The travel industry must avoid external “distractions” to seek measurable impact against climate change.
The call from the sustainability chief of The Travel Corporation (TTC) came as the organisation released its second annual impact report, detailing progress a five-year sustainability strategy.
The How We Tread Right initiative, launched in September 2020, covers 11 sustainable travel goals for the group’s multiple brands, including Trafalgar, Contiki, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Insight Vacations and Red Carnation Hotels.
Shannon Guihan, chief sustainability officer and head of sustainable tourism offshoot TreadRight, said: “While we’re immensely proud of the impact we achieved in 2022, we’re equally aware of the work that remains ahead of us.
“TTC’s carbon fund, launched last year and detailed in this impact report, moves beyond the leadership of achieving near-term, long-term and net zero validated targets, and illustrates how we intend to make this transition, in real terms.
“The sector needs to avoid the many distractions that are out there towards real change and seek measurable impact, which is exactly what we are focused on.”
The carbon fund is designed to enable investment in green technologies selected for their ability to decarbonise the business.
TTC listed the replacement of a goal to become carbon neutral by 2030 with the more ambitious target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as one of the “most notable” achievements.
Other issues designed to address TTC’s impact on climate include food, waste, travel experiences, diversity, equity and inclusion, and wildlife.
The group reported progress towards achieving an ambition of sourcing 50% of electricity from renewable sources and reducing food waste by half by 2025 as it prioritises decarbonisation.
Five additional offices and accommodations have switched to renewable sources to bring the total to 26, and UK sightseeing tours arm Evan Evans introducing its first zero-emission electric vehicle.
The business accessed 44% of total global electricity needs from renewable sources, up 20% over the previous year.
Combined food waste savings last year equated to more than 284,000 meals with new technologies implemented at 20 additional Red Carnation Hotels and Uniworld ships.
The group’s non-profit TreadRight Foundation last year funded nature-based solutions GreenWave and Project Vesta for the second consecutive year.
This was in addition to community development and wildlife conservation initiatives such as Rainbow Railroad, the Tourism Pathways Project, Lakota Youth Development, Wilderness Foundation Africa and Wild Entrust.