The health of the environment is of concern to everyone. Absolute Escapes take our responsibilities seriously with a commitment to sustainable tourism that does its best to conserve and protect the world’s resources.
We have made a concrete commitment to being a more environmentally-conscious tour operator by introducing a sustainability policy for our team to follow. This focuses on three main issues:
The climate crisis
The conservation of wild places
The effects of overtourism
By keeping these issues in mind, we can choose every day – in big and small ways – to find ways to build a better quality of life for our employees, clients and suppliers.
Volunteering with the John Muir Trust
Working on conservation projects at Glenlude Estate in the Scottish Borders
In tackling these issues, we have created objectives for our company to adhere to and goals with which we can measure our success. Our team work together to achieve these tangible goals which tie directly to the company values that we all share. We internally review our achievements against these goals quarterly and report externally on our achievements once a year.
Our Main Objectives for 2022:
Minimise the environmental impacts of the resources we use.
Work to give back to the environment and society.
Promote responsible tourism through our mediums.
Keep sustainability at the heart of our business.
Our team at the Rough Runner event to raise money for Venture Scotland
Litter picking on Calton Hill in Edinburgh
AITO Project Protect
As a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), we have committed to a sustainable approach to travel. Project Protect is AITO’s instrument for improving and supporting sustainable tourism practices amongst its members. Absolute Escapes has taken part since 2018.
Our Sustainable Tourism Coordinator, Pippa Robson, receiving an AITO award
Pippa Robson at the AITO Annual General Meeting
Our Previous Achievements
In our first year of the AITO Project Protect, 2018, our pledge was to protect and enhance wild places in the UK.
For this, we developed our support and partnership with the John Muir Trust. We include their logo and information about their activities on our website and documentation, arranged two conservation volunteer days for our team at the Glenlude Estate in the Scottish Borders, and we used the Give as you Liveplatform so that the stationery and printing purchases we made resulted in a donation of £150 to the Trust.
In addition to this, we implemented a comprehensive Sustainability Policy which was well received by the team, with every member of staff pledging to engage with the policy to the fullest extent.
A group of the Absolute Escapes team volunteering in the Scottish Borders
Helping to rewild land at Glenlude Estate
In 2019, we pledged to promote the protection and preservation of natural landscapes in the UK.
We furthered our support of the John Muir Trust and embarked on a new partnership with Venture Scotland – a fantastic local charity who help disadvantaged young people in Scotland improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing by teaching them outdoor skills. We feel this is particularly relevant to our company as we have all experienced the restorative and empowering effects of nature.
We raised £550 for Venture Scotland and are committed to supporting them in the future.
Whilst the past few years have felt uncertain, we’re determined to continue our commitments to the causes dear to us. We are committed to maintaining our support of the John Muir Trust and Venture Scotland as part of our 2022 AITO Project pledge.
Absolute Escapes team members at the finish line of the Tough Mudder event to raise money for Venture Scotland
Working with Venture Scotland
Our Current AITO Project Protect Pledge
Our AITO Protect Pledge in 2022 is to maintain and uphold our previous objectives whilst improving and supporting sustainable tourism practices.
This includes the following:
Launch ‘paper-lite’ information packs and encourage our clients to use this option when they book with us.
Dedicate 30 volunteer days to the John Muir Trust, helping with their conservation efforts.
We have partnered with Change Works and other local businesses to ensure that the majority of our office waste is recycled and minimised.
Litter pick on all walking days we do as a team.
Regularly provide our staff with training on responsible tourism and our sustainability policy.
Team walk from Aberdour to Kirkcaldy on the Fife Coastal Path
Beach clean-up in Kinghorn
John Muir Trust
The John Muir Trust is a conservation charity dedicated to protecting and enhancing wild places in the UK. The trust owns and manages some of the finest wild spaces in Britain, including Ben Nevis, part of the Skye Cuillin, and Schiehallion. These areas provide vital space for adventure, excitement and solitude.
As corporate members, Absolute Escapes are committed to supporting the conservation efforts of the Trust and work with them to spread the message of the importance of wild spaces. You can find many ways to support their efforts on their website.
Our aim is to help the Trust provide wilder, more beautiful countryside for our customers to enjoy and to demonstrate that we can all contribute in small ways to the restoration of wild land and responsible tourism.
