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Be confident that sustainability and responsible tourism are at the heart of your Vagabond or Driftwood small-group tour of Ireland.

To cement this commitment, we have joined the Tourism Declares A Climate Emergency initiative.

Our Declaration

  • 💚 We declare our shared commitment to unite all stakeholders in transforming tourism to deliver effective climate action.
  • 0️⃣ We support the global commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050.
  • 🌍 We will consistently align our actions with the latest scientific recommendations, so as to ensure our approach remains consistent with a rise of no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.

As a signatory, we commit to:

  • 🗓️ Deliver a climate action plan within 12 month of signing.
  • 🎯 Report publicly both progress against interim and long-term targets, as well as the actions being taken, at least annually.
  • 5️⃣ Align our plan with five shared pathways (measure, decarbonise, regenerate, collaborate, finance) to ensure climate action is consistent across all of tourism.
  • 🗨️ Share information on activities connected to Tourism Declares and/or the Glasgow Declaration among contacts and networks.
  • 🤝 Work in a collaborative and constructive spirit with other members of Tourism Declares and/or signatories of the Glasgow Declaration.

What is Responsible Tourism?

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“Tourism that takes full account of its current and future environmental, social and economic impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and communities” - The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)

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BCorp Sheep Square Logo

We Care For You, Our Community and Planet

Like you, we want our children (and grandchildren) to be able to enjoy authentic travel experiences into the future.

That's why we're a certified B Corp.

We aim to bring long-term benefits to both our community and our planet.

Rob & Amy Rankin
+ the Vagabond Team

 

 

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Our Goals

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💚 Long-term benefit to our local communities and the planet

🌞 Solar power and EV charging point at VagaHQ

🦌 Respect Irish nature, wildlife and landscapes via Leave No Trace

♻️ Save water, avoid printing and recycle waste at VagaHQ

Our Achievements

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🌳 Plant 1 native Irish tree per guest to offset emissions

🍃 Offsetting our carbon since 2016

☕ Compostable coffee cups for all guests

💡 Continue to listen, learn, innovate and start conversations

 

 

We Plant A Native Irish Tree For Each Guest

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We sow a minimum of 3,000 native Irish trees every year. That's at least one for every guest!

We've always been passionate about carbon off-setting using native Irish tree species. This approach promotes biodiversity and helps foster better habitats for insects, birds and mammals.

Sustainability In All We Do

B Corp

We are a certified B Corp, committed to driving forward a more ethical and sustainable business model for the future.

In practice, that means bringing long-term benefits to our guests, our team, our suppliers and their communities.

We have joined a community of over 2600 businesses globally who are certified B Corps.

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Local Ethos

Local is better. Local is more authentic. Local is more sustainable.

Our small-group tours spend an average of 9 days and 8 nights in rural Ireland. Our providers are locally-owned so the bulk of our guest spend is retained in the community.

Aside from the economic benefits, this approach aims to avoid overtourism. Even better, staying local is more rewarding for you, our guest.

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EV Charging

We wanted to make driving an EV to work at Vagabond easier.

Installing a fast car charging point was the first step to achieving this.

Even better, the energy used to charge our cars is generated from...

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Solar Power

Our HQ location in the sunny south east of Ireland meant that installing solar power was a no-brainer.

The solar panels installed on our roof in 2019 have helped us lower conventional energy use and, consequently, carbon emissions.

Another reason to feel good when the sun shines!

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Tree Planting

We are planting more native trees around Ireland than ever, in partnership with Trees on the Land.

Over 3,000 trees per year represents a tree planted for every guest who travels with us.

Using native Irish tree species promotes biodiversity and helps foster more effective natural habitats for insects, birds and mammals.

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Saving Water

We estimate that we conserve at least 48,000 litres of water per year.

Our tour vehicles are jet-washed ONLY at completion of each tour. We use eco-friendly cleaning products while on tour; Lilly’s Eco Clean internally and NoH20 externally. The micro-fibre cloths are washed with Ecover eco-friendly tablets are stored in washable cloth bags for re-use.

Even our toilets are green! All cisterns at VagaHQ are fitted with 2x 500ml water bottles, reducing the amount required per flush.

 

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Recycling

All waste generated both on tour and at VagaHQ is recycled.

This includes office paper, card and cardboard, hard and soft plastic, polystyrene, batteries, phones and printer cartridges, metals and glass.

We compost all organic waste. Also 100% compostable are our branded coffee cups, provided free to all tour guests.

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Vehicles

We believe our small-group tours are one of the most efficient ways to see Ireland.

All of our tour vehicles use the very latest and most efficient Mercedes turbo-diesel engines. They carry up to 15 people, plus luggage.

The CO2 emitted per person is relatively small when compared to, say, 2 people driving a rental car.

