Green credentials

With environment as one of the three components of the World Challenge ethos, it follows that the company is 100% committed to sustainable growth. So just what are we doing to ensure the well-being of the world in years to come?

Giving the green light...

Ensuring sustainable growth in a company that relies on sending thousands of people across the world by plane is a tough job, albeit one worth doing. And who better to take on the task than World Challenge’s dedicated Sustainability Team. They’ll be rallying everyone round to meet an ambitious strategy for the year ahead, building on what we’re already doing to become a truly sustainable business.

And Alex Auden, who leads the team, is thrilled with how staff are already engaging with the project, saying ‘we don’t need to look past the number of ideas flooding in to our new ‘Greenhouse Points Scheme’ for evidence of our staff’s commitment!’ But ideas won’t change the world. It’s what we do with them that matters! So here’s what we’re doing next year that will impact positively on the well-being of the people we meet and the places we inhabit, as we go about our business.

The development of a sustainable supplier policy
This is designed to protect pay and conditions for local guides etc. and the treatment of pack animals used on treks. We already adhere to the International Porter Protection Guidelines.

A commitment to reducing our office carbon footprint by 10% in 2010/11
The team has been busy recording the company’s carbon footprint - from paper usage, energy consumed and travel habits in 2009 - in order to set reduction targets for the whole business over a one to three year period.

More alliances with National Park Authorities
We hope to minimise any negative impact of our expeditions by ensuring teams get involved in sustainable activities, such as reforestation and beach clean-ups, as well as providing training for the guides who work in the parks (see our In-country Guide Training initiative article on pages 8 and 9).

Greener office policies and energy-saving gizmos
We’re re-configuring printers to energy and paper saving settings, and installing waterflow reducers on all taps... to name but a few! We’re also now printing out brochures on recycled, carbon neutral paper. Of course we’re already doing a lot to promote sustainability in our business, from off-setting staff flights (and giving the Challengers the opportunity to do so), researching and running really worthwhile, sustainable expedition projects, educating Challengers on responsible travel, incentivising staff to travel to work by bike or train, and incentivising in-house fundraising.