Background Tour operators often influence the choices of consumers, practices of suppliers and the development within tourist destinations. Through their unique position they can make an important contribution to promote sustainable development and protect environmental and cultural resources. Objectives The main objective of this LIFE-Environment project concentrated on demonstrating the effectiveness of coordinating improved common branding for eco-tourism products throughout tour operator supply chains. The project goals were to be achieved within a partnership framework of tourism support bodies from Spain, Netherlands, UK, Austria, Denmark and Sweden. Results Outputs from the project have been successful and make valuable contributions to the aims of the EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy published in June 2007. A range of new information tools have been tested and made available for suppliers and consumers of tourism products. These tools have been designed to be practical and cost effective, providing a broad range of targeted information on sustainability issues, delivered through three different webs sites. www.its4travel.com provides information services for tourists on sustainability issues in order to help consumers make responsible travel choices based on the new “Travellife” classification system that has been introduced by the LIFE project. The Travelife award system enables suppliers to achieve a bronze, silver or gold award on basis of their sustainability score and these awards have been included in the brochures of large tour operators such as Virgin and TUI. Scoring criteria for the awards involve assessment of both environmental and socio-economic factors, such as improved working conditions for employees in the tourism sector and protecting vulnerable groups in society. Information for tourism suppliers is also provided on the web site about a new “Sustainability System” that was developed with LIFE support. This device was designed to help tour operators achieve sustainable supply chain management objectives by encouraging suppliers to monitor their own environmental and social performance. Through a series of guidance materials and automated tools, the Sustainability System enables tour operators to analyse and communicate the sustainability performance of their supply chain. www.travelife.eu is a web-based capacity building facility for tour operators which offers access to handbooks and training courses that raise awareness on tourism impacts, with an aim to ensure that tourism companies know how to benefit the countries that their customers visit. Other services on the web site include access to action planning methodologies that involve concrete steps to promote sustainability and also allow tour operators’ associations to monitor their member’s commitments. Business 2 Business support is offered via a database of sustainable tourism suppliers. The list of products include accommodation, community-based tourism products, inbound tour operators, protected areas and sustainable destinations. www.greentravelmarket.info provides tour operators, travel media, suppliers and other tourism professionals with comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date information on sustainable tourism products that are currently available on the global marketplace. Products are screened using a set of quality and sustainability criteria that draw on recognised certification schemes. All of these tools continue to be managed, strengthened and promoted by the LIFE project partners who aim to establish a new Travelife organisation that will ensure a sustainable legacy for the LIFE work. Other on-going cooperation commitments have been made by LIFE partners to build on their quality standard work and progress the concept of a common EU Ecolabel. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).