Category Archives: Sustainability

In 2023, partnership with carbon consultant ecollective, Trek Travel completed our first greenhouse gas emissions inventory. This was a critical first step in relaunching our sustainability work in the post-Covid era, because in order to address our impact in a meaningful way, we first needed to understand it. The 2023 numbers established our baseline, which we will work to improve upon year after year. The inventory covered all aspects of our business: from headquarters emissions and staff travel to merchandise and purchased goods, our website, virtual and in-person events, customer travel to our trips and all on-trip elements such as transportation, hotels, food, guide housing and activities. It was conducted following GHG Protocol guidance—if you are interested in reading more about this process, you can check out the methodology details here.  

2023 Numbers at a Glance: 

Carbon footprints can be hard to visualize. Using our 2023 results of 48 kg CO₂e per guest per day (excluding travel to and from the trip) we offer a few comparisons below. Whilst our score is lower than other vacations (Maldives trips average 97 kg CO₂e/customer/day and ocean cruises 297 kg CO₂e/customer/day) our emissions still matter and must be reduced. 

To this end, in 2024 we focused our efforts on a variety of projects that included every department at Trek Travel. We moved more of our warehouse spaces onto green energy. The Guide Department worked to make our guide schedule more efficient, thus reducing the staff travel required between regions. Our Guide and Guest Experience teams started evaluating all guest and guide clothing with the aim of switching to recycled materials. Our guest packets, which our guests in the mail before their trip, will now include recycled packaging materials. Trek Travel water bottles were transitioned to plant-based materials, and day bags were transitioned to recycled materials. And of course, both of these items are reusable in daily life! We maintain our vehicle and bike fleets to last for multiple years, so our purchased goods were down in 2024 and more guests chose lower-emissions trips that were based from a single hotel and required less guest and luggage transportation.

Our logistic team implemented a new tire and tube recycling program in the US. We also carefully considered how to, in the future, incorporate electric vehicles into our fleet. We moved into a more modern and efficient warehouse space in our hometown of Madison, Wisconsin and collected more data on our global guide house emissions.

With guidance from ecollective and a set of reduction actions up our sleeves, we set our 2024 targets: a 5% cut in total Scope 1 & 2 emissions and a 6% cut in per guest per day Scope 3 emissions (see here for a brief explanation of the Scopes, which are part of any carbon analysis. Our Scope 1 & 2 reduction goal is based on our “absolute,” or total emissions in these categories. Our Scope 3 reduction goal is an “intensity target,” because it is based on emissions per guest per day. (This follows the current GHG Protocols and guidance)  

2024 GHG Emissions Results

In early 2024, we completed our 2^nd annual GHG emissions inventory with ecollective. Our reduction goal for 2024 for Scopes 1&2 was 5% (this was an absolute, or total emissions, reduction goal). 2024 Scope 1 & 2 reduction: 0.3%

Our reduction goal for 2024 for Scope 3 was 6% (this goal was an intensity target, based on the emissions per guest per day). 2024 Scope 3 reduction: 18%

Average 2024 carbon footprint per guest per day excluding guest travel (kg CO2e): 41 kg. Average 2024 carbon footprint per guest per day including guest travel (kg CO2e): 437 kg

Progress and Perspective

Our overall per guest per day emissions decreased in 2024 and even more impressively, so did our total emissions (excluding guest travel) despite hosting significantly more guests than the preceding year. That’s a milestone we’re proud of. We missed our absolute Scope 1 & 2 reduction goal however, due to a small increase in vehicle emissions due to running more trips. We await progress in the electric passenger van market as well as electric vehicle charging infrastructure in order to directly address these emissions. We’re encouraged by our overall progress but know Net Zero is a journey and we are just getting started. We’ll continue to work to reduce our footprint each year. Some years we’ll hit our targets, some we may not, but we’re committed to transparency every step of the way so we can share what we learn as we work toward lower carbon travel. 

Guest Travel Emissions

As part of our carbon footprint analysis, ecollective estimated the emissions from guest travel to and from our trips. While we include this in some reporting, we exclude it from the Scope 3 emissions tied to our reduction targets. Why? These emissions are hard to track accurately—Trek Travel doesn’t book guest travel—and even harder to control. That said, they represent a major part of travel’s climate impact, and we won’t ignore them. We can encourage behavior change that will bring these emissions down–on our webpage you’ll find some recommendations for ways to cut down on the emissions related to your travel. We are also evaluating future investments in Sustainable Aviation Fuel—more on this in a future report.

What’s next? 2025 Carbon Reduction Goals and Projects

Greenhouse Gas Emissions reduction goals for 2025: Scopes 1&2: 4% overall reduction goal
Scope 3: 6% per guest per day reduction goal

These are some of the projects we plan to undertake to reach these goals:

• Purchase fully renewable electricity for the Madison Warehouse.
• In partnership with ecollective, we plan to implement a Hotel Energy Survey, which will enable us to vet new hotels for their sustainability efforts and will provide feedback to our current partners for ways they can lower their emissions. This is critical, as Trek Travel is unable to finance or force our hotel partners to reduce their emissions, but clear information will help us make decisions and help our partners reach their emission reduction goals. These emissions savings will be realized year after year.
• We will continue pursuing our mission to have an environmentally friendly version of all guest consumable items and gifts.
• In partnership with ecollective, we will conduct a summer training session with our Trip Design Team for designing lower emission trips.
• We will host an internal training for all staff on personal carbon footprint reduction, conducted by our in-house Sustainability Program Manager and our friends at Trek Bikes.
• Implement a tire/tube recycling program for our European operations.

We do not have all the answers, and the travel industry faces many challenges on the road to Net Zero, but we believe it is important to do what we can to reduce our impact year after year. We will update our webpage and issue an Impact Report annually to keep you informed of our plans and methodology.

