STI’s recent notable Carbon Management efforts include but are not limited to:
- Continental Airlines – The fifth largest airline in the world works with STI to offer customers a carbon offsetting option when booking flights on www.Continental.com. The voluntary program that STI developed and administers allows travelers to calculate the carbon footprint of their booked itinerary and purchase carbon offsets directly while booking a ticket. Customers also have the option of selecting which kind of program they would like to donate to. Continental chose to partner with STI because our international focus and high standards are an excellent fit for Continental and its customers.
- United Airlines – United has also partnered with STI to develop their carbon calculator and offset solution: “We are committed to promoting the protection of our environment, in the air and on the ground. Our carbon offset program enables our customers to offset the carbon footprint associated with their air travel by making tax-deductible charitable contributions to … STI for the purchase of independently reviewed and verified carbon offsets. Our carbon calculator provides customers with an accurate calculation of the carbon footprint specific to their United travel itinerary.”
- Midwest Airlines – STI also created a consumer facing carbon calculator and offset solution for Midwest Airlines, available on their web site: “Midwest Airlines has partnered with Sustainable Travel International, Inc. (STI)…for two main reasons: A reputation for providing high quality offsets …and Experience and familiarity with the travel industry.”
- MINI USA –The carmaker recently unveiled a program that allows MINI owners to “Minimize Impact and Maximize Fun” through its Carfun Offset Program, developed and administered by STI. An extension of their Carfun Footprint campaign (which challenged all drivers to “measure how much fun your car is versus how much impact it has on the environment.”), MINI owners can now choose a green initiative supporting sustainable development and renewable energy to donate to. They will then select one fun project to support from one of three nonprofit organizations to which MINI USA will match the donation and provide a special recycled Carfun grille badge to display on their MINI.
- The Leading Hotels of the World – The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. (LHW), “is the first luxury brand to not only provide consumers the option of having a carbon-neutral travel experience, but also to make the financial contribution on their behalf to offset their energy consumption through STI, the non-profit leader in sustainable tourism.” Through its Leading Green program, LHW offsets the environmental impacts of their guests’ overnight stays (i.e. the use of electricity in room and in common areas) while staying at any one of their hotels. STI also created a web based custom carbon calculator for LHW guests to offset directly.
- Global Travel and Tourism Summit, STI has offset The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC – www.wttc.org) Annual Global Travel and Tourism Summit since 2007. The offsets fund renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in developing countries through STI. Demonstrating that unavoidable carbon impacts can be offset sends an important message to the industry and to travelers worldwide, as the Global Travel & Tourism Summit is the highest profile tourism-related event to become carbon neutral.
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – STI is supporting WWF’s effort to integrate offsetting nationally, including developing a custom carbon calculator for WWF on-line Travel Program
References are available upon request.
