My sustainable travel goals
Running a Travel business and working already with many travel partners that are leading the way with social and environmental impact at their heart, made me assess where I sit within this and the part I can play. We all have a personal responsibility for day to day changes, however as a business owner in an industry that encourages us to see the world – well lets ensure we do this responsibly !
2022 saw a huge demand for travel, my busiest year to date. My own travels increased and that of many of my clients, a positive after all the restrictions we have had imposed on us the last few years, however this does come at a cost on our environment so it focused me on the CO2 emissions angle. I also had the opportunity to experience a truly authentic and sustainable travel experience in Morocco last year which has further endorsed my own desire to create and experience travel with a much more responsible approach.
I have now committed to tracking all my travel with www.trees4travel.com, a simple tool that many travel industry providers now work with, and great for your own personal use. This has enabled me to calculate the total CO2 emissions from the flights, rail and accommodation of my own trips taken during the last year. A total of 13,223.3 kg - Quite an eye opener !
By planting more trees we can together help to reduce the effects of our travel, by planting the right number of trees to make equivalent reductions in developing countries around the world. This equated to 81 trees planted for my own travel in 2022 ! Trees are one of the most powerful absorbers of carbon emissions; by planting trees in developing countries as we travel, we also help to restore ecosystems, biodiversity & support local communities.
Travelling responsibly includes making the right travel choices, this might be alternative modes of transport; for example maybe making a train journey over an internal flight option or choosing a hotel that has clear policies about how they meet sustainability standards. We already have in house “Green leaf” identification to help us plan your travels with this in mind.
The Travel Counsellors cutting edge technology allows me to send all quotes and itineraries digitally. Including the MyTC app, a must have for all travellers and the reason we can move forwards to paper less travel, something as a business I will also be focusing more on this year.
My goals consist of:
1. To show my clients how they can offset the impact of their travel and compensate for their carbon emissions by joining me in planting trees plus supporting investment in renewable energy projects worldwide.
2. To run a sustainable business where my home office works in a way that is more eco-friendly, reducing paper usage and other areas that reduce my carbon footprint.
3. To educate and help my clients make more sustainable travel choices.
I look forward to travelling more responsibly with you in 2023, I commit to finding the perfect solutions to create authentic experiences that support the local community and look forward to helping you calculate your carbon footprint, offset your carbon emissions, and know that you are working with a business that ensures we do good as we explore the world.