Our sustainability policy

Untamed Travelling undertakes to comply with all national laws, rules and regulations. Also, Untamed Travelling commits to corporate social responsibility by:

• Appoint an employee responsible for the duties of the Sustainability Coordinator: this will be Merijn Huijzendveld (Marketing Coordinator) as of March 2023;
• Having a sustainable mission that is communicated to customers, partners and suppliers’
• Having a written sustainability policy aimed at reducing the negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of the organization’s activities;
• Collaborate with external working groups that support sustainability in tourism;
• Conducting a baseline measurement of the organization’s sustainability performance;
• Having a sustainable action plan with clear goals, actions, measures, responsibilities and timeline;
• Develop documented procedures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the sustainability policy, objectives;
• To ensure organizational transparency in sustainability through public reporting and communication;
• To ensure that all employees are fully aware of the sustainability policy and are committed to implementing and improving it.

Untamed Travelling commits to sustainable internal management through a clear and well-communicated social policy by:

• Grant employees freedom of employment and contract termination with four weeks’ notice without penalty.
• Inclusion of working conditions according to the National Labor Code and a job description in the employment contract;
• Indication of the wage rate in the contract equal to or higher than the national legal wage;
• Determination and compensation of overtime based on mutual agreement;
• Provide medical and liability insurance according to national laws;
• Comply with national legislation regarding the minimum age of employees;
• Having documented effective procedures for employees to communicate their complaints and expectations;
• Having a clear disciplinary procedure that is effectively communicated to employees;
• Conduct regular employee satisfaction surveys and follow up on them’
• Provide periodic guidance and training for employees on roles, rights and responsibilities regarding health and safety issues.
• Creating opportunities for students in the form of (graduate) internships and traineeships;

Untamed Travelling commits to environmental and community relations by;

• All of Untamed Travelling’s staff works from home. The Amsterdam office is intended as co-working space only (for necessary appointments only).
• Actively reduce the use of disposables;
• Prefer durable goods and services, office and catering supplies, corporate gifts and merchandise;
• Set standard copiers and printers to double-sided printing to save paper;
• Our policy is not to publish brochures, including online. We do any flyer in very small circulation (FSC), so we don’t have to throw anything away;
• Turn off all lights and equipment when out of use;
• By complying with national waste disposal laws;
• Use reusable cups, cutlery and plates in the office;
• Separate all materials that can be recycled and organize collection;
• Refill ink cartridges and toners for reuse and/or return empty refills to the provider;
• Recycle or properly return batteries;
• Measure and reduce staff-related travel and encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transportation;
• Financially encourage employees to use public transportation or other sustainable means of transportation;
• Reduce work-home traffic by encouraging telecommuting, video meetings and working from home;
• Offer periodic guidance and training to staff members on their responsibilities regarding CSR policies;
• Contribute to the protection and preservation of local historical, archaeological, cultural and spiritual significant features of destinations, and not impede access to them by local residents.

Based on a survey of our key local partners, we have developed and implemented a policy to improve the sustainability practices of our local partners. Our goal is to make sustainable development concrete for each partner within our company.

Untamed Travelling undertakes to do so by;

• Maintain a record of sustainability practices of local partners;
• Work only with organizations that actually implement sustainability;
• Pay attention to local benefits when selecting local agents and their social policies for employees;
• Create awareness about sustainable tourism and its impacts;
• Educate local partners about Travelife sustainability standards and national tourism standards and laws;
• Sign a cooperation contract with local partners to encourage their practices related to sustainability;
• Review sustainability practices of key partners regularly to ensure they are actually working sustainably;
• Include important sustainability clauses in contracts with local partners;
• Motivate local partners to participate in (local) sustainability trainings;
• Include clauses in partner contracts that allow for early termination of the contractual agreement if the local partner does not take adequate measures to prevent child sexual exploitation in the direct supply chain;
• Ensure that local partners comply with all relevant national laws protecting workers’ rights.

Untamed Travelling tries to ensure that vehicles used during trips do not cause more than average pollution. We believe transportation is an important aspect of sustainable tourism and we do our best to reduce the average level of pollution.

Untamed Travelling undertakes to do so by;

• Select the most sustainable options, considering price and comfort when selecting transportation options to the destination;
• Integrate (sustainable) public transportation to the starting point of international travel;
• Prefer more sustainable alternatives when selecting transportation options for transfers and excursions at the destination, taking into account price, comfort and practical considerations;

Untamed Travelling tries to achieve a fully sustainable supply chain. The partner accommodations play an important role here and are encouraged and motivated to implement sustainable practices.

