In 2022, 145,795 travellers explored the world with us. That’s virtually 300,000 footprints across the globe. Each traveller has an impression on the planet, which is why we’re all the time searching for methods to scale back our footprint. The first step in lowering our impression is knowing it. That’s what being a climate-conscious enterprise is all about and that’s why annually we measure how a lot carbon our journeys and enterprise produce.
Last yr, Intrepid emitted 27,898 tonnes of carbon. For perspective, that’s equal to the emissions from vitality use in additional than 3500 typical American houses per yr – which is definitely a fraction of the emissions generated by companies in different elements of the journey business. Having stated that, we nonetheless have an effect and have dedicated to halving our emissions by 2030, which we’re actively working in the direction of.
Tallying this quantity just isn’t simple, and the truth is that the majority journey corporations don’t know what their quantity is. Which means most travellers don’t know both.
If you’re not a scientist like me, you could be questioning what all this truly means, so let’s break it down…
What we measure
At Intrepid, we analyse two key sources of emissions: from our journeys and from our workplaces.
First, we analyse our journeys to grasp their environmental impression, from lodging to move, waste and actions.
For our workplaces, we measure emissions from day-to-day enterprise overlaying electrical energy, fuel, water, enterprise flights, operational bills, transport and waste, and even emissions produced by employees working from house.
While we’ve been measuring our emissions since 2010, we just lately redeveloped and improved the tactic we use. Why? Most merely, it’s good apply. But extra importantly, as signatories to the Science Based Targets initiative, we’re continually evolving the best way we observe and report in step with the newest local weather science.
In apply, this meant our knowledge assortment has change into broader and extra granular. This allowed us to essentially crunch the numbers on our three hottest journeys in 2022, which you’ll see beneath. What we uncovered was that the distinction in emissions between them principally comes down to move and lodging.
On Morocco Uncovered – a top-selling Comfort journey – lodging has the bigger footprint among the many three journeys, as company keep in accommodations and guesthouses with further facilities, which frequently means larger emissions. On the opposite hand, transport emissions are low due to the entire group travelling in a single minivan. This retains the general emissions profile of the journey on the decrease facet.
On Classic Costa Rica, there are a better variety of ‘eco-friendly’ lodging stays. Plus, the nation has a excessive uptake of renewable vitality, which helps to scale back emissions on all our journeys there.
At the opposite finish of the spectrum is Vietnam Express Southbound. A sole flight included on this itinerary accounts for 67% of the journey’s transport emissions profile. This means it has a far better footprint than its different bestselling counterparts.
What we do with the info
Once I’ve this knowledge, I sit down with Intrepid’s General Managers to create particular person decarbonisation plans for his or her workplaces and nations. This yr I’ve already met with 30 of our senior enterprise leaders around the globe.
This individualised method is vital as every nation is at a special stage of their sustainability journey.
For instance, in South Africa, the group will set up photo voltaic panels at our workplace this yr. This won’t solely cut back emissions, but additionally enhance vitality safety, which is a significant concern within the nation.
In Nepal, the place the quickly rising inhabitants is contributing to a waste administration disaster, our group is rising a partnership with an area NGO to enhance their recycling practices.
Beyond our workplaces, our knowledge tells us that 98% of our emissions are created by way of our suppliers – different companies corresponding to accommodations, airways, digital suppliers like cloud storage suppliers and extra. Understanding this permits us to have interaction with our largest suppliers around the globe to share finest practices and assist their efforts to begin measuring their very own impression. This is a precedence in 2023.
Why it issues
Now you may have snapshot of what our carbon journey seems to be like in apply.
You know that Intrepid emitted 27,898 tonnes of CO2-e final yr and also you additionally know among the steps Intrepid is taking to decarbonise. These insights will assist Intrepid as we proceed to construct a greater enterprise for a 1.5C future.
I do know that knowledge isn’t the juiciest matter, however it issues – not only for me, however for all of us international travellers.
I would like our travellers to be assured that each a part of their Intrepid tour has been fastidiously thought of. And that if you are off having the journey of a lifetime, behind the scenes we’re working arduous to construct a extra climate-conscious future for all the journey business.
Together, we may also help change the expectations round transparency and maintain the journey business accountable for measuring our emissions and making greater strides to scale back them.
Our adventures would not have to come back at the price of the planet.
To study extra about these efforts, learn our full 2022 Impact Report.