Recertification Interview

Planet B by Bollig Tours has successfully renewed its Travelife certification. We spoke with Susanne Salm, Product and Sustainability Manager at Planet B, about what this recertification means for the company – and why sustainable travel is by no means synonymous with giving up comfort.

Question for Susanne Salm (Product and Sustainability Manager):

You now have confirmation from Travelife: Planet B has been successfully recertified. How do you feel?

Susanne:

Proud, satisfied, relieved.

Question:

Why?

Susanne:

Let’s start from the end: relieved, because there really are a lot of criteria to meet. A total of 260 criteria, ranging from our internal structure to the entire product selection and planning, right through to our customers. Every process was examined closely. Satisfied, of course, because we managed it, and because it now clearly shows that we are not greenwashing. And proud, because it once again demonstrates how good we are (laughs) and how professionally we offer exciting trips with authentic experiences, sustainably.

Question:

What do you mean by that – what does sustainable travel have to do with authentic experiences? Doesn’t sustainability relate to the environment, and therefore mean limitations on travel experience and comfort?

Susanne:

Quite the opposite! It’s true that sustainability is often equated with giving up comfort and convenience, and is therefore initially rejected. But travellers who have gone on trips with us mostly come back thrilled – there are always a few grumblers, of course (laughs). And really, what speaks against it? Nothing. Wherever possible, we avoid domestic flights, because they cost time and often disrupt the harmony of the itinerary. We stay in beautiful, well-located hotels and offer a varied programme (culture, nature and interesting insights into everyday life). The world is growing closer together, and people are curious about one another.

Question:

That’s true: domestic flights aren’t always about comfort – they also eat up a lot of time due to waiting and security checks. Not to mention the CO₂ emissions. You offset those, don’t you – does that make it sustainable?

Susanne:

Offsetting alone doesn’t create sustainability, because the emissions still occur. Offsetting simply means that the CO₂ emissions generated by our trips are saved elsewhere through environmentally friendly and sustainable projects. What matters is checking, right from the start – when choosing the destination and planning the trip – how the journey can be designed with the lowest possible CO₂ footprint (as mentioned, without sacrificing comfort or the beauty of the trip). The order is clearly defined: avoidance – reduction – offsetting.

For every trip, we calculate the CO₂ emissions and offset them through Atmosfair, in the form of a donation. The independent organisation Atmosfair uses this donation to expand renewable energy in countries where it is still scarce. This saves/prevents CO₂ that would otherwise have been produced if these countries had used fossil fuels instead. At the same time, local people benefit, as they often gain access to clean, reliable energy for the first time (e.g. efficient stoves, solar power, biomass, and investment in environmental education as well).

You can find out more about offsetting in our blog article CO2 Offsetting – A Modern Indulgence? – Planet B as well as on the Atmosfair website (in German at atmosfair.de/de, or in English at atmosfair.de/en).

Question:

Okay, we’re curious. Can you also tell us something about the hotels – what does sustainability mean when it comes to accommodation? Do your travellers stay in “normal” hotels, as one would expect?

Susanne:

(Laughs) How do you define normal? I think our accommodations are pretty super-normal. We choose them very carefully, because our guests should feel comfortable. Wherever possible, we stay in or near old towns, by the sea, or in the middle of nature – depending on the type of trip. Sometimes we stay in internationally certified hotels, sometimes in (certified) hotels belonging to national hotel chains, and often in beautiful boutique accommodations, which of course offer travellers the greatest experience. With the latter two options, the money stays with the owners (creating value in the destination country), which is important, because it allows the owners to continue investing in quality and sustainability – which in turn benefits our guests.

Question:

That all sounds appealing and makes one curious. It’s worth taking a closer look at your trips – without any fear of sustainability.

Susanne:

Absolutely! (Laughs) Our trips are both varied and high-quality, as well as strictly audited – according to international guidelines such as UNEP, EMAS III, ISO 14001 and ISO 26000, on which the Travelife criteria are based. That’s no small feat – these are high standards that we have met and must continue to meet. You can think of the certification a bit like a roadworthiness test (“TÜV”): every component of a company and of the product being certified is checked against defined criteria. And of course, this “test” also covers the basics – “classic travel”. Because sustainable travel isn’t tied to a particular type of trip – it’s always possible. And it’s fun! We pay attention to that too, because travel should bring joy – both to our guests and to the people we meet along the way.