MAKING TRAVEL MATTER NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
TTC is not simply united as a family of brands, it is also united by a shared vision to help make the world a better place. It’s a philosophy that TTC works hard to ensure is woven throughout all that they do. TreadRight has been instrumental in powering TTC’s continuing sustainability journey and has helped guide the actions, initiatives, and best practices TTC has implemented in order to reduce its impact on our incredible planet.
Carbon offsetting is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gasses made in order to compensate for (or offset) an emission made elsewhere. Carbon offsets are usually measured in tonnes of CO2-equivalents (also known as CO2e) and can be bought and sold through international brokers and online platforms.
The idea that we could effectively cancel out our own greenhouse gas emissions by paying for projects that reduce greenhouse gasses overall was first born in the early years of climate change discussion and has had a rocky journey to effectiveness. Carbon offsetting ran into problems in its early days as many carbon offsetting programs – though well intentioned – came up short or proved themselves unreliable as the voluntary offset market is largely unregulated. However, carbon offsetting has advanced in the years since its earliest stumbles and today there are a number of leading carbon offset vendors that have been validated and verified for their effectiveness and transparency by reputable third party organizations. Today, carbon offsetting is a viable way to help combat climate change for travellers, as long as you do your due diligence.
If you’re looking to offset your carbon footprint for an upcoming or previous travel experience, The TreadRight Foundation recommends the following organizations: Conservation International Carbon Fund: Conservation International’s Carbon Fund invests in sustainable landscapes that help combat climate change by reducing deforestation and conserving critical ecosystem services — the services we need to grow and prosper as a society. These include food and timber, as well as clean water, livable climates, recreation and renewable forms of energy. myclimate: myclimate is a partner for effective climate protection – both locally and globally. The Swiss Non-Profit Organisation wants to shape the future together with its partners through consultation, education and climate protection projects. myclimate pursues this as a science-based and business-orientated non-profit organisation. The Nature Conservancy: Contributions to The Nature Conservancy’s carbon offset program help fund forest conservation, improved forest management or reforestation projects that produce measurable climate benefits. Projects in this program help reduce or slow climate change and protect habitats and the natural services they provide. Rainforest Concern – Forest Credits: Forest Credits is an initiative of Rainforest Concern set up to enable individuals and businesses to acknowledge and address their impact on the environment by using the unique power of forests to lock up carbon while also delivering biodiversity and local community benefits.
As part of our continuing journey to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come, the TreadRight Animal Welfare Policy will help us to ensure that all experiences offered by The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands meet globally recognized animal welfare criteria. Wildlife has, and will continue to have, a substantial role in the travel experience. Coming face-to-face with extraordinary animals like elephants, tigers and dolphins for the first time is an irreplaceable experience. However, many travellers are unfamiliar with the issues many animals face as a result of tourism development. In many cases, the welfare of the animal is compromised and the experience for both the traveller and the animal is not positive Based on the Five Freedoms, a compact of rights for animals under human control, the TreadRight Animal Welfare Policy asserts that animals under human control should have:
Easy access to food and water designed to meet animals specific dietary needs for optimum health
Animals must be provided with an environment consistent with their needs, including shelter from the elements
By prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment
The provision of sufficient space, appropriate “natural” facilities and the company of animals of its own kind
The provision of conditions and treatment that avoid mental suffering This policy will assist our operations teams as they vet and assess all animal related activities TTC offers. Those rare activities that may not be in line with the TreadRight Animal Welfare Policy will be phased out and replaced with activities that meet our standards. In concert with the introduction of the TreadRight Animal Welfare Policy, TTC, on behalf of its family of brands, signed World Animal Protection’s Elephant-friendly Tourism Pledge, committing to not sell, offer or promote venues or activities involving elephant rides and shows, and committing to proactively communicate this commitment to protect elephants to customers, and encourage elephant-friendly tourism.
Our e-documents initiative was implemented with the goal of reducing TTC’s environmental footprint. E-documents are the same as paper documents, except we’re able to save trees by delivering them electronically, rather than having to print and ship them, which leaves a much larger carbon footprint. This also means guests have access to their documents whenever they want, without having to wait to receive them, accessing them from your mobile device, making it even more user-friendly. As part of this important e-documents initiative, we’ve partnered with One Tree Planted, a leading not-for-profit organization focused on global reforestation. For every one of our valued guests who chooses to opt for e-documents rather than paper documents, One Tree Planted will plant a tree in a destination of their choosing in North America, Latin America, Asia, or Africa. To date, more than 100,000 trees have been planted as part of TTC/TreadRight’s e-documents initiative with One Tree Planted.
The TreadRight Foundation has the privilege of working with a number of leading authorities on sustainable tourism worldwide. Much of the work that we are involved with supports the sharing of sustainable tourism guide and pledges to travellers, and the industry at large. The following is a list of resources that we have either supported the development of, or have come to rely on ourselves as we continue to work to make travel matter.
The following checklist, developed by the TreadRight Foundation, is a simple way to become a more considerate traveler.