Action for the Environment

We are the first small-ship operator along the BC and Southeast Alaska Coast who is Carbon Neutral. Bluewater will continue to be a pioneer in sustainable tourism practices and encourages other eco-tour operators to do the same.

The company, our crew and our trips all uphold high values about environmental sustainability and work hard each year in reducing our impact. Each year we discuss ways in which we can lower our footprints and implement small changes throughout the season.

• Bluewater Adventures is officially carbon neutral with the help of Climate Smart and Offsetters.
• Bluewater Adventures is a contributing member of 1% for the Planet. Bluewater supports sustainable initiatives with a focus on local communities.
• Bluewater Adventures has been a Gold Level Member of Sustainable Tourism (A division of Green Step Solutions Inc.) since 2013
• Bluewater Adventures subscribes to Bullfrog Power to assist in offsetting office electricity.
• Bluewater Adventures includes Oceanwise seafood products only in our famous menu offerings.

Here are some things that we actively do both during our trips, and in our office.

During Adventures

• Focus on small group sizes (12-13 passengers) to ensure low impact on all shore & marine activities during the trip
• Travel at low speeds to reduce fuel consumption
• Sailing and Kayaking provide a free form of transportation and allow guests to get closer to nature
• Hire local guides in certain areas to reduce transportation of additional staff to remote areas
• Hire local people for land activities
• Bluewater has long standing partnerships with coastal First Nations and is committed to supporting their culture, history and traditional territories
• All cardboard, compost, paper, batteries, tin, plastics & bottles from the trip are taken to local recycling depots, depending on local facilities
• All toilet paper onboard is marine friendly and biodegradable
• Crew use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies for the boats, dish soaps and shampoos
• All laundry detergents used for bedding are environmentally safe

Office Initiatives

• All paper used is 100% recycled and FSC Certified
• All paper, plastics, & recyclable materials in the office are taken regularly to the recycling depot
• Emphasize communicating by electronic mail and use our website as our principal brochure in an effort to reduce paper usage
• Staff are encouraged to find alternatives to commuting to and from work by car
• 100% of our mailings are via email, eliminating the use of paper for marketing purposes.
• Use environmentally smart couriers
• Contribute to local renewable energy and energy efficiency projects to reduce total carbon emissions with our offset purchases
• Support research and conservation efforts to protect wilderness, and our invaluable fresh water and oceans

Things the Bluewater Traveller can do:

• Before you leave on a trip - Turn off all your lights, unplug appliances that can be left unplugged
• Pack light! Pack only what you need, and don't bring things that will become waste. By reducing the weight of luggage travelers can significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions
• While onboard - turn off lights in your cabin when not in your room
• Be mindful of your use of water - while showering, shaving or brushing teeth. Use biodegradable shampoos and conditioners.
• Rechargeable Items! - Whenever possible, utilize options that do not require batteries. Buy rechargeable batteries for your travel items such as cameras, razors, and flash lights
• Take only pictures and leave only footprints when you are on the trails, pathways and waterways of the places we are visiting.
• Purchase offsets for the individual travel to and from the boat. Your travel once aboard is carbon neutral and offset by Bluewater Adventures.
• Contribute to a credible carbon offsetting program to support renewable energy, and other energy saving projects

Bluewater Adventures Offers Carbon Friendly Trips

After calculating our carbon footprint as part of Eco-Trust Canada's Carbon Smart process, Bluewater Adventures is offering carbon friendly trips!

In September 2008, we purchased carbon off-sets for a year of operations. Offsetters is a local company chosen by the 2008 Eco-Tourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference as their choice for the purchase of offsets. They invest their funds in local renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. As Bluewater specializes in nature tours in the Pacific Northwest we wanted to invest in local projects making a difference here.

We are the first small-ship operator along the BC and Southeast Alaska Coast who is Carbon Friendly. Bluewater will continue to be a pioneer in sustainable tourism practices and encourages other ecotour operators to do the same.

The company, our crew and our trips all uphold high values about environmental sustainability and work hard each year in reducing our impact. Each year we discuss ways in which we can lower our footprints and implement small changes throughout the season.

First Steps taken to become Carbon Neutral - Carbon Workshop 2008

In April 2008 Bluewater took part in an intensive 3-day carbon workshop put on by the Pembina Institute, in partnership with Ecotrust.  The Pembina Institute is one of Canada's most prominent organizations working on climate change policy and sustainable energy solutions. In addition to work on Canada's domestic climate change policy, the Pembina Institute is noted for its work on the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism. The Institute produces practical tools and educational resources to help companies and communities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Measuring Bluewater’s eco-footprint was a step we needed to take in order to establish measurable objectives for the future. We are happy to report that Bluewater already takes a lot of positive steps in order reduces our emissions and waste. Bluewater Adventures wants to continue to improve and pioneer new ways to reduce the impact of our beautiful environments.

Bluewater Adventures continues to minimize our carbon footprint and is always on the lookout for ways to improve our sustainability practices.