The rapid rise of home-sharing and peer-to-peer accommodation has exposed new opportunities and issues in the hospitality industry. Given the heightened attention to and awareness of environmental issues in tourism and hospitality, this study explored the likelihood and motivations of Airbnb hosts towards participating in an environmental certification program. Currently, there are no such programs associated with Airbnb or this sector of the sharing economy. As part of this exploratory study, semi-structured interviews with Airbnb hosts in the Greater Toronto Area were conducted to uncover the opinions and motivations of Airbnb hosts towards participating in a potential program, and what program design elements would enhance their likelihood of participation. Results indicated a willingness to participate in an environmental certification program, driven by economic factors and personal values. Host opinions regarding preferred design elements provide insight into factors important to the development and success of such a potential program. Environmental certification is a common tool in tourism to signal environmental commitment by operators, but such a program does not yet exist for home-sharing.

The stewardship of resources for the good of the people is an ancient concept in India, practiced by revered kingdoms. This chapter discusses the original ideals of stewardship and how colonization caused a deterioration of this philosophy in favor of materialistic wealth generation. Colonization followed by the development of an industrialized and capitalistic leaning in the economy brought wealth and increased consumption for Indian people and also created multiple waste-related issues. These issues require a drastic overhaul of waste management practices, with particular attention to industrial ecology. Modern stewardship by India's CSR community is essential to prevent further environmental degradation due to poor waste management practices. The circular economy holds promise as a new economic system and philosophy that can refocus society towards the values of stewardship espoused by the nation's ancestors, while transitioning to a circular economy.

This exploratory, qualitative study was focused on answering three research questions: 1) Would Airbnb homeowner hosts be willing to participate in an environmental certification program? 2) What would motivate Airbnb homeowner hosts to participate in an environmental certification program? 3) What program design elements would enhance the likelihood of their participation in the program? The study used semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews to collect data from Airbnb hosts. Only hosts in the Greater Toronto Area whose property was a freehold, detached or semi-detached house were eligible for participation. Results indicated a willingness to participate in an environmental certification program, with two unique motivations revealed, specifically the ability to attract like-minded guests and measure household impacts. A number of program design elements were also reviewed, with hosts’ concerns focusing on cost and guest comfort. Hosts also expressed a preference for a program that leveraged the existing Airbnb review system.

This exploratory, qualitative study was focused on answering three research questions: 1) Would Airbnb homeowner hosts be willing to participate in an environmental certification program? 2) What would motivate Airbnb homeowner hosts to participate in an environmental certification program? 3) What program design elements would enhance the likelihood of their participation in the program? The study used semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews to collect data from Airbnb hosts. Only hosts in the Greater Toronto Area whose property was a freehold, detached or semi-detached house were eligible for participation. Results indicated a willingness to participate in an environmental certification program, with two unique motivations revealed, specifically the ability to attract like-minded guests and measure household impacts. A number of program design elements were also reviewed, with hosts’ concerns focusing on cost and guest comfort. Hosts also expressed a preference for a program that leveraged the existing Airbnb review system.