Sustainability

We're on a journey ... to look after the planet

Our business is road cycling holidays in the mountains of Europe but like you, we're very conscious of the harm that travel does to the environment.

We are, and always have been, committed to running our business in a way th at minimises as much as possible the impact we have on the environment. We've had a responsible tourism policy in place since the company began and consider it a key part of our core values.

Being a responsible tour operator comprises our mindset and the decisions we make. It means we respect and contribute to local communities, their economies, and the environment. It is our collective responsibility to be mindful cyclists and travellers. At Marmot Tours, we facilitate this by incorporating fundamental principles of responsible travel into all our cycling adventures.

We're proud to be a B Corp™!

In late 2022 we embarked on our journey to become a certified B Corp™.

'What’s a B Corp™?' you ask. Certified B Corporations™, or B Corp™s, are companies verified to meet the highest social and environmental performance standards, transparency, and accountability. They are role models for what ethical, impactful, and responsibly run companies can look like.

After a big push at the end of 2022 and early into 2023 to gather data, refresh our policies, and decide how we wish to increase the positive impact of the business, we were thrilled to receive certification in December 2023. You can read more about what it means to be a B Corp™ on our page B Corp™ European cycling tours.

You can also read our Annual Sustainability Report here.

Carbon-conscious road cycling tours

We measure all of the greenhouse gases produced in our operations; those generated by our staff, our offices, travel, hotel bookings, van mileage and more. We then reduce as much of these as possible each year, whilst continuing to provide epic, fully supported cycling tours. Residual emissions are 100% balanced through verified world-class schemes, by supporting verified carbon avoidance projects.

Going above and beyond this, we are calculating and balancing the greenhouse gas footprint of all YOUR air travel, too.

Ecologi: We use our partnership with Ecologi to balance Marmot Tours’ carbon footprint each year; funding our very own forest and aiding much-needed carbon avoidance projects. Ecologi is a certified B Corp™ committed to tackling the climate emergency. We have already funded capturing waste biogas for energy in Turkey, aided distributing environmentally friendly cookstoves in Kenya, and supported a new wind farm in Mexico. We’ve also planted 1,400 trees! You can see our forest and the projects we have supported here.

Gold Standard: We use our ongoing partnership with Gold Standard (a registered non-profit) to balance the carbon footprint from YOUR holiday travel, by supporting verified carbon avoidance projects. From the moment you step on the plane, to the moment you land back on home tarmac, we calculate and balance your holiday carbon.

Less Plastic. Less Waste

Surfers Against Sewage: We have signed up for Surfers Against Sewage‘s Plastic Free Campaign, expressing our commitment to reducing our plastic consumption and using recycled products where possible. We recycle 100% of your holiday waste (that is recyclable).

Road cycling tours supporting local communities

We want you to have the most immersive holiday possible. This means engaging with local hotels and restaurants in the towns and villages you pass through, to support the local economy.

We’ll find roadside restaurants or cafés for the obligatory coffee and lunch stops and, whenever possible, you'll be staying in excellent, often locally-owned hotels.

Our responsible suppliers

Marmot Tours' water bottles are made from sustainable plant-based bioethanol, rather than mineral oil.
Marmot Tours' towels are made from 100% recycled polyester on the front, and 100% cotton on the back.
Our van water containers are refillable – we only ever buy bottled water if it is an absolute last resort.
Our hire bike frames are titanium so will have a long life and can be recycled, unlike carbon fibre and resin.
We use Fenwick's bike cleaner and foaming chain cleaner which are free from solvents and acids and are biodegradable.
Where we can, we buy liquid bike products in bulk plus we refill and reuse smaller containers.
All paper used in our office is recycled.
We collect all your punctured inner tubes and worn/damaged tyres and either recycle or upcycle them using schemes in the UK.

Charitable Support

It is our mission to give back to the world more than we take in our operations. As such, we support several impactful charitable initiatives:

1% for the Planet: We are proud to be a member of 1% for the Planet, a global movement that connects businesses with environmental non-profit organisations. As a member, we contribute 1% of our annual sales revenue to support environmental initiatives, ensuring that our business helps fund projects focused on conservation, climate action, and environmental stewardship. You can see our profile (and the organisations we support) here.

Here are details of just a few of the fantastic non-profits we're delighted to support with our 2025 donations:

Avon Needs Trees: We continue to be proud supporters of Avon Needs Trees, an incredible local charity that creates new, permanent, woodland throughout the Bristol-Avon catchment to fight the climate and ecological emergencies.

The Alpkit Foundation: We are also delighted to be able to support The Alpkit Foundation as part of our 2025 1% for the Planet commitment. The Alpkit Foundation is a remarkable registered non-profit which supports grassroots, direct-action projects that help people overcome obstacles to get outdoors. They support those who wouldn't normally have the opportunity to explore all the great outdoors have to offer and we trust them to do great things with our donation.

Cycling UK: Cycling UK have been around for over 150 years and they do excellent work on the ground, raising awareness of the benefits of cycling, and encouraging people to get out on their bikes. They are also passionate campaigners and fundraisers, so we're really pleased to be able to support them with their projects this year.

What this means for you ...

Well, you can be assured that we're diligently trying to minimise the negative impact our holidays have on the planet, and we're maximising the positive impact on local communities.

We calculate and balance carbon emissions from the moment you step on the plane to the moment you land back on home tarmac. AND, you will be actively funding the planting of a new forest! We’ll offer you the road cycling holiday of a lifetime that’s not only good for your health and well-being but for the planet’s health too!

We’re extremely proud that the quality of our holidays has always been remarkably high, so for those of you who we know well, having joined us on adventures in the past, you can now holiday with us with the added benefit of having even more of a positive impact on people and the places we visit.

We’re constantly looking for more environmentally friendly ways to do every aspect of our work – from the kit we carry in the vans to supplies we use in the office. As ever, we welcome your ideas and feedback. You can email us your suggestions by heading over to our Contact page.