In a world facing increasing environmental challenges, it is imperative that we take responsibility for our actions and make conscious choices that benefit both the planet and local communities. As the Sustainable Travel Company of the Year, we are committed to creating positive impact through sustainable travel practices. Our mission is to maximize the benefits for local communities, reduce our carbon footprint, support carbon removal projects, donate to environmental initiatives, empower communities through the Explore Foundation, make our head office more sustainable, encourage our staff to adopt sustainable practices, promote sustainable marketing, protect wildlife, and contribute to reforestation efforts. Join us on this journey as we explore the various ways in which we prioritize sustainability in every aspect of our operations.

1. Maximizing Positive Impact on Local Communities

At the core of our travel philosophy is the belief that sustainable travel should benefit local communities. We achieve this by traveling in small groups, which minimizes our impact on destinations. Additionally, we prioritize staying in locally owned and managed establishments and eating at local restaurants. By doing so, we not only support local businesses but also provide our customers with authentic experiences and a respectful insight into local life. Our activities are carefully chosen to promote community-run initiatives, ensuring that our customers can have meaningful interactions with locals and contribute to the local economy.

2. Reducing Our Carbon Footprint

We understand that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint. In 2022, we introduced carbon footprint measurements on all our tours to gain a better understanding of our impact. With this data in hand, we have been working tirelessly to reduce our emissions throughout our program and operations. Our goal is to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, with a 7% reduction target for this year.

To achieve these targets, we have made significant changes to our travel itineraries. For example, we have replaced domestic flights with more sustainable alternatives, such as rail journeys. We have also collaborated with our suppliers and agents globally to encourage them to join us on this carbon reduction journey. Together, we are making informed choices to reduce our carbon footprint and create a greener future.

3. Partnering with Klimate for Carbon Removal

In our commitment to move beyond traditional offsetting, we have partnered with Klimate, a trusted organization that manages a portfolio of carefully chosen and monitored carbon removal projects. While offsetting focuses on avoiding emissions, carbon removal technologies and processes actively lower the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere. For every person that travels with us, we make a contribution to Klimate, supporting their efforts in carbon removal.

4. Donating to Rewilding Britain

As a UK-based company, we understand the importance of protecting and restoring the natural environment in our own backyard. That is why, in addition to our partnership with Klimate, we also make a donation to Rewilding Britain for every customer booking. The UK is currently considered one of the most nature-depleted countries, with many species facing decline and extinction. By supporting Rewilding Britain, we are investing in initiatives that aim to restore and protect the natural environment. To date, we have donated over £15,000 to Rewilding Britain, and we are committed to increasing this contribution.

5. The Explore Foundation: Making a Positive Impact

In our pursuit of making a positive impact, we have established the Explore Foundation. As a registered charity, the Foundation is managed by an independent Board of Trustees, benefiting from our vast network of overseas partners and contacts. Through this network, we identify and support projects in countries that our customers visit, delivering support where it is most needed. The Explore Foundation focuses on grassroots projects that address poverty, improve access to education and healthcare, and promote conservation. By covering all administration costs, we ensure that 100% of donations to the Foundation go directly to supporting these projects.

The Foundation’s launch was met with incredible success when we raised over £50,000 for the Red Cross through an earthquake appeal following the Morocco earthquake. This demonstrates the power of our community and the impact we can make together.

6. Building a Sustainable Head Office

Sustainability is not just limited to our travel operations; we are also committed to making our head office more sustainable. To minimize waste, we work with a specialist waste company to sort and dispose of our recycling using eco-friendly methods. Our office is equipped with solar panels, allowing us to harness renewable energy. We also use plant-based cleaning products, ensuring that our cleaning practices align with our sustainability goals. In our effort to promote biodiversity, we have built a new cycle store with a green roof that we will be planting. Additionally, we have incorporated bee-friendly plants around our car park to support pollinators.

To further reduce our carbon footprint, we have made the decision to close the office on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. During these days, our team works from home, reducing commutes and minimizing energy consumption.

7. Encouraging Staff to Embrace Sustainability

We understand that sustainability is a collective effort, and we encourage our staff to embrace sustainable practices. We have implemented a low-carbon staff transport policy, which allows employees to claim additional days’ leave when they choose lower carbon transport options for their personal trips and holidays. Furthermore, we have installed electric vehicle chargers at our office and are working with Octopus on an electric vehicle scheme for our staff. We also support alternative modes of transportation through our existing Cycle to Work scheme and contributions towards rail fares for those who commute by train.

8. Making Sustainable Marketing Choices

Our commitment to sustainability extends to our marketing efforts. We have taken steps to reduce the environmental impact of our marketing materials by reducing brochure sizes and print runs. Instead of automatically mailing brochures, we now offer them by request and provide online access to digital brochures. This has resulted in a significant reduction in our brochure pagination and print runs. We have also made sustainable choices when designing our exhibition stand for travel shows. By reusing equipment and utilizing natural and recycled materials, we have minimized waste and promoted sustainability.

When selecting digital tools and partners, we prioritize companies that share our values. For instance, we have collaborated with Good Loop to create digital ads that generate profits for charity through clicks. We also choose digital agencies that demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, such as those with B-corp accreditation. Transparency is key in our communications, and we strive to ensure that 20% of our messages have purpose-led content. We share our successes, challenges, and ongoing initiatives with our customers, drawing attention to causes and initiatives around the world that we support.

9. Animal Protection Policy: Keeping Wildlife Wild

As advocates for responsible and ethical travel, we have implemented an Animal Protection Policy to ensure the welfare of wildlife. Our policy emphasizes a no-contact approach, prohibiting interactions with animals during our trips. To ensure compliance, we have implemented a traffic light system that categorizes every animal interaction on our tours. This system is independently audited annually, ensuring that we maintain the highest standards of animal welfare.

10. Partnering with Ecologi for Reforestation

Recognizing the importance of reforestation in combating climate change, we have partnered with Ecologi, an organization dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and planting trees. Ecologi’s ambitious goal is to reduce global CO2 emissions by 50% by 2040 and plant a billion trees. As a nature-positive way of expressing gratitude and rewarding our Platinum loyalty club members, we plant a tree for every customer who becomes a member. This partnership allows us to contribute to reforestation efforts and create a greener future.

Conclusion

As the Sustainable Travel Company of the Year, our commitment to sustainability goes beyond mere words. We prioritize local communities, reduce our carbon footprint, support carbon removal projects, donate to environmental initiatives, empower communities through the Explore Foundation, make our head office more sustainable, encourage staff to adopt sustainable practices, promote sustainable marketing, protect wildlife, and contribute to reforestation efforts. Traveling sustainably is not just a choice; it is a responsibility. Together, let us create a future where travel and sustainability go hand in hand, making a positive impact on the planet and local communities. Join us on this journey and experience the transformative power of sustainable travel.