Our VagaGuides are expertly trained to drive in a smooth, safe and considerate way, further reducing fuel consumption.

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Bike To Work

Vagabond Tours actively supports staff who want to cycle to work.

Tax-free bikes and e-bikes are available to all of our employees via the Bike To Work scheme.

The net effect is a reduction in traffic congestion and lower carbon emissions.

 

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Ethical Coffee

Moyee are an Irish coffee startup who both source and roast their coffee beans in Ethiopia.

Keeping an extra step of the supply chain at source ensures skills, jobs and added value remain in Africa.

The coffee's delicious too!

Litter-Picking in Wicklow and On Tour

Leave No Trace Training
Litter picking locally
Clean up at our Pure Mile

All Vagabond Tours staff carry out litter picks. This happens in Wicklow, close to our VagaHQ, and on tour.

Since 2018, we have partnered with the Pure Mile Project to adopt a section of local woodland. Our staff members successfully returned the area near Glencree in Wicklow to its original state. What had become a frequent dumping ground was now pure again!

Out on the road, we've challenged ourselves and our guests to take part in Zero Waste Week. Our VagaGuides got creative to spell out the impact that responsible tourism can have.

Litter picking for Zero Waste Week and Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland

Our Sustainability Mission

Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland Sustainability Mission

Do you want to help?

We are all conscious of the carbon footprint we create in our travels. If you'd like to ask us more about the resposible tourism we practice on our trips to Ireland, please feel free to get in touch.

Climatecare is a non-profit organisation which raises awareness of climate change by supporting humanitarian and environmental projects globally.

Use the carbon calculator and offset your emissions at Climarecare.

Click here to launch the Climate Care Calculator App.

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TripAdvisor owl logo icon in very very very dark grey

"Our 7 Day Driftwood Treasure Ireland Tour was wonderful… Vagabond has made great effort to reduce their environmental impact... recyclable coffee go cups were provided. I really appreciated their respect for the beautiful land we were touring."

Adventure138611 - Reviewed October 1 2018 on Trip Advisor

 

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"We took the 12 Day Vagabond Giant Irish Adventure Tour...

The company has some excellent values and standards and lives up to them (environmental sustainability, personalized service etc)."

E435ZZerins - Reviewed May 14 2017

We're Proud Of Our Green Awards!

Irish Tourism Industry Awards Winner badge

Our efforts towards Responsible Tourism were awarded Best Environmental Tourism Initiative at the 2019 Irish Tourism Industry Awards

Winner badge for the Irish Green Awards 2018

We were delighted to be awarded the Green Tourism & Entertainment Award at the Green Awards 2018

Pure Mile Clean up the Uplands Award for Vagabond Tours 2018

Pure Mile awarded us the 2018 Clean Up The Uplands Award for restoring our stretch of local roadside to its former glory.

Green Awards 2019 Finalist for Vagabond Tours

We were delighted to be finalists in two categories at the 2019 Green Awards: 'Tourism & Entertainment' and 'Best Small Organisation'

Sustainable Travel Network

In 2017, Vagabond were awarded Ecotourism Ireland Gold Level certification.

In 2019, Rob & Amy took their commitment to responsible tourism one step further by acquiring Ecotourism Ireland.

In 2024, Sustainable Travel Network was fully re-launched.

Our Sustainability Partners

We are proud members of, or partner with, all kinds of sustainability-focused organisations:

Our Sustainable Tourism Partnerships

Tour Guide on Leave No Trace training in Ireland
Puffin with BirdWatch Ireland logo
Two men planting trees with Trees on the Land logo
Solar panels with Solar Electric logo

Find Out More About Our Responsible Tourism Efforts

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Responsible Tourism On The Road

We save water, conserve fuel and practice Leave No Trace while on tour

Find Out More
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Visit Green VagaHQ

We operate a green headquarters by recycling, saving water and energy.

Find Out More
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The Extra Mile

We go further by litter picking, educating our guests and helping local communities.

Find Out More
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EcoTourism Ireland

Read why Vagabond founder, Rob Rankin, acquired EcoTourism Ireland in 2019.

Find Out More
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Our Social and Environmental Policy

Read our full Social and Environmental Policy

Find Out More
 
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Proud member of Leave No Trace

As proud partners of Leave No Trace Ireland, we train all of our guides in the Leave No Trace Ireland awareness programme.

Twelve of our staff have qualified as Leave No Trace Trainers. This approach not only ensures that our footprint on the landscape remains minimal. It also enables us to raise the level of environmental awareness among Vagabond guests.

Proud member of Birdwatch Ireland

We are proud members of Birdwatch Ireland and maintain both bird feeders and nesting boxes at Vagabond HQ.

We actively encourage our accommodation suppliers to follow suit. We were delighted when Beech Hill House Hotel and Gougane Barra Hotel both followed our example!

 

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