Original Travel proudly launches a new carbon calculator, designed to find flights with the lowest levels of emissions and significantly reduce its carbon footprint 

Original Travel is proud to announce the launch of an industry-leading carbon calculator, enabling its team to recommend the flights with the lowest possible carbon footprint.  

Using data compiled from flight plans, aircraft type, cabin class, direct versus indirect flights and the target occupancy rate, Original Travel's consultants can compare the levels of emissions generated by each flight and recommend the option with the lowest possible carbon footprint to its clients and enabling them to make an informed decision. 

Co-founder of Original Travel, Tom Barber says: 'In the fight against global warming, Original Travel has always had a twin-track strategy, aiming both to reduce CO2 emissions at source and absorb any that are subsequently generated by our clients and staff's flights (as well as ground transportation). The absorption side is mitigated by our reforestation projects around the world, but the main objective remains to reduce the carbon footprint of our clients' trips. 

'With that in mind, and in addition to our efforts to encourage flight-free travel, we have developed a new carbon calculator which our team can use to recommend the flights with the lowest possible carbon footprint to our clients. On an otherwise seemingly identical flight, the difference in emissions can be as much as 50%, so thanks to this tool we can now definitively calculate the difference in emissions between two flight options and present them to our clients to make an informed decision.' 

This development is the latest in a long line of responsible travel initiatives, which include: 

Sabbaticals: 

In 2019, Original Travel released a sabbatical guide, which encouraged clients to travel less frequently, but go for longer. This means fewer international flights and more overland travel, making it a much more carbon-neutral way to explore the world.  

Flight-free travel: 

In 2020, Original Travel launched a collection of train only holidays departing from London and travelling south to France, Spain and Italy, north to Scandinavia and east to Romania. Another focus for us is how to travel sustainably around large countries. Where once internal flights would have been the default, we will now suggest other means of exploring, from road trips and rail routes to river cruises that might take longer but which allow you to explore at a much more civilised slow travel pace. 

Philantourism: 

Also in 2020, Original Travel launched its concept of philantourism; the act of choosing a holiday or experience in order to support a destination and where the focus is on using local guides, staying in homestays or properties that employ locally and enjoying experiences that support or contribute to conservation or community projects.   

Community Based Tourism and Indigenous Tourism  

In 2023, Original Travel launched new collections based on community-based and indigenous tourism, which focus on experiences and accommodation owned and operated by either the local community or indigenous peoples who directly benefit from the visits.  

Undertourism 

Original Travel has long been advocates of undertourism, launching initiatives such as its Secret Series - a portfolio of hidden gems in some of the world's classic destinations that shines a light on areas which receive a fraction of the tourism traffic, yet still offer everything people love about the country – and most recently, it's Off-season Travel collection, based on travelling outside peak seasons as a means of helping counteract the issue of 'overtourism'. 

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Notes to Editors:  

Original Travel curates tailor-made itineraries, crafted by destination experts, to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, the company has created over 50,000 itineraries since its launch in 2003, each one unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”.  

Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit.  

11 of our consultants are recognised as Conde Nast Traveler's 2024 Travel Specialists – more than any other tour operator for the 2nd year running. Our specialists are: Co-founder, Tom Barber (family travel and sabbaticals), Jacqui Brooks (Indonesia) and Oliver Rodwell (Mexico), Ben Williams (Egypt) Kate Little (Romania), Isabel de Galleani (Morocco), Frances Mavor (India), Harriet Harford (European Wine Regions), Holly Barber (Cambodia), James Back (Tanzania), Lucy Bailey (Oman). 

Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they would not find with any other UK tour operator, including:  

• Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting. 
• A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a city break, or a multi-destination sabbatical, is checked in on all flights – outbound, domestic and inbound - with boarding passes uploaded to the Original Travel app; will have UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. Thoughtful details include wifi routers or e-sims, destination specific book and music lists and children's activity packs. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK. 
• The knowledge that not only will Original Travel absorb the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and transfers, and other flights (even if booked independently). Clients can also be advised on which flight options have the lowest levels of emissions, thanks to an industry-leading and world-first carbon calculator which can compare the levels of emissions generated by each flight, using data compiled from flight plans, aircraft type, the cabin class, direct versus indirect flights and the target occupancy rate.
• The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £1.5 million has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples.