Our approach to sustainability

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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!