Contiki, a social travel brand for travelers ages 18 to 35, announced that its coaches in Europe will now run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel, wherever possible. This shift will result in a reduction in carbon emissions by up to 30-40%.
"Reducing our footprint has long been an important focus for Contiki and our sister brands at The Travel Corporation Tour Brands, so we're delighted to be making this switch to HVO fuel in Europe," said Tasha Hayes, operations director and sustainability officer for Contiki. “Reducing our footprint has long been an important focus for Contiki and our sister brands at TTC Tour Brands, so we’re delighted to be making this switch to HVO fuel in Europe. We’re really proud to be leading the way with initiatives that enact positive change within our industry, and have a positive impact on our wonderful planet too.”
Contiki has set up an HVO tank in their coach yard in Stellendam in the Netherlands. The HVO used in Contiki coaches is made purely from food and plant waste, without any fossil resources.
This move aligns with the company's mission to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050. In the past year, Contiki has also announced that all its exclusive properties in Europe now run on 100% renewable electricity.
Contiki's decision to use HVO fuel is in response to young travelers' prioritization of environmentally conscious travel. According to the company's Voice of a Generation survey, 70% of Gen Z travelers would choose to travel by coach if it was better for the environment.
"We're really proud to be leading the way with initiatives that enact positive change within our industry, and have a positive impact on our wonderful planet too," Hayes added.
Editor's Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Contiki.