Efforts To Be Green

We have always tried to run our business and our trips with environmentally friendly practices at the forefront of our operations.  This year, though, we have decided to take extra efforts to work toward a "greener" workplace.  Here are some of the things we have done, and are doing...

1. We are GREEN STAR certified, and do our best to uphold their policies and constantly strive to create a more environmentally friendly workplace.
2. We have chosen to offer trips in a sport that has very little impact on the environment. 
3. We are Leave-No-Trace trainers, and all of our guides both practice and promote Leave-No-Trace ethics while in the field.
4. We choose not to have campfires on multi-day trips, since it's hard to do a proper Leave-No-Trace fire and often the rocks turn red and impacts are left behind. 
5. We pack out all waste from the backcountry, including our solid human waste, in an effort to reduce our impact on the fjords.
   
6. We include speakers and presentations on climate change in our guide training.
7. We encourage our guides to minimize water and electricity usage around the shop.  Our goal is to cut our utility bill by 25%.
   
8. We commute to and from work (we live at Bear Paw Lodge) by bike, and our guides live right at the kayak shop.  They usually bike or walk when they need to get around.
   
9. We've minimized (and are working to eliminate) the use of paper cups on our trips as an effort to reduce waste.
10. We sell water bottles and coffee mugs in our shop, with the hope of lessening the use of plastic disposable bottles and paper coffee cups.
    
11. We recycle everything we can - from paper and plastics to batteries and computers, and use a composting system for food waste. 
12. We use recycled office paper, toilet paper, paper towels, and garbage bags.
13. All of our cleaning products, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, etc are envrionmentally friendly.
14. All of our gear purchases are with the environment in mind - for example, we recently purchased all new drybags that are PVC free.
    
15. For every trip we book, we donate money toward renewable energy in Alaska, through Tour Green and their carbon offset program.
16. We've replaced almost all of the lights in the house with the most energy efficient flourescent lighting.
    
17. We've replaced many of the windows in the house, and intend to replace the rest.
    
18. We rarely use heat during the summer months at the kayak shop.
    

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