Sustainability Policy | Sunlife Charter

OVERVIEW

Sustainable tourism is one of SUNLIFE’s driving principles. Being aware of the importance of keeping our sea and places “green” and helping them return to their natural state has made us bring the decision to conduct our business in a sustainable manner and to try to be a sustainability pioneer in our industry. Since we are in business in nautical tourism, our priority is to take better care of our sea and to deal with the impact our boats and our guests have on it.

There are many worlds’ urgent challenges present in a tourism industry today. However, we define our goals and action plan according to our possibilities and those areas where we can have the biggest impact.

SunLife Charter’s goal is to have a big role in the environmental sustainability of the region and we believe that a successful future for our business and the customers we serve depends on the sustainability of the environment, the focus being on the Adriatic Sea.
As a responsible charter company, we have to bear mind to the impacts of our actions and the effect they have on the environment, directly through our own doing, and indirectly through our purchases, products, and services we offer to our customers.
We strive to minimize the impact of our actions on the environment and want to integrate environmental awareness and sustainable development into all our business practices.

Our sustainability policy is divided into 10 themes. Each theme consists of a set of principles and practical actions accordingly. The requirements of this policy apply to all entities and employees of SunLife Charter, as well as organizations we have a business link with.

1. Sustainability Management & Legal compliance

We commit to sustainability management, practiced by these following actions:

To have an appointed sustainability manager - coordinator who is responsible for sustainability tasks
To have a sustainability mission statement that is communicated to customers, partners and suppliers
To have an accessible and written sustainability policy that aims for a reduction of the negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of the company’s activities and includes employee related health and safety aspects
To be a part of external forums and working groups which are supportive to sustainability in tourism
To conduct baseline assessment of the company’s performance on sustainable practices
To have sustainability action plan with clear targets, actions, measures, responsibilities and time planning
To develop documented procedures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the sustainability policy, objectives and targets in order to achieve continual improvement and sustainable development
To periodically review objectives and targets set and report progress in order to enhance our environmental performance and prevention of pollution
To ensure that all staff are fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and are committed to implementing and improving it
We commit to complying with all national legislation, regulations and codes of practice
We are committed to a zero-tolerance policy for acts of bribery, corruption, discrimination, and violation of human rights, including forced labor, human trafficking, and all rights of children.

2. Internal management: social policy & human rights

We commit to sustainable internal management by having clear written and well-communicated social policy that includes the following principles:

To grant employees the freedom of employment and contract termination with notice and without penalty
To include labor conditions according to national labor law and a job description in the employment contract
Wage rate is to be mentioned in the contract and equals or above the national legal wage
To determinate and compensate of overtime working hours based on agreement
To provide medical and liability insurance according to the national law
To grant employees fixed paid yearly holiday and sick leave and unpaid annual leave allowance
To have first aid sets at all relevant locations
To obey national law concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
To have a person in charge for dealing with the complaints and expectations of the employees
To create opportunities for students in participating in traineeship/internship/apprenticeship

We commit to practice human rights by ensuring the enforcement of the following practices:

To prohibit child labor
To prohibit discriminations, regard to recruitment, conditions of employment, access to training and senior positions, or promotion in terms of gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/beliefs or sexual orientation
To ensure all employees have an equal chance and access to resources and opportunities for personal development through regular training, education

3. Internal Management: Environment and community relations

We commit to practice environmental protection and enhance community relations by ensuring the enforcement of following practices:

Actively reduce the use of disposable and consumer goods
Favor the purchase of sustainable goods and services, office supply
Purchase products in bulk, to reduce the amount of packaging materials
Print documents double-sided
Use cleaning materials which are non-hazardous, biodegradable and are certified with an eco-label, if locally available and purposeful
Focus on reducing brochure wastage; fokus on internet marketing instead of printing brochures
Calculate and compensate CO2 emissions of our boats
Switch off lights and equipment when not in use
Comply with the national legislation concerning waste disposal
Provide recycling bins on the boats for plastic and cans
Set up recycling bins at the office for paper and plastic
Use refillable plastic bottles (in bulk) of drinking water for office use
Separate all materials which can be recycled and organize collection and proper disposal
Implement waste reducing methods when using ink and toner cartridges for printing and copying
Recycle or properly dispose of batteries
Minimize and substitute the use of harmful substances and manage properly the storage, handling and disposal of chemicals
Use lead-free and water-based paints, both inside and outside, when locally available and purposeful
Maintain and properly check motorized company vehicles, to reduce emissions and energy use and make sure they comply with the legal emission standards
Provide periodic guidance, training and/or information to all staff members, about their roles and responsibilities with respect to internal environmental practices

4. Partner agencies

As a company who engages with various stakeholders in tourism, namely consumers, travel agencies, transport companies, restaurants, and attractions, we understand our key role and influence in the sustainability development of tourism. Therefore, we are committed to promoting sustainability and communicating it to our partners.