Have an idea for how we can reduce emissions? Get in touch at sustainability@trektravel.com. We hope you’ll join us on this important journey to help protect the special places and communities that make travel meaningful and worthwhile.

At Trek Travel, sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It’s a consideration in everything we do—from the routes we create to the partnerships we foster. As part of our ongoing efforts to combat climate change, we’ve partnered with Klimate, an organization that empowers businesses to invest in high-quality carbon removal projects with confidence. Through this partnership, we are actively supporting projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it long-term.

Klimate has helped us connect with carbon removal technologies that align with Trek Travel’s sustainability goals. These projects outlined below represent some of the most promising and verifiable solutions for carbon sequestration, and we’re proud to contribute to these projects in a small way in 2025.

Carbon Removal Projects: Making a Real Difference

InPlanet: Accelerating Carbon Removal Through Enhanced Rock Weathering

One of the most innovative projects we’re supporting is InPlanet, which focuses on Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW). This technique accelerates a natural process of carbon removal from the atmosphere by grinding and spreading rocks on agricultural land. The process stores CO₂ in minerals in soil, creating a permanent solution for carbon sequestration. In addition to carbon removal, ERW improves soil quality, boosts agriculture’s resilience to climate impacts like drought, and provides benefits for local ecosystems.

Charm Industrial: A Revolutionary Approach to Bio-Oil Carbon Storage

Charm Industrial offers a unique method for carbon removal through bio-oil, created by converting waste biomass into a carbon-rich liquid via fast pyrolysis. The bio-oil is then injected deep into underground rock formations, where it solidifies and remains stored for millennia. This method ensures carbon permanence for over 1,000 years, making it a long-lasting solution to mitigating climate change.

Charm Industrial also uses waste biomass from wildfire-thinning projects, turning potential environmental hazards into a valuable resource. By supporting this project, Trek Travel helps address the growing threat of wildfires while removing carbon from the atmosphere for the long term.

Carbuna: Unlocking the Potential of Biochar for Climate Solutions

Another impactful project we’re involved with is Carbuna, which focuses on biochar, a carbon-negative product created by heating organic material in the absence of oxygen. Biochar has many applications, from improving soil health to being used in building materials that store carbon. Carbuna’s products are climate-positive, and the company has been a pioneer in the biochar industry.

What makes this project even more exciting is its ability to scale. Carbuna works with a network of biochar producers and has its own production technology, which allows for rapid expansion of biochar use across agriculture and construction sectors. By investing in Carbuna, Trek Travel is supporting an industry that has the potential to drive real, widespread change in both the agricultural and building sectors.

Andes Microbial Carbon Mineralization: Accelerating Carbon Storage in Soils

In the US Midwest, Andes Microbial Carbon Mineralization is partnering with farmers to apply microorganisms alongside crop seeds. These microbes accelerate the natural process of mineralizing CO₂ in soil, turning atmospheric carbon into stable minerals. This project is highly scalable and could be implemented across agricultural lands globally.

The benefits go beyond just carbon removal. The microbes also improve plant health by increasing nutrient availability, strengthening soil structure, and improving water retention. This method is a great example of how climate action can go hand-in-hand with agricultural productivity, making it a win-win for farmers and the environment, right in Trek Travel’s midwestern backyard.

Join Us in the Fight Against Climate Change

Trek Travel believes that every trip should contribute to the well-being of the planet in as many ways as possible. As we continue to create memorable cycling and hiking experiences for our guests, we are committed to finding new ways to integrate sustainability into everything we do. From supporting carbon removal projects to incorporating eco-friendly practices on our trips, we are dedicated to reducing our environmental impact and making the world a better place for future generations. We invite you to join us on this journey and help make a difference.

At Trek Travel, we’re committed to making cycling more sustainable, and the introduction of the Trek Voda Bio Water Bottle is a noteworthy part of that effort. Included on all of our North American trips, with a similar plant-based bottle provided on our European tours, the Voda Bio bottle helps Trek Travel reduce our environmental impact.

A Greener Choice for Cyclists

The body of the Voda Bio Water Bottle is made from 95% plant-based materials and is 100% recyclable, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic bottles (The poppet is made of 30% bio-based materials and the cap is 20%, but the cap is not recyclable). Totally free from BPA and phthalates, this bottle performs just like a conventional cycling bottle, but with less impact on the planet. As part of Trek Bike’s broader sustainability commitment, they aim for all Voda bottles to be fully plant-based and recyclable by 2026.

Reducing Plastic Waste in Cycling

Plastic waste presents a significant challenge for the environment, and at Trek Travel, we’re working to reduce our reliance on plastic. By choosing the Voda Bio bottle, you’re not just staying hydrated—you’re supporting a greener cycling experience. This bottle aligns with Trek and Trek Travel’s efforts to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our products and services, from eco-friendly gear to carbon-conscious cycling tours.

With its ergonomic design and durable construction, the Voda Bio Water Bottle is perfect for staying hydrated on long rides through stunning destinations like Tuscany or Glacier National Park. Lightweight and easy to grip, this bottle is built to keep you hydrated throughout your cycling adventure. Whether you’re cycling through Europe’s rolling vineyards or tackling rugged mountain paths, this bottle is built to perform in every environment.

Join Us in Supporting a Greener Future

The Trek Voda Bio Water Bottle is just one way we’re working to reduce waste and enhance sustainability. You can learn more about our efforts by visiting our Sustainability Landing Page or diving into our 2024 Impact Report for detailed insights into how Trek Travel is striving to make a positive environmental impact. Start planning your next adventure today, and join us in cycling toward a more sustainable future.