Untamed Travelling undertakes to do so by;

• Select accommodations that meet sustainability and quality standards with a special focus on corporate social responsibility;
• Prefer accommodations that are locally owned and locally managed;
• Select accommodations that provide employment opportunities for local people;
• Encourage accommodations to take sustainability training;
• Clearly and actively communicate sustainability goals to accommodations;
• Give clear preference to accommodations working with internationally recognized certification (GSTC recognized);
• Motivate contracted accommodations to certify with an Internationally Recognized Certification (GSTC recognized);
• Include sustainability clauses in all accommodation contracts that address child labor, anti-corruption and bribery, waste management and biodiversity protection;
• Accommodations that already operate sustainably offer benefits;
• Ensure that through the supply chain, children’s rights are respected and guaranteed;
• Include a clause in contracts that establishes a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation of children;
• Include a clause allowing for early termination of a contractual agreement if the accommodation does not take adequate measures to prevent child sexual exploitation.

Untamed Travelling places great importance on animal welfare and community welfare and therefore strives to travel with a small footprint. We protect the authenticity of local people and the natural environment and oppose the shearing of wildlife and pollution of the environment.

Untamed Travelling undertakes to do so by;

• Advise clients on standards of behavior during excursions and activities with a focus on respecting local culture, nature and environment;
• We keep a list of things we do NOT want: Not to offer excursions that harm people, animals, plants, natural resources such as water and energy, or are socially and culturally unacceptable. Not to offer excursions that involve the detention of wild species, except properly regulated activities in accordance with local, national and international laws;
• Not cooperate with businesses that hunt, consume, exhibit, sell or trade wildlife species;
• Employ competent and/or certified guides to accompany clients at sensitive cultural and/or ecological destinations;
• Promote excursions and activities directly involving local communities to our clients;
• Promote excursions and activities that support the local environment and biodiversity (such as visiting protected areas) to our clients.

Untamed Travelling strives to involve as many locals as possible in the tourism industry. We stand for a fair and safe working environment that supports and respects local communities. Untamed Travelling commits to this by:

• Prefer working with local tour guides, representatives, guides, porters, drivers, cooks and other local staff in case of equal ability;
• Ensure that all local partners comply with applicable international, national and local laws, regulations, and minimum standards in the tourism industry;
• Pay tour guides, local representatives, guides, porters and other local staff hired at least a living wage equal to or higher than the local legal minimum;
• Ensure that local workers are qualified and regularly trained;
• Ensure that local employees are informed about and comply with relevant aspects of the sustainability policy through training sessions, workshops, newsletters and informal communications;
• Have local employees educate clients on relevant sustainability issues at the destination, social norms and values, and human rights;
• Train local workers in avoiding the sexual exploitation of children and also communicate this to clients.

Untamed Travelling is committed to a sustainable destination by:

• Not select destinations where tourism leads to structural negative local impacts (unless the organization’s involvement results in clear counterbalancing effects);
• Compliance with legally based land use planning, protected areas and heritage regulation.
• Support initiatives that improve the relationship between accommodations and local suppliers;
• Support biodiversity conservation, (including protected areas and areas of high biodiversity) through integration into product offerings;
• Not to advertise souvenirs containing endangered flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES Convention and the IUCN Red List of Historical and Archaeological Artifacts.

Prior to booking, Untamed Travelling commits to customer communication and protection by;

• Providing guidelines for client contact followed by advisors;
• Comply fully with the AVG law;
• Adhere to relevant values and codes of conduct in marketing and advertising whereby no more is promised than is delivered;
• Provide product and pricing information clearly, completely and accurately;
• Providing destination information that is factually accurate, balanced and complete;
• Inform customers about the environmental impact of different transportation options to reach the destination and offer sustainable alternatives when available;
• Promote sustainable accommodations, excursions and trasport with logos in a way that it is clearly seen by the customer as “the better option.

After and during the client’s trip, Untamed Travelling commits:

• Provide information to clients about the natural environment, local culture and cultural heritage at the travel destination;
• Educate consumers on key sustainability issues and destination issues and provide tips on how customers can make a positive contribution;
• Inform clients of risks and precautions regarding health and safety issues at the destination;
• Keep a contact person and phone number permanently available for emergencies;
• Train staff and have guidelines available for dealing with emergencies;
• Provide clients with written guidelines and/or codes of conduct for sensitive excursions and activities to minimize negative visitor impact and maximize enjoyment;
• Provide clients with information about commercial, sexual or other forms of exploitation and harassment, with names of children;
• Inform clients of applicable laws regarding the purchase and export of historical or religious souvenirs containing materials of endangered flora and/or fauna of the destination;
• Motivate customers to visit local restaurants and stores;
• Encourage customers to donate to local charities and sustainable initiatives.

After the client’s trip, Untamed Travelling commits;

• Systematically measure customer satisfaction and consider results for service and product improvements;
• Having clear procedures in case of customer complaints and dissatisfaction.