Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media

Houston’s FIFA World Cup host committee is creating a new sustainability tour guide ahead of the international soccer tournament this summer. Businesses across the region can apply through the end of February to be included.

The initiative is for hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services to commit to environmentally sustainable practices ahead of the World Cup, which begins in June and will include seven matches at Houston’s NRG Stadium. Businesses that are successfully certified by the committee can get into a sustainable tour guide for visitors to the World Cup.

“This is about making sustainable practices accessible and impactful for our local hospitality community,” said Elizabeth Carlson, the host committee’s sustainability chair. “The FIFA World Cup is a once-a-generation opportunity, and through ‘New Year, New Hou,’ we want to help Houston businesses not only prepare for an influx of global visitors, but also strengthen their operations in ways that will benefit them and the community long after the final match is played.”

In order to qualify, businesses have to commit to a certain level of sustainable practices as outlined by the host committee, along with filling out an online survey. The more sustainable commitments, the greater the qualification.

Those sustainable practices largely fall into four categories: waste, energy, transportation and nature initiatives. The Houston host committee lists different practices, with different levels of commitment, that businesses can adopt to earn a “sustainability badge.”

For example, when it comes to waste initiatives, business can make a low-effort commitment, like replacing Styrofoam containers with recyclable packaging; a medium-effort commitment, like partnering with private recycling providers; or a high-effort commitment, like offering a reuse or “bring your own” container program.

In order to receive the highest-level sustainability badge, businesses must apply for certification from an outside sustainability organization, like the Green Restaurant Association or Green Key.

The program is open to all hotels, motels and restaurants that are based within the Houston-Galveston Area Council boundaries. The application process is open through Feb. 28.