Blog.

With our mission of creating unique and meaningful travel experiences that inspire a better world, sustainability has inspired our trips since the beginning.

During the 2020 pandemic, when travel stopped and borders closed, we took a moment to pause and reassess which led us to prioritise sustainable tourism, a core value of our company. We formed a volunteer group from different departments and used the B Corp assessment as a guide for our sustainability journey, recognising the positive impact businesses can have. 

Our journey towards carbon neutrality began in 2019 with offsetting travel emissions through tree planting initiatives in Tucuman's Yungas and Misiones rainforest. In 2022, we became a B Corp-certified company, joining a worldwide community committed to doing good for the environment and society. This achievement motivated us to partner with The Long Run and work with others in the tourism industry to promote sustainable practices. Our goal now is to lead the way in sustainable tourism, inspiring other companies to do the same.

In the face of unprecedented global challenges, we recognised the importance of making a positive impact. That's why we prioritise providing travel experiences that deeply immerse people in local cultures and contribute to supporting communities. Our aim is for travellers to return home transformed by genuine and meaningful exchanges.

We place significant emphasis on embedding sustainability throughout our trips, offices, and entire value chain. We also work to minimise plastic use and reduce our carbon footprint. To ensure progress, we appointed a Head of Triple at the end of 2022 Impact to keep us steadfast in our commitment.

These milestones are just the beginning. As a travel agency, we understand our influence in shaping how people experience the world and embrace our responsibility to inspire, educate, and advocate for the protection and preservation of the places we visit, using travel as a force for positive change.

Here's how we improved in 2023…

We recognise the planet’s ongoing climate crisis and the urgency with which we must all play a part to reduce our environmental impact. We have undertaken significant initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint, promote responsible waste management, and foster a culture of sustainability within our company and beyond.

• In 2023, we compensated for our 2021 and 2022 footprints through the Bayka project, planting 40 trees to aid the regeneration of the Misiones jungle, an ecosystem severely impacted by human activity.

• We successfully compensated 61% of our trips, allocating USD 22,800 to create a Glove Forest comprising 2,381 trees. We also introduced the footprint calculation concept to many agencies and clients who hadn't prioritized it or were unfamiliar with it.

• We made a plan for sorting and recycling, and it's working. Each month, designated team members are responsible for recording, separating, and delivering waste to appropriate recycling centres. Last year, we recycled about 840 kilograms of waste from our offices in Chile and Argentina. On Earth Day, we collected old electronics from our homes and gave them to be reused.

• We found ways to improve lunch packaging at our Argentina offices. Now, instead of using plastic, we've switched to biodegradable salad bowls for the approximately 120 salads we serve each month.

• Every two weeks in the off-season, our team met to discuss different topics and encourage diverse perspectives and opinions. One of these is "B Moments," where we focus on sustainability issues like climate change, recycling, and setting sustainability goals.

• We participated in events like The Long Run 4C Calls and Day of B Corps to stay informed, gain new tools, and collaborate with other companies focused on sustainability.

• We urged our main suppliers to stop using single-use plastics. They replaced plastic bottles with glass or aluminium, and plastic cutlery with biodegradable options. While most stopped using plastic wrap, some challenges remain. When plastic couldn't be replaced, we suggested using bottles from companies with positive impacts, like Villavicencio by Danone, a B Corp.

• We looked into our main suppliers' sustainability. We sent them a survey covering topics like certifications, recycling, plastic policies, renewable energy use, community engagement, and inclusivity. We also made a newsletter, "Our Suppliers and Their Path to Sustainability" for internal communication.

• 36% of payments to suppliers correspond to the greenest hotels, and 12% of our payments go to independent local service providers.

• We successfully raised $6,000 for the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund, a non-profit initiative dedicated to preserving and celebrating this remarkable national park and its surrounding communities, aiming to reduce pressure on this precious destination's heritage and promote more sustainable and inclusive tourism.

Our goal is to be catalysts for change, facilitating sustainable journeys that are meaningful and preserve local culture. It's a top priority, and we expect big growth in this area in 2024. We aim to differentiate ourselves by providing trips that create a profound impact, with local guides at each destination. The majority of our suppliers are independent, giving us a competitive advantage as they offer authentic insights into the destination and its people's way of life.

• We finalised and shared our catalogue of meaningful experiences that go beyond the ordinary to make a positive impact while connecting travellers with local communities and cultures. Our goal for our Travel Designers by 2026 is to include at least one of these experiences into each quoted trip of at least 20 days.

• We've seen significant growth in impactful, eco-friendly experiences. For instance, our Bike & Wine program in Chile's Central Valley, which combines cycling with wine tasting, increased by 40% compared to last year. This involves about 60 local providers including guides, chefs, and musicians. Another example is our Extraordinary Atacama experience, which blends nature, culture, adventure, and stargazing. This immersive desert glamping experience also supports around 10 local individuals each time it's set up and grew by 15% compared to last year.

• We've organised three Giving Back trips which focused on environmental restoration and joining regeneration projects with organisations like Legado Chile dedicated to managing conservation projects and promoting the appreciation of cultural heritage.

• Our team increased by 34%.

• Gender Diversity: 85% of our team members are women.

• Six new positions were created within Glove.

• Nine team members received promotions.

• Processes and best practices were established across all areas to improve day-to-day operations.

• Annual Employee Survey: We conduct an annual anonymous survey, achieving 100% engagement. The Employee Net Promoter Score (E-NPS) reached 38.46, with an average satisfaction rating of 8.37.

• Individual interviews highlighted strengths such as the team, environment, flexibility, leadership, freedom, and autonomy.

• Team Training: The team underwent 40 training sessions covering role responsibilities, environmental and social impact, and site inspections.

• Regular Meetings: Weekly or bi-weekly meetings were established in all areas, contributing to efficient communication.

• Annual Trip: In June, our annual trip to Atacama served as a platform to present accomplishments, outline objectives, and foster team-building activities.

•Team Motivation: We ran the #HappyGlovers campaign, sharing positive quotes, music, and topics that resonate with us. We also organised recreational competitions to strengthen team unity.

Effective communication is key to spreading awareness and advocating the path towards sustainability. Through our social media channels, we aim to build a meaningful connection with our audience and inspire positive actions.

• Our newsletters in 2023 provided subscribers with updates on our reforestation projects and featured off-the-path destinations.

• Through our newly launched blog, we will delve deeper into sustainability topics, offering insightful articles that align with our values of responsible travel.

• We dedicated monthly posts across our social media channels specifically to sustainability-related topics to highlight our ongoing commitment to responsible travel, such as updates on our reforestation efforts, promoting off-the-beaten-path destinations, advocating for responsible tourism behaviours, and showcasing our partnerships with sustainable accommodations and tour operators.

By engaging our audience in conversations about sustainability, we aim to foster a community of conscientious travellers who prioritise ethical and environmentally friendly travel practices. Together, we believe we can make a significant impact on the journey towards a more sustainable future for the travel industry and our planet.