SUSTAINABILITY

At Plotpackers, we prioritise sustainability at every stage of our travel experiences. We have huge goals for our sustainability operations as we scale, and we look forward to documenting it all here.

From the very beginning of our operations, we have carefully selected our partners and suppliers who share our commitment to environmentally responsible tourism, from eco-friendly accommodations to low-impact activities. We work to minimise our carbon footprint by promoting low-waste travel and choosing transport options that are less impactful on the environment. Our goal is to create memorable, action-packed adventures that benefit not only our travellers but also the communities and natural landscapes that make each destination unique.

In addressing our environmental impact, we have quickly recognized that simply offsetting our carbon emissions through random projects worldwide is not sufficient. We want our efforts to closely align with the core values of Plotpackers. Therefore, we dedicated time to analysing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identified ten that best matched our mission as a responsible travel company – you can read more about this in our annual sustainability report. All our carbon offsetting initiatives were conducted in alignment with these SDGs, and we opted to offset double our estimated emissions in our first year of operations. We are actively seeking additional ways to reduce our tour-related emissions and improve our calculation methodologies in the years ahead. Additionally, we are incorporating a carbon footprint metric for all our tour products and providing recommendations on sustainable travel practices within our itineraries to enhance community engagement in climate action.

At Plotpackers, our travel experiences are thoughtfully designed to minimise environmental impact. We prioritise ecofriendly activities in our itineraries, such as hiking, cycling, and using public transportation. These choices significantly reduce resource consumption and carbon emissions compared to higher-impact options like motorised tours or flights. In our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we are also assessing the carbon footprints of the meals that are both included and not included in our tours. To encourage more sustainable dining choices, we will be offering a wider range of vegetarian and vegan options for our travellers, ensuring that our culinary experiences align with our environmental ethos.

Our approach reflects a broader mission to foster a responsible travel culture that resonates with our core values. By integrating these sustainable practices into every aspect of our journeys, we aim to inspire our travellers to engage with the environment in a more meaningful way. As we continue to evolve, our focus on reducing our ecological footprint will remain central to our identity, reinforcing our commitment to a greener, more sustainable future for travel.

Here at Plotpackers, we recognize that climate action is a core component of our mission, one that extends beyond our initial commitments to sustainable development goals. We see this as an opportunity to share our ongoing efforts in tackling climate change, which remain at the heart of our operational ethos. Our ambition is to emerge as a leader in the travel industry’s climate action initiatives, which is why we have produced a transparent report detailing our activities and objectives. We believe that being a small business or a startup is not an excuse for inaction; rather, it is a call to demonstrate that impactful change can be achieved at any scale. By openly sharing our progress, we aim to inspire others in the industry to elevate their own commitments to sustainability.

Throughout our first year of operations, Plotpackers has placed a strong emphasis on building long-term partnerships with stakeholders across our value chain, including local suppliers, international NGOs, and conservation organisations. These collaborations are crucial for amplifying our impact and ensuring that our growth aligns with sustainable practices. By working closely with these partners, we can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) over time, fostering an ecosystem of shared responsibility and mutual benefit. Our commitment to sustainability is at the core of our ethos, guiding us as we navigate the complexities of the travel industry while prioritising the well-being of our planet.

We also strive to engage our traveller clientele by promoting responsible behaviour and environmental consciousness. Through travel programs that encourage direct interaction with local communities and participation in conservation projects, we are nurturing a network of conscious travellers who are invested in sustainability initiatives. Looking ahead, we are eager to expand our efforts by collaborating with organisations like Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to transparently report on our contributions to the SDGs. While we await the five-year mark to qualify for this reporting, it remains a long-term goal that reflects our commitment to accountability and transparency. As we continue to evolve, we are dedicated to implementing impactful strategies that contribute to life on land and the broader mission of environmental stewardship.