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Errant join the carbon neutral campaign
by Howard Swanwick
14/10/2006:// With over a quarter of a million new UK surfers taking to the waves every year, the number of Brits seeking inspirational, international surf breaks is growing correspondingly. However the damaging environmental effects of both short and long haul travel fly in the face of the sport’s traditional respect for the ocean and surrounding landscape. Now Errant Ltd (www.errantsurf.com), the UK’s fastest growing surf trip specialist, is setting new standards in the surf travel industry by becoming the first company to make each and every flight that its clients take CarbonNeutral.
From August 2006, Errant will be working hand-in-hand with The CarbonNeutral Company, the worlds leading carbon management company. The CarbonNeutral Company helps businesses and individuals to measure their “carbon footprint” or the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions they are responsible for generating; gives advice on how to avoid and reduce these emissions and then works with high quality renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects around the world to offset any unavoidable emissions that remain. By doing this the emissions from a flight can be reduced to net zero to make it CarbonNeutral.
The CO2 emissions created by air travel to one of Errant’s surfing holidays will be offset by supporting a number of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects around the world that will save or reduce CO2 emissions by 1 tonne for every tonne created by a flight to one of its locations.
Errant, the only UK company specialising in tailormade, international surf trips, organises holidays to a range of destinations throughout the world, including surf spots across Europe, Africa, The Caribbean and Hawaii. The CarbonNeutral Company will regularly calculate the carbon footprint of all of the Errant client flights and Errant will pay to offset the corresponding amount CO2 emissions. For example for a flight from London to Biarritz creates 0.5 tonnes of CO2 so Errant will pay £6.50 on behalf of this client whilst a flight from London to Barbados will create 1.5 tonnes so Errant will pay £19.50.
Director of Errant UK, Chris Thomson says, “As surfers we get so much out of being in the natural environment and making the most of what it brings us. We therefore have a direct obligation to protect these surroundings and while we are here to help our clients discover the very best surf around the world, we also want to ensure that if we are causing damage, that we’re rectifying that as far as we possibly can. Our pioneering agreement with The CarbonNeutral Company allows us to do this in a straight forward, understandable way and we hope that all other surf tour operators will follow suit.”
Jonathan Shopley, CEO of The CarbonNeutral Company says, “The impacts of climate change could be catastrophic especially for delicate ecosystems such as coral reefs that are already under mounting environmental pressure. It is therefore extremely encouraging to see a company like Errant beginning to understand and tackle the problem. By taking this leadership position Errant will hopefully be able educate its customers on the issue and encourage them to look at how they can reduce their climate change impacts in other parts of their lives.”
Further to the new CarbonNeutral initiative, Errant will also continue to sponsor the UK based Surfers Against Sewage by donating a top prize for their annual raffle; a holiday for two to North Spain staying in the four star Hotel Torres including four days surf school and transfers. Errant also supports projects across the world, including forestry projects and the production of climate friendly products.
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