TUI sustainable development policy
Our approach
As a part of TUI Travel our commitment to sustainable development is articulated through one of the four key ‘TUI Spirit’ values that drive all TUI businesses - Responsible Leadership: “We are committed to sustainable development and to making a positive impact both on society and the environment.”TUI Travel’s sustainable development strategy focuses on the key issues affecting the company, now and in the future.
Our CSR policy is based on four priorities:
- Carbon management
- Destinations
- Our People
- Our Customers
Group Sustainable Development Policy
VisionTo make travel experiences special while ensuring they cause minimal environmental impact, respect the culture and people of destinations and offer real economic benefit to local communities.
Policy
As the leading school expedition company, we recognize that the environment, communities and cultures within which we operate are vital to the success of our business. Responsible Leadership is one of the company’s core values, and underlines our commitment to sustainable development and to making a positive impact on society.
We therefore commit in the long term to:
- Embed sustainable development principles into core business practices throughout World Challenge
- Use the collective influence of TUI Travel to drive sustainability within the educational travel sector
- Understand and respect the needs of our stakeholders, including customers, colleagues, shareholders, suppliers, industry partners and local communities
- Comply with all relevant legislation, act in advance of it where possible, and keep pace with best practice
- Prevent pollution wherever possible, and continually improve our environmental performance, specifically by reducing our carbon emissions through work program with our aircraft, water transport, hotels, ground transport and office spaces
- Optimize our expeditions’ environmental, economic and social impact, by embedding sustainability into our supply chain and initiating activities that protect and restore the natural environment and enhance local livelihoods
- Provide information, training and support to colleagues, gaining their commitment to taking action on sustainable development issues
- Encourage our customers to choose more sustainable options, and to take action to reduce their negative impacts and maximize their positive impacts in destinations
Case studies
Below are some examples of sustainable development activities that World Challenge has undertaken and others taking place across the TUI Travel Group.1,500 trees sponsored - Bedsonline
Colleges, schools and local people will plant 1,500 trees in the Malaga National Park thanks to Bedsonline’s electronic invoicing project in Spain, in partnership with the Almijara Environmental Group. Over 20 years, the trees are expected to take in 30 to 50 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Reducing carbon from water transport – Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions has a comprehensive program to reduce carbon emissions, including adopting new and cleaner technologies as they become available, upgrading equipment and strengthening their standard operating procedures to mitigate the impact of their expeditions.
Fair trade chocolate excursion - TUI Western Europe
In 2009, TUI Nederland began to sell a fair trade chocolate excursion in the Dominican Republic, developed in partnership with the Dutch development organizations Cordaid and PASEO to generate additional income for the local cacao farmers. Ten farmers and more than thirty women have been trained as guides on the tour.
Blue Train holiday experience - TUI Nordic
TUI Nordic has developed a train charter holiday package which is less carbon intensive than flying, reducing the environmental impact of customers’ travel to their holiday destination. The ‘Blue Train’ experience takes customers on an overnight train from Malmo in Sweden to many resorts across Europe.
Awards
TUI Travel PLC is listed on the FTSE4Good Index for meeting strict social, environmental and governance standards. We were also the top-placed travel company in the 2008 Good Companies Guide, The Observer’s annual ethical ranking of FTSE350 companies.Our commitment to sustainable development as a group has been recognized with a number of recent awards:
2009
World Travel Awards – World's Responsible Tourism Award, TUI Travel PLC
Travel Feather Awards – Green Feather, TUI Nederland
British Travel Awards – Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible Large Tour Operator, First Choice
British Travel Awards – Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible Airline, Thomson Airways
TTG Travel Awards – Travel Gives Back, TUI UK & Ireland (pictured is TUI UK's Nick Longman, second from left)
2008
Responsible Tourism Awards – Best Tour Operator (highly commended), First Choice
British Travel Awards – Most Environmentally Responsible Large Tour Operator, First Choice
British Travel Awards – Most Environmentally Responsible Airline, First Choice Airways
TTG Travel Awards – Scream If You’re Green (highly commended), TUI UK & Ireland
Co-operative Travel Star Awards – Sustainable Tourism Award, TUI UK & Ireland
2007
Responsible Tourism Awards – Best in a Mountain Environment, Peregrine Adventures (highly commended)
Responsible Tourism Awards – Best Tour Operator, Gecko’s Adventures (First Choice and The Imaginative Traveller were also highly commended in this category)
British Travel Awards – Most Environmentally Responsible Large Tour Operator, First Choice
British Travel Awards – Most Environmentally Responsible Airline, First Choice Airways
Les Trophées du Tourisme Responsable – Company Strategy Award, Nouvelles Frontières
2006
British Travel Awards – Most Environmentally Responsible Airline, First Choice Airways
British Travel Awards – Most Environmentally Responsible Small Tour Operator, Exodus
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