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Classics go Carbon Neutral
February 2006
Two leading tourism businesses from Cornwall's groundbreaking tourism project - CoaST - work with Truro College to off-set carbon dioxide emissions, in what may be one of the first planting projects of its kind in the county.
Cornwall Classic Car Hire, Bodmin and Pollaughan Farm Cottages, Portscatho - under the guidance of CoaST (Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project) - have implemented a creative off-set solution to the car hire company's CO2 emissions.
Working with a group of Truro College Foundation Studies students 135 trees have been planted to help negate the environmental impact of their fleet of classic British sportscars, which are offered in the Duchy for special breaks, experience-gifts and touring holidays.
Rob Constant of Cornwall Classic Car Hire and Valerie & Tim Penny of Pollaughan Farm Cottages decided that their respective businesses could benefit from coming up with a 'planting plan' to both improve the natural environment for visitors to Pollaughan's five self-catering cottages and offset the approximate 84 tonnes of CO2 emissions produced by the Cornwall Classic Car Hire fleet in 2005. Calculations were performed from Cornwall Classic Car Hire mileage records and by The Carbon Neutral Company - formerly Future Forests www.carbonneutral.com whom offer businesses the chance to quantify their CO2 emissions status.
Manda Brookman of the CoaST project explained how the planting project came about:
"Rob's business is a classic case of how the sustainable tourism movement can engage with small businesses, to help guide them in a more sustainable direction and take stock of the environmental impact of their business activities. Rather than being a chore or additional cost, it can be turned into a distinct advantage, as it is in this case. I met Rob at a South West Tourism event where he challenged me to justify sustainable practice, saying he instinctively felt that what we were trying to achieve was really very worthwhile, but how could it be made a priority for busy people, whom have pressing day-to-day commercial priorities to work towards?"
"In fact there is an easy answer to this question: Sustainability is all about good management of resources. Not insignificant cost savings are possible (particularly when taken over the medium term) which combined with the consumer increasingly expecting environmental credentials from leading firms, makes it a common sense policy for any business".
Under the guidance of CoaST, Cornwall Classic Car Hire drafted an environmental policy and is following a series of steps to gradually improve the environmental sustainability of their activities.
As Rob put it: "We are embarking on a plan to help minimise the impact of our business on Cornwall's environment - when you look at it all objectively why wouldn't a tourism business, in fact any business, wish to help protect the natural asset we rely upon? - We are not trying to pretend that simply by planting trees there is no impact from the use of our cars, but it is a tangible step towards counteracting the foot-print that we leave behind us as a small business. If we can take steps with classic cars, then over time most businesses should be able to adopt a range of measures. This is the first example of an annual commitment by my business to off-set our emissions, we hope in the future to continue developing partnerships across the county to be part of the drive towards sustainability.
Valerie & Tim Penny were delighted to facilitate this project by providing the planting space and are to tend the newly planted trees as part of their ongoing development of the Pollaughan Farm Cottages holiday venue.
Valerie, a director and emissary for the CoaST project, is a strong advocate of sustainable and accessible tourism message, having spoken on the subject at several tourism conferences, to show how simple steps can be taken by even the busiest people to improve sustainability and, how considering premises from an access point of view, helps widen the potential market.
As Valerie put it "8 million people in the UK have some form of disability and so ignoring their needs or preferences does not make great business sense. For instance just by thinking around the best possible use of space to create ease for wheel chair access not only allows for new customers but creates a more airy, spacious feel to a property, which is welcomed by all. Why wouldn't it be? Equally by working in partnership and providing a site for Rob's trees our visitor experience is enhanced, as we continue to develop the environment of Pollaughan. CoaST and its purpose is really just to look at business from a different perspective!"
The core belief of the CoaST project is that sustainable tourism is not just about the Cornish economy or the Cornish environment or even just about Cornish people; it's about all three in combination - The Triple Bottom Line. As such the participating tourism businesses were encouraged by CoaST to build in a community aspect to the planting project. Truro College was therefore approached to see whether some students and staff might like to be involved in the practicalities of the plant.
On the 2nd and 9th February 2006 a group of Foundation Studies students with a range of learning difficulties or disabilities and supporting staff came across from the College to Pollaughan to assist with the tree planting. This proved to be a great success; as well as contributing to various units of the student's horticultural course, all parties found the day extremely rewarding. Oak, Ash, Sycamore and Elder were planted - all indigenous trees to the Roseland Peninsula.
Jill Dowrick, from Truro College, Foundation Studies department said "This has been a wonderful opportunity for our students. It's great to see the pleasure that has been gained from this project. The College supports recycling and conservation and many of our projects have encompassed these environmental concerns".
Jemma Roberts , Project Officer for CoaST, who helped with the planting observed: "Rob and Valerie are both CoaST Ambassadors, through the Objective One funded Building on Distinction Programme which CoaST ran last year. This is an excellent case study of how as a county we can all find ways to work together to improve and protect the environment, building on the economic benefits of tourism, and at the same time ensuring social inclusion is at the heart of our activities.
Further details about the CoaST project may be sought from www.coastproject.co.uk Tel: 01872 562057
Further details about Truro College may be sought from www.trurocollege.ac.uk Tel: 01872 264251
Further details about Pollaughan Farm Cottages may be sought from www.pollaughan.co.uk or by calling Valerie & Tim Penny on Tel: 01872 580150
Photos: David Griffen Photography - www.davidgriffen.co.uk Tel: 01208 832 281
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