Ecology Matters

Examples of Sustainable Practice at Adventure Consultants

• In New Zealand we operate at a sustainable level. We work hard to minimise overcrowding and pressure on existing facilities such as Department of Conservation huts - during peak periods our groups will take tents into the mountains as an alternative to overcrowding huts, and bringing all rubbish, including human waste, out from the mountains is our standard policy.
• We aim to foster a sense of environmental stewardship through education for all our team members and staff across the organisation - by visiting the natural environments of the world we become champions for preserving what we have.
• Lightweight semi-permanent base camps are disassembled after each season to preserve the natural environment.
• In New Zealand we limit our carbon footprint and environmental impact by restricting group size, using fuel efficient vehicles, minimising the use of vehicles and aircraft, ensuring recycling, re-using and composting are a priority, and minimising packaging by bulk buying of food supplies.
• In the Himalaya / Nepal we have innovative solar powered systems to run our Base Camps and mountain operations
• For our remote international operations local products are sourced where possible for menus and minimal wastage is encouraged with recycling and re-use.
• We use kerosene or gas for cooking in the Himalaya, rather than wood burning stoves and animal dung fires are used for heating in lodges rather than wood.
• All rubbish is removed from our Nepal and international Base Camps and team members are encouraged to carry their own human waste to designated dumping areas.
• On Kilimanjaro we are reducing our plastic footprint by banning single use plastic bags, choosing recyclable plastic containers and cleaning, sorting and recycling all plastic waste.
• We use UV water purification systems where possible on all of our treks and expeditions to avoid the use of plastic water bottles.
• Wagbags (personal human waste collection bags) are used on all our expeditions where appropriate.
• We advocate sustainable tourism to the wider mountain guiding community through media and public speaking. 

Antarctica – a special place

• Our expeditions to Antarctica are governed by the IAATO Treaty and we comply with all aspects of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
• All rubbish is removed from Antarctica
• Empty fuel drums are recovered and removed from Antarctica
• All human waste - urine and faeces - is removed from Union Glacier Camp for appropriate disposal in Chile
• Where practicable solid waste is removed from field camps, including at Mount Vinson and within one degree of the South Pole
• Grey water is strained before disposal in designated sites
• Camps are operated with solar power

Recent examples of Sustainable Practice

• Flying out the rubbish from other groups from Carstensz Basecamps on helicopter backflights during our Carstensz Oct 2016 Expedition.
• Recycling of all e-waste from our Wanaka office headquarters Oct 2016.
• Support of the Otago Kiwi Recovery Charitable Trust through sponsorship (Nov 2016) and an active trapping programme on the West coast of South Island, New Zealand.
• AC CEO Guy Cotter speaking at the Sustainable Summits Conference 2016.
• Complete clean up of our Everest Base Camp after the earthquake in 2015.