Agents try to cut emissions despite not knowing footprint
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Around three quarters of high street travel agents are trying to reduce their carbon footprint despite not knowing how much their bills are on a regular basis, according to new research. A survey of 530 ABTA members showed that 73% of agencies were trying to cut emissions, mainly by using heating or air conditioning as little as possible, or switching lights off when not in use. Brochures were said to account for 63% of waste in travel agents although only 45% admitted that they split their rubbish into recyclable and non-recyclable waste. Now ABTA plans to create guidelines for travel agents to help them become more sustainable and reduce costs. “We wanted to make sure that our work on sustainability assists every member regardless of their size, location, or business model,” said Nikki White, head of sustainability at ABTA. “In the travel industry, sustainability has been seen to belong to tour operators, but with such a large retail member network, we needed to understand where we can help make a difference for agents too. Sustainability does not need to be complex, just good business practice”. The survey also found that only 20% of agents had been asked about sustainable holidays by clients, despite the on-going efforts the industry is putting into making tourism more efficient.
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