The subject can seem daunting but there is a strong business sense for embracing it, says Barrhead Travel president Jacqueline Dobson
Sustainability: it’s the word on every business leader’s radar, regardless of industry. Most of us know we’re living beyond our environmental means and that there’s a time-led pressure to make big changes. Yet despite a widespread acknowledgement that it is untenable to deprioritise sustainability initiatives, the scale of the issue is so big that, in my opinion, it can be difficult to identify a manageable starting point.
The travel industry is incredibly invested in developing sustainable and responsible initiatives – after all, it’s in our interests to protect and preserve our world. Tourism is a powerful force for good and I think it’s one of the few industries that can make such purposeful impacts across global communities.
Sustainability innovation in travel is also fascinating. Whether you follow the journey of sustainable aviation and the technology being deployed to make air travel cleaner and more efficient, or keep on top of how international hotel groups are harnessing the power of local produce for more‑responsible experiences, it is clear there is real progress being made.
I’ll be honest: when we first started investigating how we could comprehensively deliver a sustainable strategy with real intent, it was a daunting process.
Pre-2020, we had engaged in numerous initiatives, such as Make Holidays Greener and Travelife, and we got behind drastically reducing single-use plastics across our network circa 2018. But the issue of sustainability in travel is vast and, as business leaders, I know that tackling topics like this can seem formidable, particularly against a backdrop of existing industry challenges.
Sustainability committee
In the summer of 2021, and in recognition of the COP26 conference being hosted in Glasgow, our home city, we refocused our attention on how we could incorporate sustainability into our overarching business strategy. Forming a sustainability committee with interdepartmental representation helped pinpoint areas we hadn’t previously considered from a sustainability perspective.
It also makes good business sense to embrace sustainable practices – for efficiencies, savings and reputation
Investing in external training for our committee was hugely beneficial. It helped us to comprehend the bigger climate picture while appreciating the fact that every action matters, no matter how small. Don’t let budgets deter you as there are plenty of really informative free resources (both within and beyond the industry) to help you understand how you can make a difference. We found that joining sustainability focus groups in the Glasgow business community, for example, was very helpful.
Small changes
In fact, what we hadn’t appreciated as a retail business was just how quickly the small things accumulated to make a significant impact. Long lists of suggestions quickly developed into key pillars and projects. We looked at everything, from printing paper to plastic cups and from soap dispensers to customer documentation, and the outcomes were fascinating.
We made major strides in reducing single-use waste across our network and cutting our printing by about 60%. But more than that, we also found that conducting investigations through a sustainability lens helped us identify process efficiencies which have saved us time and resulted in better customer experiences.
I think the way we view sustainability in business must change too. Of course, there’s the altruistic side, where our actions can benefit the environment and our world. But it also makes good business sense to embrace sustainable business practices – for efficiencies, for savings, for reputation and for potential future investment.
So, here’s my advice if you want to take meaningful action in the name of sustainability but don’t quite know where to begin: you don’t need to make elaborate gestures to see important change.
There is never an action that’s too small or too insignificant. Sustainability is scalable. Simply getting your ideas down on paper can be enough of a starting point to inspire change.
More: Register to attend Travel Weekly’s Sustainability Summit on November 24