Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environment
• Social
• Economic
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Achieved Carbon Neutral status in late 2010, investing over $970,000 AUD in carbon abatement projects.
• 20.9% reduction in business emissions in 2012FY.
• 31% increase in paper recycling in 2012FY.
• Doubled the amount of food waste composted in 2012FY.
• Offset 28,313.09 tonnes of carbon from trips in 2012FY, investing over $250,000 in clean energy projects.

Social Achievements

• Supported numerous grassroots organizations globally through The Intrepid Foundation.
• Launched Project SAMA, a three-year global gender initiative focusing on early childhood education, raising $60,000 for Plan’s program in Laos.
• Implemented a Global Human Rights Policy in 2011, with training for over 70% of staff.
• Introduced an employee volunteer program (though participation was low in 2012).

Governance Achievements

• Adopted an Anti-Bribery & Corruption Policy in 2012FY, with 85% of staff completing training.
• Partnered with WSPA on elephant welfare research, leading to itinerary changes to avoid venues with unethical practices.
• Consistently high customer satisfaction and responsible travel ratings.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Organizational changes delayed the release of a public sustainability report.
• Low participation in the employee volunteer program.
• Need for improved data collection for GRI reporting.

Mitigation Strategies

• Published an internal Sustainability Report.
• Re-examining the scope of the employee volunteer program.
• Working to improve systems for producing quality and reliable data for GRI Reporting.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Using locally owned ground transportation and accommodation
• Recommending local eateries and stores

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), UN Global Compact

Awards & Recognition

• 2012 Conde Nast World Savers Award – Preservation Category
• 2012 Green Lifestyle Awards – Travel Category
• 2012 Moroccan Government Responsible Travel Award - Environment/International category

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Our external environment
• Customer satisfaction
• Responsible business practices
• Employee engagement
• Financial performance
• Employee wellbeing
• Our relationship with the communities in which we operate
• Corporate governance

Environmental Achievements

• Became the world’s largest carbon neutral travel company in 2010
• Toronto office purchased renewable energy
• Morocco office uses eco-friendly cleaning products and recycled paper, sourcing gifts from a women-owned company
• Turkey office reduced single-use plastic bottles by nearly 28,000
• Peru office uses 100% biodegradable containers for packed lunches
• China office replaced internal flights with high-speed rail on several itineraries
• Hanoi office partnered with Action for a Green Halong to clean up Halong Bay (741kg of rubbish collected)

Social Achievements

• Became the world’s largest certified B Corp in the travel industry
• Increased female tour leaders from 156 to 266
• Introduced three weeks of additional Paid Parental Leave for all staff
• Updated Global Recruitment Principles to promote gender diversity
• Held a Women’s Leadership Forum
• Offered diversity and inclusion training
• Launched the People Portal
• Intrepid Group Colombo won Best for Employment at the World Responsible Tourism Awards
• Launched community-based tourism projects in Madi Valley (Nepal), Uganda, and Cambodia
• Expanded Urban Adventures’ ‘Made In’ range to support local artisans
• Partnered with Wheel the World to enable wheelchair-bound travellers to complete an Inca Trail trek

Governance Achievements

• Added two female non-executive board members
• Implemented a new compliance program
• Commissioned a full review of the Risk Framework
• Updated several policies (Fraud Policy, Global Parental Leave Policy, Family and Domestic Violence Leave, PEAK DMC Purchasing Policy and Guidelines, Responsible Purchasing Policy, Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure, Business Gift Policy)

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Delay in launching tailor-made FIT product
• Steeper than expected learning curve for new DMCs in Iceland, Japan, and Costa Rica
• Managing responses to global issues (earthquakes, tsunamis, pollution, typhoons)
• Increase in sexual harassment reports
• Tragic accident involving an overland touring truck in Lesotho

Mitigation Strategies

• Focusing on FIT bookings through Private Groups
• Implementing Global Incident Management Plan
• Improving processes for receiving and managing sexual harassment cases
• Providing support and assistance to travellers and families affected by the accident
• Implementing agile project management practices

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Preference for selecting under-represented suppliers (women and minority groups)
• Supplier Code of Conduct Audit

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme weather events

Transition Risks

• Regulatory and financial pressure to reduce GHG emissions

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Global Compact, International Integrated Reporting Council’s (IIRC) International Framework

Certifications: B Corp

Third-party Assurance: PwC

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 5. Gender Equality
• 8. Decent Work & Economic Growth
• 11. Sustainable Cities & Communities
• 13. Climate Action
• 10. Reduced Inequalities
• 14. Life Below Water
• 15. Life On Land
• 17. Partnerships for the Goals

Intrepid Group is committed to taking responsibility for its impact in these areas and contributing to, rather than diminishing, their health and value.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Adventure Cruising
• Urban Adventures’ ‘Made In’ tours
• In Focus tours

Awards & Recognition

• CEO Magazine’s Tourism and Hospitality Executive of the Year award
• Best for Communicating Responsible Tourism at the World Responsible Travel Awards
• 2018 Honoree in the World Tourism Awards
• Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies 2019
• Sustainable Tourism Company of the Year and Grand Prix award at the Australian Travel Awards
• Social Responsibility Award at the Australian Travel Awards
• Escorted Tour Operator of the Year 2018 at the TTG Awards (UK)
• Best Tour Operator – International 2018 at the NTIA Awards (Australia)
• Bronze at the Wanderlust World Guide Awards
• Silver Medal in Best for Decent Work and Inclusion at the African Responsible Travel Awards
• DMC of the Year at the LATA Achievement Awards
• PATA Gold Award (Women Empowerment Initiative)

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change
• Responsible Business Practices
• Actions on Climate Change
• Customer Satisfaction
• Employee Engagement
• Employee Wellbeing
• Community Relations
• Corporate Governance
• Impacts of Covid-19

Environmental Achievements

• Became the first global tour operator with verified science-based carbon emissions targets.
• Reduced absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 71% by 2035 from a 2018 base year.
• Reduced scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from its offices by 34% per full-time equivalent, and from its trips by 56% per passenger day by 2035 from a 2018 base year.

