LEADING ADVENTURE OPERATOR CALCULATES CARBON EMISSIONS FOR ALL TRIPS

*Research shows[i] that 76% of people would like greater transparency when it comes to environmental impact.

**Explore Worldwide's average trip carbon footprint is 632kg. Its lowest-footprint trip, Walk the South Downs, has 59kg per person, while the lowest 7-night trips are Cycle Canal de Midi and Active Turkey at 79kg per person

* Explore now commits to reducing carbon across its programme and operations, with the target of a 50% reduction by 2030

*Explore calls on the industry to declare the carbon footprint of ALL trips to enable informed holiday purchasing and encourage carbon reduction by travel companies

Recent research by Explore Worldwide showed that 76% of people would like greater transparency when it comes to their environmental impact. As the world calls for greater transparency around the carbon impact of goods and services, Explore has labelled every one of its trips with highly-accurate, individually-calculated carbon emissions.  

This morning, Explore has unveiled carbon ratings on 500+ tours across its website in the largest carbon measurement project of its kind in the travel industry to date. The company has worked with ecollective to measure carbon emissions of every one of its 515 tours - including transport, accommodation, activities and leaders – as well as all operational activities involved in running the businesses in the UK and globally.

It has been a huge undertaking. The Product team at Explore, responsible for designing the company's itineraries all over the world, have added almost 10,000 lines of data to be processed and fact checked by ecollective. They've individually calculated almost 2,000 accommodation types and 24 types of transport, all over the world.

Explore's Carbon Measurement project – in numbers:

9,773                     lines of data entered by hand, by the Explore Product Team
1,853                     accommodation providers worked with
24                           transport types
163                         ferry journeys
860                        city tours
26                           cable car rides
198                        staff flights calculated
27,056                  staff commutes (that's over 800,000km by train, car, bike and foot)
254,974                working from home hours
261,667                 printed marketing materials measured (brochures, DMs etc)

The completion of this measurement project, which has taken a total of 413 people hours, is not in itself a goal reached.

Michael Edwards, Managing Director of Explore, says: “I'm so proud of our team, who have worked tirelessly for months to get accurate, scientific measurements for carbon across our entire global programme. And this is just the start. Now, with a clear understanding of how our trips impact the planet, the hard work continues, as we work alongside our partners and suppliers to start bringing these totals down.”

Carbon Measurement is one part of Explore's three-step Climate Action Plan to Measure, Reduce and Mitigate carbon across its operations. With clear calculations now in place, the company is on a mission to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% before 2030.  

Meanwhile, Explore continues to mitigate residual carbon, offsetting all its trips with ClimateCare, and working with Rewilding Britain, Cool Earth and ecologi to protect and restore our environment.

The company has today launched a Clear on Carbon campaign, educating the public on the carbon measurement of holidays and urging other tourism businesses to follow suit. “We really need this to be an industry-wide initiative” said Edwards. “Working together as an industry, we're stronger and more able to bring about change. We know the methodology is there, so really there's no excuse now not to be completely transparent with our customers.”

Explore openly invites the industry to look into their methodology at explore.co.uk/carbon and to get in touch with any questions or requests for advice in this area.

#ClearOnCarbon 

Full details can be found at explore.co.uk/carbon and explore.co.uk/sustainability

www.explore.co.uk / 01252 884 709  

Carbon Footprint of some of Explore's bestselling trips

Amalfi Coast Walking
7 nights. Carbon Footprint: 184kg per person
A relaxed walking holiday along spectacular Amalfi Coast trails, from clifftop hikes to woodland walks. There's time to discover Amalfi, Positano and the island of Capri. Stay on a peaceful farm overlooking the Mediterranean and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals. 

Jordan Discovery
8 nights. Carbon Footprint: 429kg per person
Discover the rugged beauty, delicious food and rich heritage of Jordan. Spend two full days discovering the historic and remarkable 'Rose Red City', sleep like a Bedouin under a blanket of stars in Wadi Rum, and float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea; the lowest point on earth.

Family Turkey Coastal Active Adventure
7 nights. Carbon Footprint: 90kg per person
Uncover the rich history and beautiful landscape of ancient Lycia. Canoe from the historic city of Xanthos to the beach at Patara, kayak over the sunken ruins of Kekova and explore the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, enjoying a delicious lunch with a local family. Spend our evenings exploring the cobbled streets and enjoying local Turkish cuisine in the delightful sea side town of Kas.

Cycle through Morocco
7 nights. Carbon Footprint: 436kg per person
Feel the wind rush past your face as you freewheel towards the northern foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. Pedal through red-rock valleys, cruise past lush almond groves and meet local Berber farmers tending to their crops of barley, olives and figs.

Walk the South Downs Short Break
3 nights. Carbon Footprint: 59kg per person
A short break with beautiful walks and panoramic views exploring the South Downs National Park. From our comfortable hotel in Bramber we walk through pretty villages and rolling landscapes which have inspired literary greats such as Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury set.

Inca Trail Trek
7 nights. Carbon Footprint: 190kg per person
Hike through dewy cloud forest, and ascend mountain valleys towards the infamous Inti Punku (Gate of the Sun). As the ancient temples of Machu Picchu come into view, your heart skips a beat, and the lush green terraces of this sacred Lost City entice you in for a closer look. 

About Explore Worldwide: Explore has 40 years' experience in providing exciting and authentic small-group travel experiences from cultural trips and family adventures to walking and cycling holidays. With over 500 trips in 120 countries, Explore's expertly-crafted itineraries combined with award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and a commitment to responsible travel ensure unforgettable travel experiences. Explore has immersive, sustainable travel in its DNA, as a founding signatory of the Glasgow Declaration and with one of the leading Climate Action Plans in the industry. All trips are Gold Standard Carbon Offset as standard, including flights where booked through Explore. Carbon is just one part of Explore's Sustainability Strategy and commitment to sustainable tourism. Read more about the benefits of tourism here.

[i] The research for Explore was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 14.03.2022 - 16.03.2022 amongst a panel resulting in 2,026 consumers responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).