One year after the launch of ‘Our OCEAN Promise’, international yacht charter companies, Sunsail and The Moorings, are celebrating key sustainability achievements.
‘Our OCEAN Promise’ is a commitment to a sustainable future for the company, employees and customers. It identifies five core pillars of focus for both brands, including ‘Our yachts and future development’, ‘Community and wildlife-based initiatives’, ‘Engagement and education for our customer and our employees’, ‘Action on Waste’, and ‘Net Zero: Our carbon reduction commitment’.
Laura Bowtell, Global Sales Operations and Sustainability Manager for Sunsail and The Moorings, comments “At Sunsail and The Moorings we are taking action on sustainability to ensure our customers can experience authentic yachting holidays in the most responsible way. We recognise that as part of the travel sector we have a significant carbon impact and with that a responsibility and challenge in front of us in the coming years. Through the framework of ‘Our OCEAN Promise’, we are making positive changes now to protect the natural world, people and culture, and are striving to help our customers travel in the right way. We are delighted with the progress we have made in our journey so far!”
Sunsail and The Moorings celebrates 15 years of paid staff charity days
This year marks the 15th year Sunsail and The Moorings has been encouraging employees to take up to two paid working days off per year to support a charity of their choice. Sunsail and The Moorings focus on creating a great work environment through its people policies, which helps find and nurture the best talent. Employees participated in an art project in South Africa, volunteering in homeless shelters, cross country cycling races, running the London Marathon and many more.
One employee, Bomi Ndabeni, recently took advantage of her charitable day in support of Nelson Mandela Day and volunteered to provide food in underprivileged communities in Pretoria, South Africa.
Bomi comments, “Seeing the average person out on the streets, facing cold nights without knowing where their next meal will come from, it’s truly eye-opening. Having the chance to get involved and provide support, whether through volunteering or donating food, right here in the underprivileged communities of Pretoria, is hugely rewarding.”
Zero waste to landfill achieved in the UK headquarters
A key objective within ‘Our OCEAN Promise’ is to ensure local infrastructure is utilised across Sunsail and The Moorings’ locations to minimise impact. To achieve this within the head office locations, the companies have developed a ‘Sustainable Workplaces Framework’ which has served as a blueprint for other UK based offices under the Travelopia group.
As part of the framework, one of the biggest achievements has been around waste management. Sunsail and The Moorings’ headquarters in Surbiton is now a zero waste to landfill office. Over the last 12 months 100% of waste has been diverted from landfills, with the majority being recycled. Any waste that cannot be recycled is now sent to a recovery facility in the UK and Northern Europe where it is used as a fuel to generate electricity. Additionally, the Surbiton office now operates on a green energy tariff.
Eco-friendly antifoul technology for all new monohulls in Greece and Croatia
All new monohulls in both Greece and Croatia are now fitted with an eco-friendly alternative to antifoul paint, MacGlide™ fouling protection, following a two-year trial in the British Virgin Islands and Croatia. MacGlide™ protects the hull from the colonisation of marine micro-organisms without spreading toxic substances into the water. It’s an innovative solution against fouling that lets yachts glide through the water, maintaining performance without impacting marine life, which supports a cleaner ocean. Sunsail and The Moorings are prioritising all new monohulls in the Mediterranean with 12 yachts now fitted with this technology.
Laura Bowtell adds, “We recognise we are at the beginning of our journey within this space and that we do not yet have all the answers, however, we do hold a firm commitment to minimising our carbon footprint, and this entails establishing meaningful reduction targets. Our objective is to set a Science-Based Target (SBT) that aligns with global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This target will guide our actions in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions effectively. In the coming 12 months, our aim is to define a clear pathway, outlining the steps we will take to achieve these ambitious targets. By doing so, we ensure our actions align with the broader global commitments towards mitigating climate change.”
In addition to celebrating 15 years of supporting staff charity days, Sunsail, are also celebrating 50 years of offering unforgettable experiences to sailing enthusiasts and adventurers, and in honour of this remarkable milestone it is launching two brand-new, one-off flotillas in Lefkas and The British Virgin Islands.
For more information on “Our OCEAN Promise, please visit sunsail.co.uk/sustainable-travel or moorings.com/uk/sustainable-travel.