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We're proud to be B Corp Certified

 
Explore has had sustainable travel in its DNA since its conception in 1981. Having a positive impact on the places we visit and the people we meet is at the heart of what we do. 

We are therefore so proud that Explore is now a Certified B Corporation. As a Certified B Corp in the travel industry, we're counted among businesses that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy.

What does it mean to be a 'B Corp'?

B Corp, or B Corporation, certification recognises companies that meet a high standard of social and environmental performance. 

The B stands for Benefit for all. This is a movement to change our economic system so that it positively impacts all stakeholders - workers, communities, customers, and our planet. It focuses on making all businesses, in all industries, a force for good. 

Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy. Having B Corp status identifies a company as meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices. 

What is involved in applying to become a recognised B Corp?

The process to achieve and maintain B Corp Certification is rigorous and requires engaging teams and departments from right across the business. It's a long process (up to three years) that involves documentation of the company's business model, and submitting information about operations, structure and various work processes. 

We submitted our application in January 2023, having started on the process back in November 2021. We had eleven people in the Explore B Corp team, who met fortnightly throughout this process. We had representatives from the Product, Sustainability, Finance, and HR teams as well as Michael Edwards our Managing Director. As part of our application we answered 213 questions across the five B Corp pillars of Workers, Community, Environment, Customers and Governance, as well as a disclosure questionnaire on where and how we operate. It is a great undertaking and a long process, but a hugely valuable one in which we learned a lot about ourselves, our purpose and our direction. 

How does this affect my trips and experiences with Explore?

Explore's tours have always had sustainability at their heart - we want to ensure that our small groups have minimal footprint and maximum positive impact on the places we visit. That's why we choose small, locally owned and run businesses to support – from local partners and tour leaders, to hotels and restaurants. It's why our groups always meet and interact with locals on their holidays. It's why we support charities and initiatives all over the world, and why we set up the Explore Foundation to bring our customers and the destinations and communities that we visit even closer.

None of this will change. But we've made a commitment to continue along the journey of improvement, to always strive to be better than yesterday. We've now been independently verified by the globally-recognised B Corporation to meet some of the highest standards out there, which will hopefully give our customers reassurance that we're doing everything we can to provide responsible, once-in-a-lifetime adventures while being a force for good and protecting our planet for generations of future travellers. 

 
Explore’s Managing Director Michael Edwards says:
we are completely delighted to have achieved B Corp status today, earlier than we expected, after a long process. Explore is a business that’s purpose led in everything it does – we’re continually striving to Be Better Than Yesterday and we absolutely want to be held accountable for the goals we set ourselves.”

 

What is the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence?

All B Corporation businesses must sign the Declaration of Interdependence as part of their certification, making a commitment to embody the values of the B Corp community and work towards our collective vision of business as a force for good.

Will you be tested again?

Yes, we'll be re-evaluated in three years' time. Being a B Corp isn't about being the best. It's about consistently working to be better. Every day just being that little bit 'Better than Yesterday'. So we must undertake the assessment and verification process every three years and recertify to ensure we're keeping up with evolving standards and knowledge. and continuing to improve.

Helping to improve the wider industry with Travel by B Corp

Explore is delighted to be part of Travel by B Corp, a collective of B Corp Certified companies in the travel industry. We believe that together, we're stronger, and we recognise the greater impact of working together - to share ideas and learn from each other.

As a group of travel businesses united by a desire to do the right thing, by people and the planet, we have pledged to:

- take the hard work and doubt out of making sustainable travel choices
- remain accountable, transparent and honest in our communications
- ensure that being more sustainable only adds to our travel experiences, never compromises them
- be friendly, welcoming and not preachy

We're totally committed to creating authentic, once-in-a-lifetime adventures that have positive impact on the places we visit. And working with other B Corp Certified businesses we'll be the most recognised, respected collective voice for sustainable and ethical travel. 
More about Travel by B Corp

 

Our first Purpose Paper

Our first Purpose Paper tracks our progress against our sustainability goals. Learn more about how we're responsible at heart, and all the initiatives we're taking to continually improve sustainable travel on our tours.

Structured into Planet, Places, and People sections, the paper highlights where we have exceeded our targets but also identifies areas where we need to improve in working towards the Glasgow Declaration targets.
Read the paper