Purpose
At Helios Tour, located in the heart of Rovaniemi, Finland, we are deeply committed to preserving the pristine
natural environment of Lapland while providing unforgettable experiences for our guests. Our sustainability policy
reflects our dedication to minimizing our environmental impact, supporting the local community, and promoting
responsible tourism.
Scope
This policy applies to Helios Tour company’s sustainability policy.
Sustainability management & legal compliance
Sustainability commitment
Helios Tour leadership is wholly committed to the company’s sustainability performance and endorses the company’s sustainability mission statement and policy.
We will use the Travelife platform to report on our sustainability progress and to monitor and evaluate progress. We are committed to (publicly) communicating our sustainability performance (by means of the Travelife report) every two years.
Sustainability management & legal compliance
Helios Tour commits to continuous improvement of sustainability practices, including the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of our sustainability policy, with dedicated personnel and resources to achieve our sustainability goals.
Helios Tour follows all local, regional, national, and international regulations as they relate to human resources, human rights, children’s rights, land rights, environmental management, wildlife, and land use. We follow a strict Code of Ethics, including a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, bribery, forced labor, and discrimination.
Internal management: social policy & human rights
Employees
We recognize that our employees are our biggest asset for delivering meaningful travel experiences to our customers. Therefore, we maintain a clear human resource policy to ensure:
– Legal compliance in all regards
– A safe, healthy, and welcoming workplace
– Fair contract conditions including fair compensation
– Training opportunities including trainings on topics of sustainability, sexual harassment and exploitation in the workplace and in the industry
– Participation in the sustainability planning activities
– Inclusion and equal opportunity for all employees, particularly with regard to compensation, promotion, distribution of benefits, and professional development opportunities.
Internal management: environment
Environmental management of office operations
We are committed to keeping the direct footprint of our business operations as minimal as possible and actively follow [circularity/the 5Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle)/sustainability/environmentallysound principles. We have the following measures in place:
– Follow all local and national regulations concerning environmental law
– Measure, monitor, and evaluate use of all commodities and products purchased, especially in terms of water, waste, energy, and carbon
– Procure office supply. locally, seasonally, fair trade, in bulk, with limited packaging, sustainability certified whenever possible
– Print only when absolutely necessary, and when printing, always print double-sided on grayscale.
– Paper must always be FSC or equivalent certified, with preference for the highest percentage postconsumer materials
– Energy saving measures are in place in all common areas
– All equipment and lighting is energy-efficient and turned off/unplugged/on sleep mode when not in use
– Water saving measures are in place in all common areas and restrooms, including water capture in external areas
– Waste is separated into the following categories: [plastic, organic, paper products, metal, hazardous, glass, e-waste, waste to landfill] and is disposed of properly by [a private company / municipality]
– Noise, light, and air pollution is minimised
Carbon management of office operations
Helios Tour is committed to reducing our carbon footprint and endeavours to reduce the amount we travel as much as possible by:
– Reduce the amount we travel as much as possible
– Monitoring and measuremeasuring carbon footprint with the aim to reduce as much as possible and offset remaining amounts.
– Encourageing remote work whenever possible, and when it is not possible, making it easier for employees to limit their carbon footprint by use of eco modes of transportation.
– We commit to offsetting our remaining direct and indirect carbon from travel and fossil energy use via [carbon offset company].
– Implementing procedures such as [e.g. following proper maintenance for vehicle fleet, offering incentives such as bike rental stipend and showers].
– Installing energy efficient equipment and appliances [where appropriate/possible]
Land use
Helios Tour offices are located in a [urban/suburban/rural] area and abides by all local land use laws, respects local cultural and natural resources in our business operations, and favours sustainable architecture and design.
General suppliers policy
Helios Tour is committed to sourcing its products and services responsibly, avoiding harmful impacts on society, culture and nature as much as possible. We expect the same level of engagement and commitment
from our suppliers.
Helios Tour prefers to work with partners that share the company’s commitment towards sustainability. This means that we prefer partners that have a written sustainability statement as an integral part of their business policy and/or a clear sustainability policy in place.
Helios Tour prefers to work with suppliers in the destinations that are locally owned or managed, use local and seasonal products and services and benefit the local community by hiring locally and equitably and by providing fair working conditions.
Whenever possible, Helios Tour prefers to select partner companies that comply with tourism-specific,internationally recognized (GSTC-accredited) certifications, or other sustainability certifications like B Corp or ISO.
Helios Tour offers incentives for partners that are actively engaged in sustainable operations.
Helios Tour expects its suppliers to adhere to a Code of Conduct, that includes the following responsible business practices:
– Complying with all local, regional, national and international regulations
– Respecting all human rights including labour rights, children’s rights, and women’s rights
– Committing to fair employment conditions
– Following anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-extortion, and anti-discrimination policies
– Protecting children from (sexual) exploitation through tourism
– Protecting the environment and natural resources
– Acting in the best interest of local communities
– Protecting the interests of Helios Tour
Our complete supplier Code of Conduct is available here: heliostour.fi/codeofconduct
– Following a zero-tolerance policy, Helios Tour will immediately terminate any relationships with suppliers that violate our Code of Conduct, specifically through acts of bribery, corruption, discrimination, and violation of human rights.
– Helios Tour raises awareness amongst its suppliers to adopt sound social and environmental practices, and to minimise their carbon footprint.
– Helios Tour actively collaborates with suppliers to improve their sustainability performance. We encourage our suppliers to continuously learn about sustainability and provide/support this learning whenever possible.
– Helios Tour maintains open lines of communication with our suppliers and partners and encourage feedback from our stakeholders at any time and on any topic, particularly sustainability.
Inbound partner agencies
– Helios Tour only works with partner agencies that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct.
