Sustainability Policy
Good Earth Tours Sustainability Policy
At Good Earth Safaris & Tours, we recognize our profound responsibility to preserve and
protect the environment, culture, and human rights in every destination we serve. We are
steadfast in our commitment to reducing our environmental and cultural footprint, upholding
human rights, and continually enhancing our performance in these critical areas. This
commitment is an integral part of our business strategy and operations. We actively encourage
our customers and suppliers to join us in these efforts, fostering a collective responsibility
towards sustainable and ethical tourism.
Responsibility
David Bernard, Sustainable Coordinator, is responsible for ensuring that this sustainability
policy is implemented. However, all employees have a responsibility in their areas to ensure
that the aims and objectives of this policy are met.
We endeavor to...
- Comply with all relevant regulatory requirements.
- Continually improve and monitor environmental, cultural, and human rights performance.
- Continually improve and reduce environmental and cultural impacts.
- Incorporate environmental, cultural, and human rights factors into business decisions.
- Uphold and promote human rights in all our operations.
- Increase employee awareness and training.
- Improve sustainability of our partner agencies.
- Utilization of environmental friendly means transport.
- Working with sustainable accommodation and work to improve other accommodation that are
not. - Continually working with sustainable tour excursion & activities coordinators.
- Working with the best guides in the market.
- Working and employing best guides, tour leader and company representatives.
Paper
We will:
- We will minimize the use of paper in the office.
- Seek to buy recycled and recyclable paper products.
- Reuse and recycle all paper where possible.
Energy & Water
We will seek to:
- Reduce the amount of energy used as much as possible.
- Switch of lights and electrical equipment when not in use.
Office Suppliers
We will:
- Evaluate if the need can be met in other way.
- Evaluate the environment impact of any new product we intend to purchase.
- Favor more environmental friendly and efficient products wherever possible.
Transportation
We will:
- Promote the use of travel alternatives such as e-mail or video/phone conferencing.
- Favor “green” vehicles or maintaining them rigorously to ensure ongoing efficiency.
Maintenance & Cleaning
We will:
- Use cleaning materials that are as environmentally friendly as possible.
- Only use licensed and appropriate organizations to dispose our waste.
Monitor Improvement
We will:
- Comply with all relevant regulatory requirements.
- Continually improve and monitor environmental, cultural, and human rights performance.
- Continually improve and reduce environmental impacts.
- Incorporate environmental factors into a business decisions.
- Increase employee awareness through training.
- Review this policy and any related business issues in monthly meetings.
Staff & Stakeholder Involvement
We will:
- Update this policy at least once annually in consultation with staff and other stakeholders where necessary.
- Involve staff in the implementation of this policy, for greater commitment and improved performance.
- Uphold and promote human rights.
- Incorporate environmental, cultural, and human rights factors into business decisions.
- Provide staff with relevant sustainability training.
- Work with suppliers, contractors and subcontractors to improve their sustainability performance.
- Use local labor and materials whenever possible to reduce CO2 and help the community.
Accommodation
We commit to this by:
- Preferring working with accommodations that comply with sustainability and quality standard.
- Preferring and selecting accommodations that are locally owned and managed.
- Selecting accommodations that employ local communities.
- Including standard sustainability clauses in all contracts with accommodation providers that
focus on child labour, anti-corruption and bribery, waste management and protection of
biodiversity. - Ensuring that through our accommodation supply chain, the rights of children are respected and safeguarded.
Excursion & Activities
We commit to this by:
Advising guests on behaviour standards during excursions and activities with a focus on
respecting the local culture, nature, and environment.Not offering any excursions that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources such as
water and energy, or which are socially and culturally unacceptable.Not being involved with companies that harvest, consume, display, sell, or trade wildlife
species unless it is part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilisation is
sustainable and in compliance with local, national, and international law.Promoting and advise our guests on excursions and activities which directly involve and
support local communities by purchasing services or goods, traditional crafts and local (food) production methods, or visiting social projects.Promoting and advising our guests on excursions and activities which support local
environment and biodiversity such as visiting protected areas or environmental protection projects.Not offering any excursions that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources
Tour Leaders, Local Reps, & Guides
We will:
Ensuring that all employees have a written employment contract, including labour conditions and a job description, and fully understand the terms and conditions.
Preferring to work with local tour leaders, local representatives, local tour guides, porters,
drivers, cooks, and other local staff in case of equal ability, and provide training as required.Paying tour leaders, local representatives, guides, porters and other local staff contracted by us at least a living wage that is equal to or above the legal minimum or relevant industry standard.
Ensuring that our tour guides, hosts, and other employees under contract are qualified and
trained regularly.Having our tour leaders, local representatives and guides inform clients on relevant sustainability matters in the destination (e.g. protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use), social norms and values (e.g. tips, dressing code and photography) and human rights (e.g. sexual exploitation).
Having skilled and/or certified guides to guide our guests in sensitive cultural sites, heritage
sites, or ecologically sensitive destinations.
Customer Communication & Protection
We are commited to this by:
Ensure that customer privacy is not compromised.
Comply with relevant standards and voluntary codes of conduct in marketing and advertising messages, and not promise more than is delivered.
Inform the customer about sustainable alternatives concerning accommodations, excursions, package holidays and transport options, if available.
Provide Information to consumers about the natural surroundings, local culture and cultural heritage in the holiday destination.
Inform customers about risks and precautions related to health and safety matters in the
destination.Motivate clients to use local restaurants and shops (where appropriate).
Encourage clients to donate to local charity and sustainable initiatives.
Keep a contact person and a telephone number permanently available for emergency situations.
Include sustainability as an integral part of the research into client satisfaction.
Have clear procedures in case of complaints from clients.
Improvement of Our Partner Agencies
We commit to this by:
Preferring working with organizations who are truly implementing sustainability in their
tourism policy.Paying attention to the local benefits of communities when selecting local accommodations and their social policy for employees.
Ensuring that partner companies comply with all relevant national laws protecting the rights of employees.
Travelife Certified Our Highest Level of Sustainability Recognition
The Travelife Certified award is a recognition of our excellence towards social and environmental sustainability. We comply with more than 200 criteria related to sustainability management, office operations, working with suppliers, and customer communication.
Travelife is a three-stage certification program for tour operators and travel agents: (1) Travelife Engaged; (2) Travelife Partner; and (3) Travelife Certified. We are at the final stage – Travelife Certified.
