About

Footprint Adventures Ltd takes boutique guided journeys to festivals and events
across New Zealand.

They are New Zealand's first tourism company to add a carbon emission surcharge to the cost of each of theirboutique adventures. The surcharge paid by tourists is used to purchase EBEX21Carbon Credits through the New Zealand Landcare Research, carboNZero Programme. The Carbon Credits are verified Kyoto-consistent and are used for regeneration of native forest on retired marginal farmland in New Zealand.

From the inception of Footprint Adventures in April 2007, reducing their inevitable carbon footprint has been at the forefront of their business planning. The mantra of their business has been to provide an experience where guests can take photos but leave no carbon footprint.

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Strategy

Footprint Adventures' strategy is devised into five key objectives and actions:

1) Increasing public awareness of climate change

Footprint Adventures believes that it is important that customers make informed decisions about the impact adventures have on the environment.

• Footprint Adventures has included a calculation on how much CO₂ is estimated to be generated on each adventure. It does this by using the
  carboNZero Travel and Tourism Calculator
• The cost to offset a customer's emission is incorporated into the cost of each boutique adventures and is listed on their website
• Footprint Adventures innovative approach to surcharging customers created media interest in the New Zealand Herald newspaper article and this created an opportunity to advocate concerns about the New Zealand tourism industry and promote the carboNZero programme.
• On each boutique adventures customer are provided an authentic experience while
  learning about New Zealand unique natural environment. The people at Footprint Adventures
  are strong advocates for the environment and this passion and commitment is reflected
  in each adventure.

2) Develop adventures that keep CO₂ emissions to a minimum

Adventure activities, transport and even accommodation options have been selected using criteria to gauge the best choices in terms of keeping CO₂ emissions to a minimum.

• Adventures do not include activities that produce unnecessary emissions, such as hot air ballooning or flights. Adventures try to incorporate activities with lest impact, such as natural attractions and native bush walks.
• Adventures follow the New Zealand Department of Conservation  Environmental Care Code and the Water Care Code.
• Adventures try to avoid unnecessary transport.
• On each adventure Footprint Adventures tries to stay at premier accommodation that have an environmental policy.
• Advertising material is printed on recycled materials and double sided.

3) Develop their assets so they are better for the environment 

As Footprint Adventures continues to develop they plan to re-invest in technology that has the least impact on the environment, such as hybrid or electric vehicles.

4) Creating a successful balanced scorecard 

At the end of the year Footprint Adventures must be able to generate a successful balanced scorecard, illustrating operational achievement in Profitability, Environmental and Safety outcomes. To achieve their Environmental outcomes, Footprint Adventures became a participant in the New Zealand carboNZero program in October 2007. This requires their business to measure, monitor and mitigate emissions.

• To date Footprint Adventures has offset their operational emissions of two tonnes
  through the carboNZero Programme.
• At the end of each boutique adventure Footprint Adventures offset its emissions
  and will continue to do this and support the carboNZero programme.

5) Supporting stakeholders

Footprint Adventures is also working to identify opportunities to include the planting of native tree saplings as a regular feature of their adventures. This is proving to be a challenge due to the scheduled conservation tree planting days and seasonal planting dates.

Footprint Adventures plans to identify what conservation volunteer days can be incorporated into their adventures or they will identify what alternative solutions can be developed to support other environmental initiatives.

"There's an increasing awareness now of the impact of carbon emissions on climate change, and I believe people want the chance to take some ownership of their own actions, particularly in the pursuit of pleasure."

- Robert Thomas, Managing Director, Footprint Adventures Ltd

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Photo Gallery