– In the entire process of developing and operating our travel packages, Helios Tour expects partner agencies to act in the best interests of the surrounding communities and environment as well as our guests.
– Helios Tour provides partner agencies opportunities for sustainability learning and management, including free access to the Travelife online learning and reporting platform.
Transport
Helios Tour only works with transport providers that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct.
When selecting transport for guests and business related travel, Helios Tour commits to choosing the most environmentally friendly options available for travelling to, from, and within the destination – taking into consideration distance, price, route, and comfort.
Helios Tour has implemented clear guidelines for reducing GHG emissions from transport and selecting the most environmentally friendly transport options, including the following measures:
– Preferring ground transport over air transport for short-haul travel destinations
– Avoiding in-destination flights as much as possible
– Offering rail-and-fly transport to and from the airport
– Using public transportation options in the destinations
– Using appropriate vehicle sizes for group sizes and purchasing most efficient vehicles available
– Training drivers on eco-driving techniques
Helios Tour endeavours – and has a system in place – to measure and compensate for the unavoidable GHG emissions produced from transportation. Compensation costs are either included by default in the package price or compensation is actively promoted to the clients as a booking option.
Accommodations
– Helios Tour only works with accommodations that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct.
– In the accommodation selection process, Helios Tour considers the sustainability practices of an accommodation by taking into account their sustainability management and social and environmental footprint.
– Helios Tour favours the selection of accommodations that respect and protect land use, as well as respectfully highlight elements of local architecture, customs and traditions
Activities & Excursions
– Helios Tour only works with excursion providers that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct.
– All excursions and activities run by or on behalf of Helios Tour respect local customs, traditions, cultural integrity, and natural resources.
– Helios Tour commits to not offering any excursions that harm humans, wildlife, environment, or natural resources such as water and energy.
– Helios Tour gives preference to excursions and activities that benefit local communities, respect animal welfare and support environmental protection.
– Helios Tour has clear Codes of Conduct in place for environmentally and culturally sensitive excursions offered by or on behalf of the company. These guidelines are actively communicated to guests as well as distributed and implemented by excursion providers and guides.
– Helios Tour provides excursion and attraction providers opportunities for sustainability learning and management, including free access to the Travelife online learning and reporting platform.
Tour leaders, local representatives, and guides
– Helios Tour commits to hiring qualified local guides, porters, drivers or other local staff, paying them living wages and providing safe and fair working conditions. We expect the same from our suppliers that are hiring local staff on behalf of Helios Tour.
– Helios Tour understands that guides are the intermediaries between the guests and the socio-cultural and environmental context of the destination, conveying the appropriate behaviour to them. Therefore, we make sure that all guides hired by or leading tours on behalf of Helios Tour are trained regularly and knowledgeable in the sustainability topics of the destination.
– Our guides are specifically trained on the critical issue of sexual exploitation of children in tourism.
– Helios Tour provides guides with learning opportunities on sustainability topics including providing free access to the Travelife online learning platform.
Destinations
Sustainable destinations
– Helios Tour prefers to work in destinations that have committed to sustainability as an integral part of community and destination development.
– Helios Tour aims to send visitors to secondary or lesser-known tourist areas to avoid overtourism.
– Helios Tour does not support destinations that have a questionable human rights track record.
Contribution to local communities / local economic network
Helios Tour commits to positive contribution to the destinations in which we operate, by:
– Sourcing locally and responsibly, and supporting local and traditional arts and culture
– Encouraging guests to shop responsibly and educating them about illegal/prohibited/forbidden souvenirs
– Collaborating with other local tourism stakeholders to further the sustainable tourism development of the destination
– Respecting and advocating for all human rights (i.e. children’s rights, women’s rights, labour rights, etc.) as well as land rights
Environmental stewardship in destinations
Helios Tour commits to environmental stewardship in the destinations in which we operate by:
– Ensuring natural resources remain intact
– Educating guests about the principles of responsible travel and responsible visitor behaviour
– Customer communication and protection
Privacy
Our customer protection is our priority. Therefore, we maintain a clear privacy policy
https://shop.heliostour.fi/en/rovaniemi to ensure
Legal compliance in all regards
Customers and their data are protected
Customers know how their information is being used
Marketing and communication
Helios Tour strives to be truthful in all situations and at all times. We offer products and services that do what we claim in our communications.
We honour our explicit and implicit commitments and promises.
We are anti-greenwashing and stand behind our sustainability claims 100%.
We endeavour to be inclusive and representative in our marketing, and to always take into account cultural, religious, and ethnic sensitivities.
Sustainability communication
Customers are informed about the social and environmental impact of their journey, and are educated about the sustainable choices they can make, including transparent communication on:
– Certified accommodations
– Compensation of their trips CO2 emissions
– Activities and excursions that benefit the local communities and environmental protection
– Responsible shopping and illegal souvenirs
Customer experience
The company aims for all customer experiences to be positive, and follows strict health and safety, marketing, and excursion policies to ensure customer satisfaction. These policies cover specific topics of (but not limited to):
– Health and safety
– Emergency procedures
– Privacy
– Group numbers
– Greenhouse Gas emissions and offsetting
– Transport
– Shopping
– Sexual exploitation
– Children in tourism
– Satisfaction and complaints
Helios Tour maintains open lines of communication with our customers and encourages feedback at any time and on any topic, particularly sustainability.
Contact / Responsible person
All staff are responsible for the ownership and undertaking of this policy.
All staff are responsible for the promotion and implementation of this sustainability policy within their departments.
The implementation of this policy will be lead by the Sustainability Coordinator, Elena Arkhipova, who can be reached at elena.arkhipova@heliostour.fi
Effective date
This policy is effective from 24.10.2024.
Revision history
This policy was revised on 24.10.2024