Our Eco-Tourism Pledge
The natural world is an intrinsic part of who we are at VentureSail Holidays. It defines the experience we offer our guests whilst the ocean flows through the very veins of our skippers and their crew. We fully understand the necessity of preserving and protecting the fragile landscapes, habitats and waters in which we sail. We strive to ensure our ventures are environmentally friendly and are fully committed to reducing the impact we have on the environment as we work, travel and play.
It is with this in mind we have drawn up our eco-tourism pledge where we outline the various initiatives we are undertaking whilst asking our guests to support us in our endeavours.
As part of this mission, we are committed to supporting local conservation efforts in the UK area where we predominantly sail – Scotland, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Each year we will carefully choose UK charities ensuring we are giving back to the very communities and habitats that enable us to operate. For 2024 we will be supporting the Cornwall Wildlife Trust with their marine conservation efforts.
We are also working towards reducing and offsetting the carbon generated by our holidays. As such we have committed to supporting Tree-Nation. Tree-Nation are a not-for-profit organisation, helping to support local communities, create jobs, and protect biodiversity through reforestation and conservation projects across the world. We will plant a tree for each holiday booking made, helping to offset carbon and plant trees across the world. You can view our VentureSail virtual forest here.
So, how do we ensure our impact on the environment is as nominal as it can be?
On the Water
Sail’s up – whenever feasible, we turn our motors off and hoist our sails, voyaging with the power of the wind.
We also encourage our skippers to use the most sustainable local produce available where possible. In doing so, we minimise food miles and support the local economy.
Watching wildlife when sailing is one of the most magical things to experience but we operate strictly on a ‘they come to us’ basis and always try to maintain a safe distance.
Our team actively supports local wildlife initiatives by volunteering time and resources.
On Land
All communication is digital, allowing us to reduce the amount of paper we consume and distribute.
We champion sustainability and environmental focuses amongst our suppliers, customers and visitors to our website.
In the Office
We minimise the use of electricity in all of our activities, use energy-efficient lightbulbs and appliances, and encourage remote working
Whilst we strive to minimise the creation of waste, all waste is recycled.
Our Guest Pledge
As a VentureSail guest we kindly ask that you consider the environment by supporting us with the following requests;
- Bring a reusable drinks bottle to refill and avoid the use of plastic ones.
- Throwing nothing overboard – it goes without saying that no waste should ever be thrown overboard unless it’s decomposable organic matter.
- Shower using shore-side facilities wherever possible. If showering whilst at sea, please use water sparingly and use marine safe products.
- Give natural life space, particularly when exploring ashore and observing species in their natural habitat.
- Leave only footprints and do your bit by picking up any litter when you see it and responsibly dispose of rubbish.
- Consider travel options to meet your vessel and investigate local transport options. It is often possible to have a car-free holiday.
- Please refrain from bringing any baby wipes or similar non-biodegradable products.
- Please be mindful and consider bringing ocean friendly sun cream and toiletries for use at sea.
Sourcing Sustainable Products
With the Climate Emergency firmly in our minds as a global issue, many companies are stepping up to the challenge of reducing their impact on the environment. This now means that buying more sustainable eco-products is much easier for the consumer with local supermarkets and chemists stocking environmentally-friendly products. With clearer labelling, guests can now check if products are eco-friendly and make a switch fairly easily.
Do please kindly check ingredient lists and opt for a mineral-based option rather than chemical – avoid avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone and parabens, instead look for mineral-based products with zinc or titanium oxide. Small steps can make a big difference and consumers do have the power to help instigate change so please do support us in shopping more mindfully.