Social Achievements

• Launched Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan in Australia to support reconciliation.
• Launched mandatory anti-racism training for staff and leaders.
• Launched Women’s Expeditions – all-female tours led by female guides.
• Partnered with social enterprise Women in Travel to launch three female-led day-tour businesses.

Governance Achievements

• Amended Intrepid Group constitution to include a commitment to non-financial purposes and stakeholders.
• Successfully completed a strategic partnership with Genairgy.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Devastating impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry.
• Repatriating customers and staff during the pandemic.
• Managing customer credit and refund requests.
• Maintaining financial stability during the pandemic.
• Addressing customer concerns about booking conditions and delayed responses.
• Slower than anticipated recovery in travel.

Mitigation Strategies

• Secured the largest investment in Intrepid’s 32-year history.
• Revised 2025 strategy for a post-pandemic world.
• Established a dedicated global rapid response customer team.
• Offered customers 110% credit for cancellations.
• Refunded customers approximately $21 million.
• Removed expiry dates on trip credits.
• Implemented flexible booking policy.
• Developed new local and closer-to-home trips.
• Accelerated the Tailor-Made project.
• Introduced Urban Adventures Online Experiences.
• Advocated for a more responsible return to travel.
• Implemented cost management measures and efficiencies.
• Identified new revenue streams and market needs.
• Created agile and scalable business structures.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Employing locally
• Buying locally
• Investing in community projects

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme weather events
• Hurricanes
• Floods

Transition Risks

• Regulatory changes
• Market shifts

Opportunities

• Development of energy-efficient products and services

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: International Integrated Reporting Council’s (IIRC) International Framework, UN Global Compact

Certifications: B Corp

Third-party Assurance: PwC (financial statements only)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 13: Climate Action

Intrepid's activities contribute to these goals through its commitment to responsible tourism, community development, and climate action.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Intrepid Premium
• Local trips
• Tailor-Made travel
• Urban Adventures Online Experiences

Awards & Recognition

• Most Innovative Travel Companies 2021 (Fast Company)
• Travel Brand of the Year (Travel Marketing Awards, 2020)
• Award for Promoting Sustainability (Mumbrella Awards, 2020)
• Driving Diversity Award (Force for Good Awards 2020)
• Supporting Women Award (Force for Good Awards 2020)

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Introduced carbon labels on 893 itineraries
• Published an open-source emissions modelling guide
• Signed on as an early adopter of the UN Global Compact Faster Forward initiative under the Climate Action pillar
• Raised over $20,000 for climate solutions research

Social Achievements

• Launched a new expedition in Timor-Leste to promote sustainable economic growth and support local communities
• Partnered with organisations to launch 2 new community-based expedition products
• Sponsored Native Nations, a cross-cultural exchange program
• Provided mentoring and education support to 12 female entrepreneurs in Fiji
• Employed 300+ Indigenous porters in Peru
• Published the first Australian Modern Slavery Statement
• Launched a Global First Nations Working Group
• Contributed $2,593,869 to community and charitable causes

Governance Achievements

• Implemented a new hedging strategy and cash management process
• Invested in and enhanced revenue management processes
• Implemented a new employee share scheme increasing employee shareholders from 52 to 421
• Finalised the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Net increase in carbon emissions due to business growth
• Macroeconomic headwinds (conflicts, natural disasters, inflation)
• Data errors in trip emissions calculation
• Inconsistencies in international sustainability reporting standards
• Balancing decarbonisation with company growth
• Addressing human rights violations in some operating destinations
• Remuneration and benefits needing improvement
• Gender pay gap

Mitigation Strategies

• Developed a decarbonisation roadmap to meet 2035 science-based targets
• Improved trip emissions modelling and introduced external assurance
• Published open-source guide on emissions calculation
• Invested in capacity building of legal, communications, and purpose teams
• Diversified product portfolio and destinations
• Maintained carbon neutrality across operations and trips (excluding customer-booked flights)
• Publicly disclosing climate-related risks and opportunities
• Committed to a Net Zero target via SBTi
• Addressing remuneration and benefits concerns
• Undertaking gender equity analysis to close the gender pay gap

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 1754 material suppliers engaged in purpose through a supplier impact assessment

Responsible Procurement

• Supplier impact assessment
• Supplier conferences on environmental practices, child protection, human rights, and modern slavery

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme weather events
• Natural disasters

Transition Risks

• Regulatory changes
• Market shifts

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Global Compact, IIRC IR Framework, GHG Protocol’s Corporate Standard, Australian Government’s Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard

Certifications: B Corp

Third-party Assurance: PwC (limited assurance on GHG emissions)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Intrepid's initiatives contribute to these goals through responsible tourism, climate action, and sustainable supply chain management.

Awards & Recognition

• TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies of 2023