Sustainability

At Insight Global Education, we believe that travel can be a powerful tool for learning, but it must be done responsibly. We are dedicated to designing student travel programs that prioritize environmental sustainability while maintaining the educational and cultural integrity of our experiences. Here are some of the strategies we implement to reduce the environmental footprint of our programs:

Transportation

We actively seek out low-impact transportation options to minimize our carbon footprint:

  • Use of public transportation wherever possible, while mitigating risk.

  • Prioritize electric vehicles and direct flights when available to reduce emissions.

  • Choose appropriately sized buses to suit group sizes, ensuring no unnecessary fuel consumption.

  • Encourage carpooling or group buses to and from airports, and walk when distances are short.

  • Book accommodations close to activities to reduce the need for additional transport.


Accommodation

  • Choose hotels in downtown locations that are walkable to most activities
  • Prioritize eco-hotels or hotels that practice sustainability and are locally or family-owned.
  • Encourage sustainable behaviors among students, such as reusing towels and conserving water.


Meals

  • Avoid single-use plastics wherever possible.
  • Serve family-style meals to reduce packaging and encourage mindful consumption.
  • Prioritize locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, working with minority-owned restaurants when possible.
  • Offer vegetarian and plant-based options on all programs, and encourage conversations about minimizing food waste with groups.

Activities

We partner with organizations and communities that align with our sustainability values:

  • Focus on low-carbon activities like hiking, cooking classes, and art workshops.

  • Support outdoor education and environmental restoration projects such as tree planting, coral restoration, and permaculture farming.

  • Avoid or be selective with high-carbon activities (e.g., driving tours), favoring environmentally-friendly alternatives (walking tours).

  • Partner with BIPOC-led organizations and prioritize nonprofits and social enterprises to support local economies.

Waste Management

  • Encourage students to bring reusable water bottles and reduce single-use plastics.
  • Prioritize dining in over takeout and offer non-plastic snacks like fruit or zero-waste store products.
  • Research and educate students about local composting and recycling systems to minimize waste on the ground.
  • Introduce fun challenges, like limiting garbage generation on bus trips, to promote responsible waste management.

Education & Advocacy

Sustainability education is integrated into our programs to create lasting awareness:

  • Facilitate conversations around environmental footprints, privilege in sustainability, and the responsibility travelers have in visiting new places.

  • Develop curriculum components like zero-waste workshops and discussions about local environmental practices.

  • Promote “Leave a Positive Trace” principles, encouraging students to contribute positively to the environment and community.

  • Discuss ethics and polarization around environmental practices, fostering critical thinking and advocacy.
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Community Engagement

We believe in community-led experiences that support and uplift local voices:

  • Prepare students before engaging with local partners and highlight outcomes through debriefs.
  • Work with BIPOC-led organizations and hire local guides to lead activities.
  • Respect community spaces by practicing mindful environmental actions and supporting community-driven initiatives.

At Insight Global Education, we are continually refining our approach to sustainability, ensuring that each program not only leaves a positive impact on students but also on the environment and communities we visit. By traveling responsibly, we can help create a more sustainable future for everyone.

If you’d like to learn more about our sustainable travel practices or how we can design a program tailored to your school’s sustainability goals, feel free to reach out!

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Insight Global Education

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