What are easyJet's Plans for Reducing CO₂ Emissions?
In 2023 alone, a staggering 55.5 million UK residents embarked on international trips, cumulatively emitting more than 12.7 million tonnes of CO₂e.
Amid growing concerns about the environmental impact of travel, easyJet holidays steps forward with its inaugural Impact Report, showcasing a strong commitment to delivering affordable yet eco-conscious holiday experiences.
In the report, easyJet sets out its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, called ‘Holiday Better.’
This strategy is built on three core pillars designed to foster sustainable practices within the travel industry and enhance the holiday experience for consumers.
easyJet's report
The Impact Report isn’t just a display of past achievements but is a clear roadmap towards future objectives.
The document underscores easyJet holidays' collaborations with diverse organisations and talents, merging industry expertise with innovative solutions to drive the ESG agenda forward efficiently.
The three core goals that guide the ESG strategy are:
- Create better holiday choices
- Keep holidays special
- Transform travel for everyone
“Our first Impact Report marks a significant milestone for us on our journey to support our customers to Holiday Better, and whilst we’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far, in collaboration with our partners, it’s clear that now is the time to deliver progress in order to meet both short and long term targets,” explains Matt Callaghan, easyJet Holidays’ Chief Operating Officer.
“That’s why we believe in the need for pace over perfection. We’re focusing on solutions and partnerships to make our holidays more sustainable, and we’re using rapid implementation to trial projects and share our results with the industry.”
Among its highlighted goals, easyJet is working to promote responsible tourism. It has also embraced electric vehicle transfers in Rhodes, Greece, which have cut CO₂ emissions by 27 tonnes.
The company’s dedication to enhancing animal welfare is also evident, having banned all activities involving animal captivity and performances starting March 2024.
In an effort to ramp up sustainable lodging options, easyJet has partnered with hotels to achieve globally recognised sustainability certifications.
In partnership with its Destination Management Company in Greece and joined forces with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, easyJet offers a dedicated sustainable tourism course for hotel partners in Spain, Greece and Turkey.
Results of these sustainable initiatives include:
- More than 300 hotels signing up for GSTC sustainability training
- 37% of the holiday providers best-selling properties are certified
- The new electric transfer fleet in Rhodes has transferred more than 5,200 passengers 152,000km, saving the equivalent of 27 tonnes of CO₂e.
“We have made a great start, and easyJet is on track to meet our interim target of 35% reduction in GHG emissions intensity by 2035,” says Lahiru Ranasinghe, easyJet’s Director of Sustainability.
“Nevertheless we have a challenging and exciting journey ahead and it is a privilege to take on the responsibility of guiding easyJet and the wider industry towards a more sustainable future.”
Empowering local communities
easJet holidays places a strong emphasis on enriching the local communities near its tourist destinations.
By focusing on lesser-known destinations, the company broadens the socio-economic impacts of tourism, supporting local businesses and generating employment opportunities.
Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and the introduction of food waste reduction AI technology in Costa Adeje are just a few examples of how easyJet is transforming holidays.
The results from these include:
- 56% reduction in buffet waste at Bahia Principe Sunlight Costa Adeje following the implementation of the Winnow AI Technology partnership – leading to an estimated saving of more than €100,000 (nearly US$110,000) of food in one year
- Increased income for the tourism sector in Akureyri, Iceland, following the launch of easyJet holidays 2023 winter – providing more year-round jobs and reduced seasonality
- Delivering 99% local employment for destination management companies
“ABTA believes that travel and tourism is a powerful force for good: creating economic and social value, sustaining jobs, supporting businesses and boosting inward investment for destinations where many livelihoods depend on tourism,” explains Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive at ABTA.
“To deliver the benefits of tourism and address crucial environmental and social challenges, travel companies need to integrate sustainability into all areas of their business. We work with our members, destinations and other stakeholders on these issues.”
Transforming sustainable travel
At the core of easyJet holidays' strategy is the integration of sustainability into day-to-day business decisions and collaborations.
The company has undertaken several partnerships aimed at fostering sustainability across the tourism industry.
- UN Tourism: Working to develop the first tourism specific ESG Framework, including an investigative survey with hundreds of hotel and DMC partners, showcasing the wider supply chains engagement in sustainability practices
- ICRT Global: As a founding partner of the not-for-profit organisation, easyJet holidays is providing support towards ICRT Global training courses – helping to improve education and knowledge sharing on responsible tourism
- ABTA: working closely with the UK’s leading travel association on sustainability in travel and making progress towards joint ESG goals
With these integrations and innovations, easyJet maintains its vision of transforming travel for everyone, making sustainable options more accessible and advancing the industry towards a greener future.
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