These Travel Companies are Going Sustainable and Tackling Climate Change

September 14, 2019September 15, 2019By
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These Travel Companies are Going Sustainable and Tackling Climate Change

It seems in this day and age, we want to brag, feel we have the right to brag and social media is the perfect venue to hold all our bragging rights. Whether we want to show that we are about to devour a juicy burger from the latest burger joint in town or post photos from our latest Eurotrip, social media has now become the ‘location’ to see and be seen.

Many social media users now use their Instagram accounts to collate their travel experiences and wanderlust-worthy moments. However, these cool camera-carrying Instagram ‘globe-trotters’ are also contributing to climate change.

According to the World Economic Forum, the tourism industry –including flights, hotels, food and even the manufacture of souvenirs– is responsible for eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, roughly 4.5 billion tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Now it’s true that nobody should deny us of our right to travel despite the fact that it comes with a carbon footprint, just as nobody should deny us our right to brag about our travel experiences. Fortunately, there are travel companies that are mindful of the industry’s negative impact and are implementing sustainability initiatives to green their businesses and help support their customer’s lifestyles, making it easier for them to appreciate the world responsibly and limit their environmental impact.

Related Post: My Big Fat Carbon Footprint: Is My Love of Travel Mother Nature’s Worst Nightmare?

Mass tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry, from tour packages, epic beach parties or cruises, travel companies are making big profits. But many do not promote authentic local traditions and nor do they care about the natural resources. Below we list travel and tour companies that promote sustainable tourism, respecting local culture, environment and communities; what tourism ought to be about really.

So without further ado, here are some travel-focussed companies that are dedicated to ending the unsustainable travel craze and focussed on providing travellers with an eco-conscious travel experience:

Kudadoo Maldives Private Island (Resort)

Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is an award-winning adults-only resort located, well, in the Maldives. Awarded best sustainable resort by prestigious hospitality design awards, Hospitality Design and world’s best new luxury hotel for 2018 by the prestigious Luxury Travel Intelligence, this resort is one to put on the bucket list. Architect Yuji Yamazaki’s mission in designing the resort was to combine indulgence and luxury with sustainable elements, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the natural environment (the resort is also located near the world’s largest all-glass underwater restaurant, the 5.8 Undersea Restaurant).

Credit: Kudadoo Maldives Private Island.

The resort is located in the middle of the ocean and is 100 percent powered by the sun. It features roughly 15 gorgeous over-water ocean residences with terrace pools and a personal butler available to you 24/7. It is the ultimate escape where you can dive, swim, have unlimited spa, fine dine or just lap it up in luxury without feeling pangs of ‘eco guilt’ since the environment is at the core of the resort’s values, and the resort is powered on renewable energy. Guilt free, as travel should be.

Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is 100% powered by the sun.

Intrepid Travel (Travel Company)

In 1989, two bearded backpackers in Melbourne launched their humble travel company. Fast forward to today and Intrepid Travel has grown to become the “world’s largest small-group adventure tour company”. It offers thousands of itineraries in over 120 countries, focussed on giving its customers an authentic, small-group sustainable travel experience. As a certified B Corporation this company not only believes in responsible business, but has the planet in mind too, taking action to become a climate-positive business by carbon offsetting all of their trips.

Credit: Intrepid Travel.

Intrepid has been a carbon-neutral business for nine years. With 42 carbon-neutral offices and offsetting more than 2000 trips per day, it is serious in its environmental commitment. Last year Intrepid Travel offset 34,924 tonnes of carbon emissions. Standing ovation anyone?

Intrepid Travel has pioneered women-only expeditions in Morocco, Iran and Jordan.

Kynder Travel  (Travel Platform)

Launched in April 2017 by founder Louree Maya, Kynder Travel is a travel platform and directory that exclusively promotes and features independent and eco-conscious hospitality establishments. This online resource carefully curates establishments so that travellers can search for accommodation, eateries, coffee houses and tour experiences with kind, eco-conscious and community-loving values. Kynder Travel allows you to experience good while doing something good and supporting good all at the same time.

