The operator created a dedicated team of more than 10 people to work towards meeting – and exceeding – the five pillars of B Corp certification, addressing more than 200 questions on the way.
Explore confirmed on Monday (12 February) it has achieved the required standards, with managing director Michael Edwards telling TTG businesses in the adventure travel space could not afford not to become B Corp Certified or face being at a competitive disadvantage.
The business achieved a B Corp score of 84.1. Highlights of its application included hitting its target of a 7% reduction in carbon intensity footprint (per passenger night) in its 2022/23 year.
’Becoming B Corp Certified isn’t a not-for-profit exercise’
The launch of the Explore Foundation, meanwhile, allowed the operator to donate more than £60,000 to the Morocco Earthquake Fund.
The foundation has supported two initiatives; funding 61 bicycles for One Bike in Tanzania, and donating more than £14,000 to Lone Buffalo to fund its Develop Together programme. Support for a third initiative is under way.
Managing director Michael Edwards said going through the B Corp process had made Explore a better business.
"we are completely delighted to have achieved B Corp status today [Monday 12 February], earlier than we expected, after a long process," said Edwards.
"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."
It caps off a hugely successful – if poignant – period in the operator’s 40-plus history, which saw the business crowned Sustainable Travel Company of the Year at the Travel Industry Awards 2023 by TTG – nine months after founder Derek Moore passed away.
Speaking to TTG after the awards, agency sales manager Philippa Meadows said Explore’s commitment to sustainability could be traced back to Moore’s ethos and influence. "Sustainability is in our DNA, and Derek Moore started that," she said.
Explore recently grew its trade team with the appointment of Alison Davis as its new agency sales executive, who joined the operator from Audley Travel.
It has made a strong start to 2024 too, breaking three sales records in January – best single day, week and month for sales, which saw an 11% year-on-year increase in sales through the trade.
Certification sees Explore join travel’s B Corp ranks alongside the likes of direct rivals like Intrepid Travel and Exodus Adventure Travels.
Other travel B Corps include InsideJapan Tours and InsideAsia Tours parent Inside Travel Group, Experience Travel Group, Byway and Pura Aventura. TTG Media also became B Corp Certified late last year.
Owing to an increase in passenger numbers and business travel, Explore has acknowledged its absolute carbon footprint has increased. It is targeting a reduction of 4.5% over 2023/24.
It has introduced new policies such as a new low carbon travel incentive for staff to reduce business travel impacts, including a focus on more rail travel.
Explore is also transitioning away from carbon offsets through its partnership with Klimate, focusing instead on investment in carbon removal technologies with each travelling passenger.
