Environmental quality standards are part and parcel of TUI’s sustainable business policy and are continually anchored in the Group through the implementation of certified environmental management systems. Climate protection and preserving biodiversity are key action fields.
Group environmental performance indicators
Group-wide environmental monitoring
The processes for the Group-wide monitoring of relevant indicators have been expanded and adjusted to meet the needs of sustainability reporting. With increasing orientation towards international standards such as the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative, G3) Guidelines, a great deal of attention was devoted to indicator comparability. For some indicators, calculation methods were improved by applying more specific definitions or making adjustments. Container Shipping was no longer included when calculating indicators for short financial year 2009 since it was carried as a Discontinued Operation.
Energy consumption
Since the Group focus is tourism, the use of fossil fuels for aviation and shipping operations accounted for the largest proportion of the Group’s total energy consumption. Total energy consumption by the Group’s Continuing Operations amounted to 73,814 terajoules (TJ) (previous year: 78,010 TJ). However, due to changes in the fleet portfolio of TUI airlines and an expansion of cruise activities, year-on-year energy consumption is not fully comparable.
In short financial year 2009, average specific fuel consumption by TUI’s airlines was 3.00 litres of aircraft fuel per 100 passenger kilometres (pkm) (previous year: 2.98 l/100 pkm). The increase can be attributed to changes in the fleet portfolio and flight schedule. With this specific consumption, TUI’s airlines continue to be among the most efficient in Europe.
For the short financial year 2009, the specific fuel consumption for the cruise ship fleet amounted to 0.24 litres per passenger nautical mile (l/pnm) (previous year: 0.23 l/pkm).
Carbon emissions
TUI has actively dealt with climate change and its impact for many years. Carbon emissions (CO2) affecting the climate are highly relevant and are therefore considered the key environmental indicator and management variable. In the completed short financial year, total carbon emissions from Continuing Operations were 4.89 million tonnes (previous year: 5.18 million tonnes). Specific carbon emissions by TUI airlines were 77.3 g per passenger kilometre (previous year: 76.8 g/pkm). In order to actively fight climate change, TUI airlines aim to reduce their specific carbon footprint by 6% by 2013/14 (base period: 2007/08).
The cruise fleet accounts for 6.8% of total carbon emissions from Continuing Operations. Changes in the fleet caused, for instance, by the commissioning of the new vessel Mein Schiff by TUI Cruises resulted in a decrease in fuel consumption and therefore a rise in CO2 emissions to 0.80 kg per passenger nautical mile (kg/pnm) (previous year: 0.75 kg/pnm).
For measures to cut CO2 emissions, see the section on Sustainable Development
In the Hotel Sector, average carbon emissions amounted to 10.9 kg of CO2 per guest and bednight (previous year: 10.6 kg/guest/bednight). This increase was attributable to changes in the hotel portfolio.
Continuous improvement in environmental management
The introduction and development of environmental management systems in the individual Group companies resulted in continuous improvements to TUI´s environmental performance, especially in the Hotel Sector.
Current list of certifications at www.tui-sustainability.com
In 2009, another four hotels and clubs were successfully certified according to the international standard ISO 14001. This means that 58 complexes from the TUI Hotels & Resorts portfolio have now had their environmental management systems certified by independent experts on the basis of international standards. By the end of the financial year, the environmental management systems of altogether 15 Robinson Clubs, 11 Magic Life Clubs, 9 Grupotels, 9 Iberotels, 5 Dorfhotels, 4 Sol y Mar Hotels, 3 Grecotels, and 2 Jaz Hotels are certified.
In addition, the existing environmental management systems at TUI AG, tour operator TUI Deutschland and TUI Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbH in Hanover were expanded and successfully certified according to ISO 14001 quality standard.
Strategic partnerships and cooperation schemes
The TUI Group also pursues sustainable development, environmental protection and nature conservation by means of social dialogue and international cooperation.
Show more contentBusiness & Biodiversity Initiative
TUI AG continued its active involvement in the Business & Biodiversity Initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. This initiative, coordinated by GTZ, the German Society for Technical Cooperation, aims to achieve stronger integration of the private sector in achieving the goals of the Convention on Biodiversity for the worldwide protection of species.
In this context, close cooperation with the Federal Nature Conservation Agency was initiated in 2009. Responsibilities of this Agency include observing the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Germany.
Futouris – the sustainability initiative
In early 2009, TUI AG, TUI Deutschland, TUI Österreich, TUI Suisse, airtours, Gebeco and TUI Leisure Travel jointly founded the industry sustainability initiative Futouris, a non-profit organisation to promote environmental protection, international understanding and development cooperation in holiday destinations.
A particular focus is on preserving biodiversity, protecting the climate and offering educational programmes in the destinations.
TUI AG maintained its proactive commitment as a founding member of ecosense, the Forum for Sustainable Development of German Business. In 2009, cooperation focused on climate protection, biodiversity preservation and sustainable financial markets. TUI provided content for the ecosense climate technology atlas and played a leading role in the Biodiversity working group.
Bonn Convention
In the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding concluded with the Bonn Convention (CMS) back in 2005, TUI AG supported ‘Year of the Gorilla 2009’ to protect the great apes threatened with extinction in Africa. TUI activities include sponsoring a scientific study to evaluate the opportunities and risks posed by escorted tourist excursions in contributing to nature and species conservation.
As a member of the evaluation committee of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas, TUI AG continued in 2009 to help implement standards for the sustainable use by tourism of protected areas in Europe. At the Charter Network Meeting 2009 in Sierra Nevada, TUI AG’s sustainability management took the opportunity to talk to national park representatives about the requirements for tourism offerings in protected areas from a tourism company perspective.
For the goals and policies of this agreement, see the chapter Sustainable Development
In February 2009, TUI AG and the Environmental Ministry of the Balearic Government confirmed their framework agreement on the sustainable development of the Spanish islands, first concluded in 2005, by signing a follow-up agreement. Since June 2009, TUI Deutschland has been sponsoring reafforestation measures in the Balearics by donating a fixed amount from every booking to the TUI Forest in Majorca.
Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development
TUI Travel PLC continued to perform its mandate in the Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development in 2009. The international tour operator initiative promotes a sustainable development of tourism in holiday regions working closely with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the environmental programme of the United Nations (UNEP).
TUI Travel supported the work of The Travel Foundation, working closely with various bodies and raising €1.5m to date. The Foundation, launched in 2003 through collaboration between the UK government and the tourism industry, educated customers, developed corresponding business models and established practical tourism projects to promote sustainable development in the destinations in the period under review.
In order to develop its sustainability strategy, TUI Travel continued its cooperation with the sustainability charity Forum for the Future in 2009. This foundation advises both industry and the public sector on sustainability issues. In 2009, Forum for the Future and TUI Travel jointly initiated the establishment of a fact base of relevant sustainable development issues for consideration by managing directors when developing their business strategies.