Adventure operator Explore has labelled every one of its 515 trips with individually calculated carbon emissions.
It claims the initiative is the largest carbon measurement project of its kind in the travel industry.
The operator has worked with ecollective – which specialises in measuring carbon footprints – to measure emissions of every tour, including transport, accommodation, activities and leaders, as well as all operational activities involved in running the businesses in the UK and globally.
The project involved calculating emissions for 1,853 accommodation providers; 24 transport types; 163 ferry journeys; 860 city tours; more than 27,000 staff commutes; and almost 262,000 printed marketing materials, such as brochures and mailings.
Michael Edwards, Explore managing director, said the product team worked “tirelessly” for months to get “accurate, scientific measurements” for the operator’s entire global programme.
“Now, with a clear understanding of how our trips impact the planet, the hard work continues as we work alongside our partners and suppliers to start bringing these totals down,” he said.
The operator aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% before 2030 and is offsetting all its trips with ClimateCare.
It has launched a Clear on Carbon campaign, to tell consumers about the carbon measurement of holidays and urging other tourism businesses to follow suit.
Edwards added: “Working together as an industry, we’re stronger and more able to bring about change. We know the methodology is there, so really there’s no excuse now not to be completely transparent with our customers.”
The operator has invited the industry to look into its methodology at explore.co.uk/carbon and ask for advice, and agents can find out more from Explore’s agency sales team.
Pictured: Upper Berounka natural park in the Czech Republic. By Kletr/Shutterstock