Welcome to sustainability
Our Group vision for a sustainable future is to ensure the longevity of our business by delivering sustainable and profitable growth; to integrate sustainability into everything that we do - every product we sell, every customer's holiday experience, every employee's role; and to make dreams come true for everyone involved in our business, today and for the future.
Our sustainability strategy is based on the belief that the success of our business rests on our commitment to be economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. Our approach is to maximise the benefits that our business brings while minimising the adverse impacts of our operations.
Sustainability can help us to differentiate our business and products, by giving customers a more authentic and higher quality experience. It also offers us opportunities to reduce costs and manage risk, driving value for our business and our shareholders.
Our sustainability strategy is centred on the key areas which we believe contribute to a sustainable business model: people, marketplace (encompassing customers and suppliers), environment and communities. It is only by addressing sustainability in all these areas that we can create a truly sustainable business.
Vision for 2020
Our vision for 2020 includes some ambitious aims to provide us with greater focus and direction over the medium to long term. Click on each area below to see what we aim to achieve:
Marketplace
Our marketplace
Vision: To strengthen relationships with our partners, to support and promote a sustainable supply chain and to engage with our customers to make more sustainable choices, while continuing to grow our profits.
Aims: Customers
To have sustainability messages in all appropriate customer-facing materials, including brochures, newsletters, websites and resort guides, across all brands by 2014
To communicate sustainability messages to 1.5 million children travelling with us by 2020
To achieve an average score of very good/excellent on Customer Feedback Questionnaires for our sustainable performance by 2020
Aims: Supply Chain
At least 1,500 Group suppliers of accommodation to have Travelife awards by 2020
All Group-owned/controlled hotels to have a Travelife Gold award by 2020
All tour operator overseas agents in mainstream destinations to have a Travelife Award/similar certification by 2020
Incorporate sustainability criteria into all procurement processes by 2015
Top 500 Group accommodation suppliers, by passenger volume, to manage and significantly reduce water usage by 2020
Environment
Our environment
Vision: To become a lower carbon business as part of a low-carbon economy, taking responsibility for resource use in a finite world.
Aims: Airline
Group airlines to make 12% improvement in efficiency by 2020, against a 2008 baseline
100% in-flight meal service products to be made from recyclable/biodegradable materials by 2020
Zero in-flight waste to landfill at base airports by 2020
Increase the number of destination airports that recycle at overseas stations by 2020
Aims: Offices and retail
Reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2020, against a 2010 baseline
20% electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020
Zero head office waste to landfill by 2020
100% paper purchased from recycled/certified sustainable sources by 2020
Reduce paper usage by 20% by 2020, against a 2010 baseline
Each Thomas Cook source market head office will achieve environmental certification by 2020
Introduce an internal carbon charge for all business travel emissions by 2015
People
Our people
Vision: To engage all of our employees so that they understand sustainability and build it into what they do, both at work and at home.
Aims:
Sustainability/environment to be a measurable objective of segment boards and above by 2013
To incorporate sustainability into Company values by 2014
100% of employees in the Group to have undergone training in sustainability by 2015
To have an average score of 'excellent' on employee engagement surveys for business performance and commitment to sustainability by 2020
Communities
Our communities
Vision: To build relationships and partnerships with the communities in all the places where our customers visit and where our people live and work.
Aims:
Develop and implement a child protection policy for the Group and all segments by 2013
Prioritise local sourcing of food and beverages at all Group-owned hotels by 2014
All segments to implement a charitable strategy for home and destination communities by 2014
Measure and improve the contribution our holidays bring to communities and the local economy by 2020
