balancing the benefits to our clients, employees, local communities and environment
Our responsible tourism policy aims to continually improve the way we run our business to the benefit of all involved.We divide this policy into four fundamental components:
- carbon neutrality
- NatureKids foundation
- biodiesel
- corporate sustainability efforts and alliances
carbon neutrality
did you know Nature Air is the world’s first carbon neutral airline?
Since 2004, Nature Air has been the first airline to compensate for 100% of its carbon emissions from flight operations through the conservation of tropical forests. We do this through the Costa Rican governmental agency in charge of certification and compensation efforts - FONAFIFO. Our goal in the short tem is to become a carbon positive company. Nature Air concentrates its conservation programs in the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. With your choice to fly Nature Air you help combat the impacts of deforestation, maintain biodiversity, contribute to the sustainable livelihoods of those protecting the forest and protect the places and communities we fly to!
NatureKids foundation
Conservation is not sustainable without education and economic benefits for local communities. Nature Air created the NatureKids Foundation to provide low-income families with the tools they need to build more self-reliant futures. NatureKids teaches local community members English and computing as a way to ensure self-empowerment and better opportunities for employment. Since 2006, we have taught over 500 students.
biodiesel
Nature Air’s ground vehicles use bio-diesel, made from used cooking oils. The alternative fuel is biodegradable, renewable and burns much cleaner than regular gasoline. Not only does it produce fewer harmful greenhouse gases, it also repurposes a contaminant waste, converting it into a biodegradable product. For each liter of oil disposed of in the kitchen sink, we contaminate as much as 10,000 liters of potable water in our rivers. Nature Air’s personnel contribute to this initiative by bringing used cooking oil collected from their homes.
corporate sustainability efforts and alliances
Additional components of our CSR program include:
- Creation of recycling collection station and placement of many recycling bins throughout the company to separate cardboard, paper, plastic and aluminum.
- Promotion of equitable business and paying fair prices to local providers when possible.
- Encouraging car pooling and promoting electronic communication (e.g. email rather than fax, on-line banking).
- Responsible use of water and electricity.
- Reforestation activities and participation in national clean up campaigns.
- Formation of a Sustainability Committee within the company to support the NatureKids Foundation and coordinate recycling, reducing energy usage and environmentally friendly activities amongst the staff.
- Contracting local employees for all our positions including operations, maintenance and administration.
- Provide complimentary air lift for local communities in case of emergencies.
- Participating in social initiatives and organizations such as the local Ecotourism Society CANAECO, the Climate Neutral Network and Rainforest Alliance.
With the guidance of Rainforest Alliance’s tourism verification program, we are currently going through an integral evaluation that will lead to a renewed and improved internal energy efficiency strategy.