Minette Batters, former NFU president, has called for travel firms to include nature in their business metrics.
- Speaking at Abta’s Travel Convention, Batters emphasised the need for sustainability at the core of travel businesses.
- She urged both local and global governmental bodies to provide leadership on sustainability issues.
- Industry leaders from travel companies, such as easyJet and MSC Cruises, shared their active approaches towards sustainability.
- The travel industry is encouraged to move from mere compliance to proactive, scientifically-driven sustainability initiatives.
Minette Batters, the former president of the National Farmers’ Union, has voiced a strong message to travel businesses, emphasising the necessity to include nature on the balance sheet. Speaking at Abta’s Travel Convention, she stressed the importance of embedding sustainability at the heart of business operations to foster change across the sector.
In her address, Batters called upon the ‘middle layer’ of government, comprising civil servants and scientists, to assume a more prominent role in leading sustainability efforts. This leadership, she asserted, is not only essential within the United Kingdom but is a demand that extends globally, highlighting a pressing need for cohesive governmental machinery to step up and facilitate the transition towards sustainable business practices.
Industry leaders echoed Batters’ sentiments, recognising the crucial role of sustainability in their operations. Matt Callaghan, COO of easyJet holidays, highlighted the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles throughout their company. He described a ‘democratised’ approach to sustainability, involving extensive participation from their workforce. This inclusivity, as Callaghan indicated, is pivotal in fostering innovative and impactful changes across the travel industry.
Callaghan noted the challenges faced in aligning all members of the company behind new policies, citing their animal welfare policy as an example. Despite initial resistance, the policy’s success was evident when competitors adopted similar measures, demonstrating how bold corporate decisions can ripple through the entire industry.
Similarly, MSC Cruises’ VP of sustainability, Linden Coppell, underscored the necessity of educating board members and integrating sustainability into core governance practices. The company is striving to ensure that sustainability considerations pervade every facet of operations, from ship design to the carbon footprint of onboard activities.
Coppell emphasised that while consumers are becoming increasingly aware of sustainability issues, it is crucial for businesses to take decisive action. The shift from superficial compliance to scientific and comprehensive approaches in tackling these concerns is vital for meaningful progress in the travel sector.
The travel industry must prioritise sustainability, encouraged by leadership from both businesses and governmental bodies, to initiate profound change.
