Contiki, the leading social travel brand for travellers aged 18-35, announced that its new coaches in Europe will now run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel, wherever possible.
This shift will bring about a reduction in carbon emissions by up to 30-40% on Contiki trips operating in Europe (on Contiki-owned coaches).
Young travellers have identified environmentally conscious travel as a priority when choosing a travel provider. In order to prioritize HVO fuel wherever possible, Contiki – known worldwide for taking young travellers around Europe by coach – have set up an HVO tank in their coach yard in Stellendam, Netherlands.
HVO is a fuel that is produced without fossil resources by processing renewable waste lipids. HVO used in Contiki coaches is made purely from food and plant waste – so nothing is purposely grown to be used as waste.
“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,” says Tasha Hayes, Contiki’s Operations Director and Sustainability Officer. “Last year in our Voice of a Generation survey, we found that 70% of Gen Z travellers would choose to travel by coach, if it meant that 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.”
In the past year, Contiki has taken several such steps as part of their mission to reduce its carbon footprint and reach Net Zero by 2050. Recently, Contiki announced that all of its exclusive properties in Europe now run on 100% renewable electricity, including Château De Cruix in Beaujolais, France and Contiki Haus Schöneck in Tyrol, Austria.
You can find out more about Contiki’s sustainability strategy here.
