Arthurs Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine tour - Our Environmental Policy

Arthurs Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine one day tour
Environmental Policy and Action Plan

Our environmental goals:
 

To operate small group walking tours in national parks and other conservation areas with the following objectives:
1. Any negative environmental impacts are minimized or eliminated.
2. Where impacts cannot be minimized or reduced, actions are taken to offset these effects.
3. We make a tangible difference to the actual micro-environments that we visit on our tours.
4. Our clients learn something about NZ nature and conservation issues.

Step 1:
Measure our current impact level through five key areas: waste, water, energy, conservation & community.
 

Waste/Pollution
Office waste: mostly paper but some items like used ink cartridges or old office equipment.
Vehicle emissions use can be easily measured using online calculators, like the one provided on www.carbonzero.co.nz (Calculations in Appendix 1)
Guided walking: zero CO2 emissions walking but waste could be generated : ie, rubbish from lunch or human waste.

Waste or pollutants generated through vehicle maintenance

Water
Very low water usage, just that required for home office, tour lunches, vehicle cleaning etc.
 

Energy
Office electricity usage can be measured through electricity bills.

Tour fuel can be measured and monitored for improvements.

Conservation

There could be some ecological damage through groups walking through native forests such as damage to flora or introduction of pests.

The potential also exists for positive impacts on conservation through education and supporting of conservation initiatives.

Community

Postive impacts could come about through supporting of community projects or initiatives.

Step 2:
Identify ways to reduce impact through improvement of current practices.
 

Waste

Office: 1. Home office significantly reduces waste generation 2. All paper is re-used or recycled 3. All office rubbish is disposed of via Christchurch City’s kurbside recycling and rubbish collection 4. Any office equipment to be disposed is delivered to a recycling station or to someone who will re-use or recycle it 5. All ink cartridges are refilled & reused.

Tour: 1. All tour equipment is purchased second hand when appropriate  2. Cups & cutlery used at lunch are washed & reused 3. All tour rubbish is separated on site and disposed of via Christchurch City's kurbside recycling and rubbish collection 4. Human waste is disposed of as outlined in DOC’s environmental care code document.

Vehicle: 1. Use of biodegradable cleaning products
 

Water

Office: 1. Water saving measures

Tour: 1. Re use of water for washing up

Energy
Transport: 1. Use of company vehicle for private use elimates need for 2nd vehicle 2. Use of bus or bicycle for company business where possible 3. Upgrading to newer more efficent vehicle 4. Regular maintenance/servicing of vehicle 5. Training in efficient driving techniques

Office: 1. Home office significantly reduces energy usage 2. Installation of energy efficient lightbulbs 3. Installation of energy efficient heating

Tour: 1. Use food suppliers who source ingredients locally
 

Step 3:
Mitigate Effects.
 

Home Office
A home office would generate far less emissions and other negative impacts than renting a commercial property. As well as implementing measures identified above we will continue to investigate ways to improve our practices and make the necessary changes as we can.

Vehicle Emmissions
Carbon credits will be purchased monthly after we calculate actual kilometre usage and associated emission levels using the calculators on www.carboNZero.co.nz
If available our preferred carbon credit source is native forest regeneration.

Conservation
Support a local conservation project, if possible one that has a direct effect on the actual micro-environments we walk in. Our chosen project will be the Arthur’s Pass community Kiwi recovery project.

Tour Operations

Guides will pick up any rubbish on the track and encourage clients to do the same.
 

Step 4:

Action Plan

Comment:
This is a working document aimed at improving our environmental performance outlining actions we can make today that will make a difference as well as some which will take some time to implement.
I am not an environmental expert or consultant and most of these ideas came from my head although I have taken advice from several people. I acknowledge this may not be perfect but it is a start and will be a dynamic policy, to be updated as new technologies and the like become available.

Responsibility:
Managing Director Andrew Wells will take responsibility for implantation of this policy.

Review:
This policy will be reviewed annually and all staff given the opportunity to contribute to it’s development.

Appendix 1:
Carbon Offset calculations:
Van travel of 340km return from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass for each tour.
CO2 emmissions calculated to be 123.98 kg per trip.
1000kg offset purchased through CarboNZero cost $33.75
Approximately 8 trips per 1000kg, cost per trip of $4.22

Appendix 2:

Monthly contribution documents

Oct 2009 Carbon Offset Certificate	Oct 2009 AP Kiwi Project Receipt
Nov 2009 Carbon Offset Certificate	Nov 09 AP Kiwi Project Receipt
Dec 09 Carbon Offset Cert	Dec 09 AP Kiwi Project Receipt
Jan Feb 2010 Unlimited NZ Carbon Offset Cert	Jan Feb 10 AP Kiwi Project Receipt
Mar Apr 2010 Carbon Offset Receipt	Mar Apr 2010 AP Kiwi Project Receipt

Policy last updated: 17 May 2010