Every Butterfield & Robinson trip is carbon neutral. Here’s how it happens

B&amp;R has long been committed to <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/sustainability">responsible travel,</a> exploring the world with intention, integrity and respect for the communities and destinations we visit. The very essence of our trips—discovering places by bike or on foot—ensures we minimize the use of gas-powered vehicles, for instance. And through our <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/the-slow-fund">Slow Fund</a> we’re able to contribute to meaningful social and cultural projects in the communities we visit, such as wildlife conservation and education for underserved groups. Our latest step to balance our environmental impact is something that affects every traveller: Every trip that B&amp;R hosts is 100% carbon neutral and has been since our 2023 season. This change is part of a company-wide commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Our sustainability work is an ongoing strategy. It’s work that involves the entire company—every department in every office—and this is another step on our journey,” says Michele Harvey, B&amp;R’s Sustainability Lead.&nbsp;What is Net Zero?&nbsp; Net Zero means achieving a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and the removal of those emissions. To achieve Net Zero, an organization must reduce emissions by more than 90% from its base year of measurement, off-setting anything that cannot be eliminated. B&amp;R’s base year is 2023, and during that year our emissions were 2,470 metric tons (MT) or 70 kg per traveller per day.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;“We recognize that the bulk of our emissions sit in our trips, and we don't have a lot of control over that—things like hotels and transport companies. Because of that, it's very hard to reduce those emissions, so the logical step was to balance those emissions out completely by offsetting,” Michele explains.&nbsp;B&amp;R partnered with carbon consulting firm <a href="https://www.ecollectivecarbon.com/">e-Collective</a> to calculate the total carbon footprint of our company, including each trip we run. Trip emission calculations include accommodation, in-region transportation, meals, activities for both travellers and our guides. Of our total carbon footprint in 2024, 1,800 MT were trip emissions. This is the equivalent to the electricity usage of 1,455 Canadian homes per year.&nbsp;

How does off-setting work?&nbsp; Off-setting is an important part of our climate strategy for carbon emissions that are currently unavoidable. It’s a way for us to balance our emissions until low-carbon technologies evolve and become easier to access. We’ve partnered with Sustainable Travel International (STI) to offset 100% of our trip emissions. STI is an expert in climate change impact and mitigation and invests in verified climate projects that accelerate the shift to a greener future, some in regions that B&amp;R travels to.&nbsp;The Keo Seima project in <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/asia/cambodia">Cambodia</a>, for instance, conserves a tropical forest that is home to tree species not found anywhere else on the planet and that is of spiritual and cultural significance to the Indigenous Bunong people. And the Khalladi Wind Farm project is bringing renewable energy to a region of <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/africa/morocco">Morocco</a> traditionally reliant on imported fossil fuels.&nbsp;&nbsp;B&amp;R’s other efforts&nbsp; Off-setting is just one part of our strategy. Other important work includes making the transition to renewable energy to power our offices in Beaune, France and Arezzo, Italy, and reducing transport emissions by streamlining operations both on the road and in our supply chain. We’re also prioritizing Slow Fund projects that support biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our goal is to make every B&amp;R journey as good for the planet as it is for the traveller. “It's a collaborative effort. It's not just us. We're also communicating with our suppliers, and others in the industry to make these changes and advance our efforts,” she says. “We know our travellers care about the environment; they care about the destinations. While it may be behind the scenes, this work is part of the experience of a B&amp;R trip.”&nbsp;

B&R’s Sustainability Lead explains the company’s commitment to Net Zero and how the company makes every trip is carbon neutral. 

Every Butterfield & Robinson trip is carbon neutral. Here’s how it happens

By Butterfield & Robinson

Company

Essentials

Connect