WHALE WATCHING - ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Sustainable tourism has become more popular worldwide in the past years, as it is based on fulfilling today’s needs without threatening future possibilities. Reykjavik Whale Watching has decided to take part in a sustainable development with an environmental policy. To develop and implement our policy and to manage our environmental aspects, we use Environmental Management Systems. We are now a member of Green Globe 21 and of the Blue Flag.

Green Globe 21 is a worldwide benchmarking and certification program which facilitates sustainable travel and tourism for consumers, companies and communities. It is based on Agenda 21 and principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 governments at the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992. For further information about Green Globe 21 visit their website: www.greenglobe21.com

The Blue Flag is an internationally recognized eco-label certificate for Beaches, Marinas and Whale Watching Boats. The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, safety and other services. For further information about the Blue Flag visit their website: www.blueflag.org

OUR SUSTAINABILITY POLICY

Elding Whale Watching is a family-owned company and the leading whale watching operator in Reykjavík, Iceland. Elding is committed to provide high quality tours in a way that minimizes the environmental impact and pollution caused by its activities while allowing visitors to enjoy nature without disturbing its inhabitants. 

 - Special emphasis is put on striving to find less-polluting energy sources to run our operations and minimizing the production of waste and improving recycling. One of the ships will have a Hydrogen generator from April 23rd 2008, which will reduce the use of oil significantly

 - Smart H2 project.

- We comply with all relevant environmental, public, and occupational health and safety, hygiene and employment legislation and regulations, as well as the IceWhale guidelines for responsible whale watching.

- Consideration will be given to employing and empowering the local staff, but also supporting international co-operation with researchers and providing work opportunities for foreign trainees.

- We give preference to environmentally safe products and services of local origin that do not adversely affect the organization’s operational activities, viability and environmental and social impacts.

- We provide regular environmental and safety training to our staff and encourage them to present our policy and to our guests, suppliers and customers. We aspire to educate our visitors about the sea and the guidelines for responsible whale watching. 

Elding believes that making optimal use of environmental resources is a key element in tourism development to maintain essential ecological processes and help to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. Elding’s goal is to operate on sustainability principles, which refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development. A suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability.
 
We will continuously seek to improve environmental and socio-cultural performance and the policy will be annually reviewed in accordance with the requirements of the Green Globe Company Standard.

Rannveig Grétarsdóttir
General Manager / Owner / Green Globe Co-orderator