Aviemore Adventure Tourism Firm Achieves Milestones In Sustainability

6th December 2024

An Aviemore-based adventure tourism operator has made significant progress in sustainability over the past two years by investing in e-bikes, e-vehicles and a carbon labelling system.

Wilderness Scotland has reduced its scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 16 percent through its commitment to business decarbonisation. This initiative, supported by a £141,858 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has led to the creation of four new jobs and is supporting several others.

The company has established a carbon labelling schemes for travel, enabling the measurement of the carbon impact of its entire business and each individual trip. This innovative approach allows travellers to make informed, carbon-conscious travel decisions.

This initiative is part of Wilderness Scotland's wider sustainable growth and net zero strategy, aiming to reduce its scope 1 & 2 emissions by 90 percent by 2030 and its scope 3 emissions by 50 percent over the same period. This includes investing in projects that mitigate or eliminate global greenhouse gas emissions.

Scope 1 refers to direct emissions owned or controlled by a company, while scope 2 and 3 are indirect emissions resulting from the company’s activities but occurring from sources not owned or controlled by it.

Employing 55 permanent staff at its office in Aviemore, Wilderness Scotland has made significant strides towards its decarbonisation targets by replacing its diesel nine-seater minivans with electric and hybrid vehicles. Currently, 25 percent of the company’s fleet consists of cleaner energy vehicles, with plans to continue this transition in the coming years. To support this shift, the firm has invested in six electric charging points at its premises.

Additionally, a fleet of 17 e-bikes have been introduced to support new tours, attract new customers, boost revenue, and offer a low-carbon tourism option. With a ‘small innovation grant’ from HIE, the company funded supplementary equipment to ensure safe and efficient service delivery and upgrade office space at their Aviemore headquarters.

For over two decades, Wilderness Scotland has been a leader in sustainability, significantly contributing to environmental and community support through their Wilderness Conservation and Community Fund (WCCF). This dedication has been recognised with numerous awards, including twice winning the Best Green Tour Operator in the World Travel Awards and holding a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme for nearly 20 years.

Lizi Blackwood, senior development manager at HIE’s Inner Moray Firth team, said: "Supporting these decarbonisation projects is crucial for the environment and economic growth in our region. Wilderness Scotland is setting a powerful example of how businesses can reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing their service offerings.

"These initiatives help combat climate change and attract eco-conscious tourists, creating job opportunities and driving sustainable development in the region. I am very pleased we’ve been able to provide support to enhance the low carbon aspects of these projects and look forward to working with the team at Wilderness Scotland as the projects develop.

Stevie Christie, Managing Director of Wilderness Scotland said: “This valuable support from HIE has allowed us to fast-forward our ambitious decarbonisation plans for the business, while also supporting further growth. It’s a positive outcome for all involved, as well as for the environment."