Canada
Sustainable Travel: Being a Responsible Tour Operator
Being a responsible tour operator is at the heart of what G.A.P Adventures is all about. While our sustainable tourism policies are constantly evolving, our commitment to socially conscious, grassroots style travel has never changed. We work with local communities to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts.
Becoming Impact Neutral
We're on a journey to become impact neutral. Our commitment to the planet's future focuses on social, environmental and cultural initiatives. How are we achieving our goals?
...Environmentally
Our goal of heading towards a neutral environmental impact is spearheaded by our Planet Positive Project. The initiatives of this program include planting trees around the world and carbon offsetting the fuel of all our marine vessels and corporate flights. Additionally our offices are green powered and we use recycled paper in our brochures and office products.
Visit our Planet Positive Project webpage for more information about our environmental programs.
...Socially and Culturally
Our social and cultural stewardship is managed through our non-profit foundation, Planeterra. Through local community projects, international charities and long-term support from G.A.P Adventures, we have developed a network of projects around the world. Many projects can be visited on our tours, or experienced first-hand through our growing list of Volunteer trips, which provide a rewarding experience for travellers wanting to work together with local communities, and help improve the basic living conditions of the people in areas visited by our tours.
Visit our Planeterra webpage for more information about our social and cultural programs.
Head Office Initiatives
G.A.P Adventures has taken numerous steps to help our offices, and staff, minimize their impact on the environment and be a responsible member of our local communities. Some of our initiatives for continual improvement are listed below.
Supporting Green Energy
Our Head Office, and Toronto, Calgary, Melbourne and New York Concept Stores are all 100% powered by green energy providers including Bullfrogpower. These companies provide green electricity and purchase power exclusively from wind and low-impact hydro generators.
PEFC Certified
All G.A.P Adventures brochures are 100% PEFC certified. The PEFC Council (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is an international organization focused on promoting sustainable forest management.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
In an effort to reduce paper within the office, all fax transmissions and pay stubs are sent electronically. We also donate used computers and equipment to reBoot Canada, who refurbish these items for people with limited access to technology.
Public Transportation Subsidy
In an effort to encourage Head Office staff to do their part to reduce air pollution, individuals who purchase passes for use on Toronto's public transportation system are provided with a monthly subsidy.
Clean Air Commute
Pollution Probe hosts the Clean Air Commute, a weeklong event to promote awareness of Toronto's air quality. G.A.P Adventures has won awards for the past seven years as a result of 100% staff participation in using cleaner methods of commuting to work.
