Our sustainability promise

At the GreenCove, we hold a deep regard for our team, partners, travelers, and the communities we engage with, as well as the environment we collectively inhabit. We firmly believe in ongoing education to drive progress towards a positive environmental impact through our operations and lifestyle choices.

Central to our mission is the reduction of our ecological footprint in luxury travel industry, along with our commitment to fair-labor practices and community empowerment. Here’s an outline of our guiding principles and how we plan to make a difference:

Our guiding principles:

  • As a registered company, we prioritize effective management and compliance across all locations. We follow all laws and regulations and aim to go above and beyond when possible.

  • Our decisions are always based on environmentally conscious practices.

  • We ensure that our staff is fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and committed to improving it.

  • We try to lead by example and inform our clients and suppliers about sustainable alternatives to the status quo.

  • We regularly review, report, and improve our sustainability performance. Transparency and clear reporting ensure that we stay accountable and take action where necessary.

  • People

    We celebrate diversity and everyone in our team is valued and treated with respect. Our feedback and development programs help our team members achieve their personal and professional goals.

  • Health, safety & wellbeing

    Safety is our top priority. We go beyond the basics to ensure a zero-harm culture for our team, clients, partners, animals, and the communities we work with.

  • Environment

    We take our role as environmental stewards seriously. We strive to reduce our offices’ and operations’ impact on the environment. We also measure and reduce our carbon footprint and its impact on biodiversity.

  • Community

    We prioritize working with family-run businesses and collaborate with suppliers who contribute positively to their communities. Our itineraries aim to create awareness of remote areas and cultures while providing educational experiences to travelers.

  • Sustainable initiatives

    We calculate the CO2 emissions from our itineraries yearly and donate the equivalent amount to social causes.
    We also donate to NGOs dedicated to protecting environments and wildlife in our destinations.

Practical steps we take:

  • When holding personal meetings and doing site visits, we choose sustainable transport options like walking, cycling, or public transport whenever possible.

  • We utilize virtual meetings and encourage alternative working arrangements like home-offices to reduce unnecessary travel.

  • We recycle office waste, use energy-efficient equipment, and minimize paper usage.

  • We invest in purchasing office furniture and products from well-managed, sustainable sources.

  • In financial proposals, we consider the full costs of sustainable transport options rather than just the cheapest ones.

  • We ensure that our associates are aware of sustainable alternatives when advising suppliers and travelers.

If you want to know more about our sustainability efforts, feel free to reach out. Together, we can create a better, more sustainable future.

Butterfly Mark sustainability certificate

The GreenCove is the first DMC in Northern Europe to proudly hold the Butterfly Mark, a symbol of the Real Changemakers in luxury. It embodies our philosophy of embracing progress rather than seeking perfection, prioritising challenging work over easy wins, and staying dedicated to constant improvement. Powered by Positive Luxury, the Butterfly mark is exclusively awarded to brands that uphold increasingly higher standards for both people and the environment.

Obtaining the certification was no small feat! To gain the Butterfly Mark, you must undergo an expert-led, independent assessment, built upon international agreements, global frameworks, and existing standards, while also anticipating potential forthcoming legislation. And to maintain it, re-certification is needed every two years. This ongoing process ensures that we continuously improve our performance to meet rising standards and align with the best sustainability practices.

For those curious about the specifics, we invite you to explore our Butterfly Mark Passport. By clicking on the certification below, you can see a detailed breakdown of our performance in the Butterfly Mark Assessment.