The walking specialist, which is run as a co-operative, achieved a score of 84.9, meeting the 80-plus B Impact Assessment threshold set by B Lab – the not-for-profit behind B Corp.
Certification assesses business operations in their entirety across five main pillars: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.
B Corp firms must evidence their commitment to responsible business practices relating to energy, waste and water use, workers’ rights, diversity and corporate transparency. They must also make a legally binding commitment to embedding their purpose mission in their operations.
Travel B Corps include Intrepid Travel, Exodus Adventure Travels, Inside Travel Group, Byway Travel and Audley Travel. TTG Media became B Corp Certified shortly before Christmas.
Last week, Not in the Guidebooks founder and chief executive Carol Savage told TTG it was her belief that B Corp certification would become "a minimum standard" in travel as a sector that can clean up its operations and bring positive change to destinations around the world.
HF Holidays’ assessment saw it set detail its work with carbon consultancy ecollective to measure its carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of its product by 5% a year, which includes transitioning to renewable energy at all 16 of its UK country houses – saving 113,000kg of CO2 emissions per annum – installing electric car charging points and removing single-use plastics.
It has also committed to ensuring all menus at its UK country houses are seasonal and focus on dishes using fresh ingredients which are either home-grown or UK-sourced.
Elsewhere, it has expanded its Rail Adventures product and added more opportunities to travel by rail for 2025, pledged to increase its use of local guides to reduce transport to overseas destinations. HF currently offers walking holidays in 260 destinations worldwide.
It has also ceased producing print brochures and sending direct mail and is guiding guests to online information sources instead.
Meanwhile, HF’s pledges to achieve "systemic change" include:
- Continuing to reduce the carbon intensity of its product by 5% each year with the aim of achieving net zero by 2040, or earlier
- Reducing waste and increasing recycling by 50% before 2025
- Working with supply chain partners across food, drink, linen and waste who have made commitments to net zero
- Helping members and guests make more informed choices by including CO2 emissions on representative trips available online
David Harrington, HF Holidays chief executive, said everyone at the operator was "immensely proud" of its score, adding certification reflected "a long-term commitment" to ensuring the business operates ethically and to high social and environmental standards
"Run as a co-operative, we have 48,000 members who are part owners of a business powered by its people and values. Walking holidays are by their nature, a low-carbon choice, and responsible travel has always been a part of our DNA. But it has been a huge effort from everyone across the business to ensure our holidays positively impact communities, people and the planet in the places we travel to.
"As a certified B Corp in the travel and hospitality industry, we’re now a business that is helping lead a global movement for an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy."
