The Travel Corporation (TTC) launched its 2021 Impact Report in May, detailing the progress made by the collection of brands on the 11 sustainability goals since the launch of How We Tread Right in September 2020.
The 11 goals fall into three categories: Planet, People and Wildlife. The Planet goals plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, or sooner. By 2025 TTC aims to source 50% of its energy from renewable sources, reduce food wastage by 50% across all hotels and ships, increase the use of local and organic food products by the supply chain, reduce printed brochures by 50%, and eliminate as many single-use plastics as possible from operations and itineraries.
The People goals are to ensure that at least one ‘Make Travel Matter’ experience is included on 50% of TTC itineraries by 2025, and to achieve a 20% increase in itineraries visiting developing regions for selected specialist brands by 2025; to increase employee and market sentiment regarding diversity and inclusion across the brands; and to complete 30 000 volunteer hours by 2025.
The Wildlife goal was to ensure that all wildlife experiences across the TTC brands adhered to the animal welfare policy by 2021.
The 11 goals are anchored to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The Impact Report highlights the cumulative progress made thus far and key takeaways from the report include the following.
Planet Goals – progress report…
- Developed nett zero targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), currently under review. This will be shared later in 2022.
- Contiki, Radical Travel Group’s HAGGiS Adventures, and Highland Explorer Tours announced their carbon neutral trips as of January 1 this year.
- Sourced 28% of the brands’ global electricity needs from renewable sources.
- Switched nine additional properties to 100% renewable electricity.
- Reduced food waste by 39% at 12 Red Carnation Hotels.
- Introduced food waste management systems at 30% of the hotels and Uniworld ships.
- Reduced printed brochures by 88% from 2019.
People Goals – progress report…
- Introduced 554 Make Travel Matter Experiences across TTC itineraries. These are educational experiences designed to advance the UNSDGs that positively impact and support the people and the communities travellers visit.
- In 2021, 51% of all TTC itineraries had at least one Make Travel Matter Experience.
- Offered 65 TTC itineraries visiting 110 developing regions.
Wildlife Goals – progress report…
- Assessed 400+ wildlife experiences to ensure 100% compliance with the Group’s Animal Welfare Policy.
