace Coffee. “It shapes every aspect of our business, from the way we reinvest profits with the farmer cooperatives who grow our coffee to our commitment to bike delivery and giving back to our local community. That’s not been the norm in a coffee industry historically defined by the likes of Nestlé’s Nespresso—but we think it should be.”

The Fair World Project members say they are concerned and that Certified B Corp brands should hold higher standards to avoid “greenwashing” by the certification. They are calling that the greater Certified B Corp community demand the same. 

“B Corp certification should take account of historically exploitative companies who do not take care of the people and communities impacted by their supply chains,” says David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s, the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America and third-highest scoring Certified B Corp overall, who also signed onto the letter.

“The entire fair trade movement was born to address inequities and exploitation in the coffee supply chains of major CPGs like Nestlé, Nespresso’s parent. Given Nespresso’s recent and egregious track record of sourcing from coffee farms engaging in documented human rights abuses, it is disappointing that the brand was granted B Corp status.”

How can B Corps do better? Fair World offers some ideas:

After the announcement was made that Nespresso received B Corp Certification, Fair World Project published “Nespresso: Known for Human Rights Violations, Now B Corp Certified,” an article further detailing the issues surrounding the company’s dismal track record on human rights and the environment, authored by Anna Canning, Campaigns Manager of Fair World Project. 
 
“We’re seeing a grim trend of B Corp certified companies engaging in union-busting and other violations of working people’s fundamental rights,” says Canning. “Is B Lab going to take action, or is their certification going to become yet another way for companies to rebrand the exploitative status quo as ethical?”

Are you a registered B Corp against Nespresso joining your league? Sign the petition here. 

We’ve reached out to Nespresso for comment. 
 

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