Guide

Research shows that three-quarters of travellers don’t consider their carbon footprint when booking trips. Whilst climate change is dominating headlines, most consumers don’t think about the impact of travel abroad. And, if they do, they’re often not met with much help or guidance on ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Luxury travel has always been associated with opulence, comfort, and exclusivity. However, in an era when environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discussions, luxury travellers must also consider their carbon footprint and ecological impact. Fortunately, the ethos of luxury has evolved, and today, responsible luxury travel is not just a choice but a necessity. Here, we explore how to reduce ecological footprints without compromising on extraordinary experiences.

Sustainable Transportation

Already offering a range of clean tech experiences, and in the process of sourcing and developing more, Pelorus aims to play a fundamental role in the scale of solutions working to decarbonise the travel industry. From electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, high-speed rail, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), we believe clean tech innovations offer a future of sustainable travel that’s in keeping with the bespoke type of travel Pelorus is known for. Our partnerships with VRCO and OceanSky Cruises are just two examples of where we’re forging new ground and preparing for a greener future of travel.

And when you’re on the ground, electric and hybrid car rentals can significantly decrease the carbon footprint. Or, do as the locals do and embrace local transportation options such as trains and public transit to enrich the travel experience and foster a deeper connection with the destination.

Conscious Choices in Accommodation

One of the first decisions luxury travellers can make to reduce their footprint is selecting a destination. Over-tourism is a serious issue, and at Pelorus we encourage clients to head off the beaten track and visit less-explored parts of the world to carefully alleviate the pressures of mass tourism.

The next step is choosing eco-conscious accommodations. Luxury eco-resorts, boutique hotels, and sustainable lodges are now prevalent worldwide. Wherever possible, we prioritise those properties that demonstrate a commitment to environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and community wellbeing, such as Chem Chem Safaris (their association protects and preserves the local community and wildlife) and Sol y Luna (their foundation provides care and education to children from Peru’s poorest communities). By choosing such accommodations, travellers can support businesses committed to minimising their environmental impact.

“Moving around the planet is an unavoidable aspect of travel. It’s often the most difficult to justify when looking at the environmental cost of ultra-bespoke experiences and is a long-standing issue that we – along with the rest of the industry – are acutely aware of. Thankfully, we are seeing transport and logistic providers on land, sea and in the air working incredibly hard to develop cutting-edge technology that allows for massive improvements in this area, whilst also maintaining the standards that UHNWIs are used to. 

In the very near future, we expect more and more of these clean transport options to feature heavily in luxury travel itineraries and have already started to work with innovative partners to bring these new technological capabilities to market.”

Jimmy Carroll, Co-Founder of Pelorus

Addressing Travellers' carbon footprint

At Pelorus, we want our travel experiences to leave a positive impact on the planet. However, there is an elephant in the room: with travel comes significant CO₂ emissions. These emissions come with a responsibility which Pelorus is committed to consciously addressing. Inspired by a desire to take a hands-on approach to carbon emissions, Pelorus Foundation’s Climate Investment Fund (CIF) is a bespoke carbon removal portfolio that supports the scale of emerging technologies needed to accelerate climate action as well as nature projects with a strong community impact. The portfolio currently includes blue carbon, enhanced rock weathering, soil carbon sequestration and forestry.

For each of our clients’ trips, Pelorus calculates the carbon emissions which are then balanced via the CIF. And, due to its flexible nature, we’re able to constantly monitor our projects so we ensure that the funds are making the biggest difference.