We commit to this by:

Keeping a list of the sustainability practices of partner agencies
Minimalizing the ecologic footprint of the office by working as paperless as possible, separating waste, and making use of certified paper
Informing key partners on the Travelife and national tourism standards
Motivating incoming/inbound partners to participate in sustainability trainings for travel companies
Following, implementing and promoting good sustainability practices to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts on tourism of our operations and to influence our clients and partners to do the same

5. Transport

We believe that transport is an important aspect of sustainable tourism, and we do our best to decrease the average pollution level.

We commit to this by:

Selecting the most sustainable options considering price and comfort when selecting transport options to the destination
Considering and giving preference to more sustainable alternatives when selecting transport options for transfers in the destination, taking into account price, comfort, and practical considerations
Integrating and/or promoting one or more sustainable holiday products/packages based on a recognised methodology, including sustainable transport, sustainable accommodations, and sustainable activities.

6. Accommodation

We try to achieve a tourism supply chain that is fully sustainable.

We commit to this by:

Motivating and encouraging partner accommodations to become sustainably certified
Offering accommodations that are locally owned and managed
Offering accommodations that employ local communities
Providing evidence clarifying our sustainability goals and strategies
Following best practices/trainings on responsible tourism
Fulfilling the sustainability questionnaire to gain insight in our practises
Terminating cooperation with accommodation in case of clear evidence that contracted accommodations jeopardize the provision of integrity of basic services such as food, water, energy, healthcare, or soil to the neighbouring companies

7. Excursions

We value animal and community welfare extremely high. We are safeguarding the authenticity of the communities and the natural environment and are strongly against harming wildlife and polluting the environment.

We commit to this by:

Having – online – brochures of National parks, our clients are visiting, with all necessary information about appropriate behaviour and anchoring in the area of those parks
Advising guests on behaviour standards during their trip and activities with a focus on respecting the local culture, nature, and environment
Not offering any trips that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources such as water and energy, or which are socially and culturally unacceptable
Not offering any trips in which wildlife is held captive, except for properly regulated activities in compliance with local, national, and international law
Not being involved with companies that harvest, consume, display, sell, or trade wildlife species unless it is part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilisation is sustainable and in compliance with local, national, and international law

8. Local guides, tour leaders and representatives

We aim at involving as many locals as possible by employing them in the tourism business. We stand for a fair and safe working environment that supports and respects local communities.

We commit to this by:

Ensuring that all employees have a written employment contract, including labour conditions and a job description, and fully understand the terms and conditions
Ensuring that our local employees are informed on relevant aspects of our sustainability policy and comply with it, through constant education and inter-company initiatives
Preferring to work with local skippers and hostesses
Having our skippers and hostesses inform clients on relevant sustainability matters in the destination (e.g., protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use), social norms and values (e.g., tips, dressing code and photography)

9. Destinations

We aim to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts at destination to ensure the sustainable development of the places that we operate in.

We commit to this by:

Considering sustainability aspects in the selection process of new destinations and possibly offer alternative, non-mainstream destinations
Influencing and supporting local government (when possible, together with other travel companies and stakeholders) concerning sustainability, destination planning and management, use of natural resources and socio-cultural issues
Not promoting souvenirs which contain threatened flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN ‘Red List’ or historic and archaeological artefacts (except as permitted by law)

10. Customer communication and protection

Customers welfare and information are very important to us. We ensure clear and constant communication and high protection to our clients.

Prior to booking, we commit to this by:

Making available a company guideline for client consultation, which is followed by booking manager
Ensuring that customer privacy is not compromised, in accordance with the GDPR
Complying with relevant standards and voluntary codes of conduct in marketing and advertising messages, and not promise more than is delivered
Making product and price information clear, complete and accurate, with regard to the company and its products and services, including sustainability claims
Providing destination information
Advising the clients to pack lightly. Heavy luggage can impact the weight of the aircraft and requires more fuel. If every passenger reduced the weight of their baggage this could help reduce the amount of fuel needed for flights. In fact, one airline calculated that by lightening the load of every plane by just 0.45kg, they could save 53,000 litres of fuel every year
Advising the clients to use eco-friendly- reusable bottles and pots instead of buying travel-size toiletries
Promoting (Certified) sustainable accommodations, with logo; ensuring they are recognizable to consumer and presented as the “better” option;
Informing the customer about sustainable alternatives concerning transport options, if available
Clearly informing (potential) direct customers, about sustainability commitments and actions

After booking and during holidays, we commit to this by:

Providing information to consumers about the natural surroundings, local culture and cultural heritage in the holiday destination
Keeping a contact person and a telephone number permanently available for emergency situations
Training personnel and keeping guidelines available, on how to deal with emergency situations
Informing clients about applicable legislation concerning the purchasing, sales, import and export of historic or religious artefacts and articles containing materials of threatened flora and/or fauna in the destination
Motivating clients to use local restaurants and shops

After holidays, we commit to this by:

Measuring systematically client satisfaction and taking into account the results, for service and product improvements
Including sustainability as an integral part of the research into client satisfaction
Having clear procedures in case of complaints from clients

Split, 26.01.2023.
Valid till 31.03.2025 and to be revised and afterwards.