Das Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitsprogramm von MyTrail

Clean nature and a vibrant environment are at the heart of everything we do. Without it, we will not exist. We will do our best to make it clean and vibrant in the future as well. We walk our trails with love and respect for nature. We prefer local and sustainable products and try to keep our footprints as green as possible. And because we love our trees, we plant a new one somewhere in the world always when we make a campfire.

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MyTrail's environmental and sustainability policy

• We want to offer our customers high-quality and sustainably produced services.

• We recognise the negative environmental impacts of our business and are working systematically to reduce them.

• We follow Finnish legislation and regulations. MyTrail declares that it will comply with all relevant international, national and local agreements, laws and other environmental, health, safety and labor regulations.

• Our goals are to increase the environmental awareness of our guests, develop the sustainability of our own procurement, save energy, reduce waste, and develop environmental management and responsibility as a whole.

• We offer our services in Oulanka, Riisitunturi, and Hossa National parks. We have a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus and we follow the principles of sustainable nature tourism when operating in the national park.

• Our environmental work is guided by the Green Activities environmental program for sustainable tourism and Visit Finland's Sustainable Travel Finland program.

• As a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism has committed to aligning its actions with the latest scientific recommendations, so as to ensure its approach remains consistent with a rise of no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. It also has agreed to deliver or update climate action plans within 12 months, align plans with the five pathways of the Declaration (Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate, Collaborate, Finance), report publicly on an annual basis, and work in a collaborative spirit, sharing good practices and solutions, and disseminating information.

 

Why?

For our part, we want to take care of our environment, offer our guests the opportunity to enjoy nature, and increase their awareness of the uniqueness of our nature. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact in accordance with the principle of continuous improvement.

 

How do we do that?

• We walk in nature and choose our destination so that we're saving the terrain. We use built trails and existing facilities, such as fireplaces.

• We leave no trace. We collect garbage with us and recycle and sort them following the local recycling guidelines.

• The equipments we use are chosen to last and be durable. We will repair broken ones where possible and give unnecessary equipment for someone else to use.

• We only use recyclable or washable dishes (Kupilka environmentally friendly dishes for example)

• Our trail meals include a lot of local ingredients and come from local producers.

• We minimize food waste by planning meals carefully.

• We use local products and services always when possible.

• We minimize vehicle emissions by optimizing routes and also staff uses group-transfers.

• We tell our guests about the sustainable choices we have made and talk about sustainability by the campfire. We emphasize the special features and values ​​of each nature site and encourage our guests to act responsibly.

• The local nature and culture are strongly present in all our activities and programs. We value and respect the original culture of the region and strive to bring out its uniqueness in our programs and follow the ethical guidelines for Sámi tourism made by Saamelaiskäräjät.

• It is important to us that our partners also share the same values of sustainability. We engage with local businesses, national parks, and global partners to share sustainable best practices.

• By working with local companies and tourism association we aim to support sustainable tourism and increase year-round employment in the area.

• We save water, electricity, and heating energy.

• We regularly instruct and train our staff.

• We cooperate with the national parks in the area (Oulanka and Riisitunturi) according to the cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus. Read more about Metsähallitus and sustainable nature tourism.

• We donate part of our income to the environment every year (Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation)

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What can you do?

Please respect our nature, it is very precious to us all. Get to know the ways to be in nature, the rules of national parks , and everyones' rights. Ask us if you need advice and from Visit Finland website you can find a lot of information about sustainability. 

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MyTrail is proud to have Green Activities eco-label 

Green Key is the world’s leading sustainability program for tourism enterprises, with over 8,000 certified sites in 90 countries. We are proud to share that MyTrail is among them!

In addition, we have been awarded the Green Activities eco-label – a recognition given to outdoor service providers in travel who meet strict environmental requirements. This certification shows our commitment to creating environmentally friendly, sustainable, and responsible services.

A Green Activities certified company is dedicated not only to reducing the environmental impact of its activities but also to raising awareness among both guests and staff. The certificate is based on sustainability criteria specifically designed for activity program operators, and every applicant must commit to meeting these criteria and reporting on them regularly.

For us, this isn’t just a badge – it’s a promise to protect the nature of Kuusamo and Lapland while offering you unforgettable adventures. Read more about the program here: greenkey.fi/en

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MyTrail is certified Sustainable Travel Finland company

In order for the tourism industry to be able to respond to changing demand and secure its future, development must be sustainable. For this purpose, Visit Finland has developed the Sustainable Travel Finland programme for tourism companies and destinations. The destinations and companies that undergo the entire programme and meet the criteria, are awarded with Sustainable Travel Finland label. MyTrail has done that!

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MyTrail is a signatory of  the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism

1st June 2022 MunPolku MyTrail has become a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism unites travel and tourism behind a common set of pathways for climate action, aligning the sector with global commitments and catalyzing collaborative solutions to the many challenges facing businesses and destinations globally. The Glasgow Declaration encourages the acceleration of climate action in tourism by securing commitments to reduce emissions in tourism by at least 50% over the next decade and achieve Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050.

 

The Declaration will be officially launched at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021. The information about the launch event is available here. As a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, MyTrail has committed to aligning its actions with the latest scientific recommendations, so as to ensure its approach remains consistent with a rise of no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. It also has agreed to deliver or update climate action plans within 12 months, align plans with the five pathways of the Declaration (Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate, Collaborate, Finance), report publicly on an annual basis, and work in a collaborative spirit, sharing good practices and solutions, and disseminating information.

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