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‘These 5 sustainable travel destinations will save the world’ Here’s one of the 5! ?? . At @peruecocamp you can nest in your very own eco geodesic dome, trek the Andes, and enjoy a full sit-down and sustainably-made meal at camp! ? . Click the LINK IN BIO for a nice bit of press we attained for our Kynder member Peru EcoCamp ? Thanks a million to Gentleman’s Journal for including this remarkable hospitality company ?? .?? Just a few more super cool details about Peru Eco Camp: . ?They use organic fertilizers and compost produced by the waste of fruits and vegetables from the kitchen. ?Camps are powered by solar energy and water turbine systems. ?Water is filtered and treated with UV light so it is safe to drink the tap water, reducing the use of plastic bottles. ?Liquid waste is filtered and then goes back into the ground. Whole waste goes into a container with a biodegradable system and once a year, this container is emptied, with the compost is used for reforestation. .?? So great to see sustainability taken seriously! Anyone inspired to glamp eco-Peruvian style? ? . . ?: @peruecocamp?? .?? .?? .?? .?? .?? #peru #sustainabletravel #ecotravel #trek #greentravel #wellnessjourney #mindfultravel #traveldeeper #ecotourism #southamericatravel #staykynder #naturetravel #wanderlusters #glamping #luxurytraveler #igerssouthamerica #peruecocamp #geodesicdome #southamericanadventure #epictravels #ethicaltravel #peruvian #travelgirl #ecoblogger #glamper #visitperu #travelperu #peru??

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Each establishment on this travel platform has been reviewed and accepted based on ethical and sustainable considerations such as following eco/ethical/humane practices including: the use of organic products, fair/direct trade products, energy/water conservation, waste reduction, humanely-raised meats, sustainable seafood, vegan options, local sourcing, and ethical standards for purveyors.

Eco Explorations (Eco-Tour Operator)

Eco Explorations, a sustainable tour operator which arranges responsible tours to natural areas in the Philippines, was founded on a mission to conserve natural heritage, biodiversity and improve the lives of Filipino people, especially the indigenous communities.

All eco-friendly tours by Eco Explorations contribute to reforestation and wildlife conservation projects. In addition, they aim to provide socioeconomic benefits through solutions that will uplift the lives of the partner communities they work with such as through the provision of clean water or setting up sustainable livelihood projects.

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Happy World Indigenous Day! This year’s Indigenous Day theme is on Indigenous Languages. “The large majority of the languages in danger are spoken by indigenous peoples. It is estimated that, every 2 weeks, an indigenous language disappears, placing at risk the respective indigenous cultures and knowledge systems. That is why, on this International Day, the goal is to draw attention to the critical loss of indigenous languages and the urgent need to preserve, revitalize and promote them at both national and international levels.”- United Nations May we all work towards that. Dahil kahit sila pa man ay Mangyan, Tagakaulo, Igorot, Bagobo, Aeta, o Dumagat, lahat tayo ay galing sa isang lahi. Sana ay magsama-sama tayong lahat upang mapagtanggol ang masasabi nating SARILING ATIN. Read more about this year’s theme of preserving Indigenous Languages: https://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/ Photos by @gabmejia @hard_boiled_gregg @nellal #IndigenousDay #IndigenousPeoplesDay #IndigenousLanguages

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“One of our goals is to inspire a movement of Eco Explorers who do not only become educated about environment and culture through our eco-tours, but are also inspired to take proactive action to join our mission.” – Nella Lomotan, Founder of Eco Explorations

Eco Explorations also aims to provide renewable sources of energy to communities without access to electricity through partnerships with companies such as Hybrid Solutions. Recently, the eco-tour company was able to install solar panels in the Tamaraw Ranger station up in the mountains for local communities that had no electricity.

These are just a few of the sustainable travel companies that deserve your support. By becoming more responsible, mindful and conscious in your travel choices, your trips will have more depth and meaning and bragging about those Instagram-worthy travel posts will bring more substance to your bragging.

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Feature image via Kudadoo Maldives Private Island.

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