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Alltournative is a specialist tour operator guiding ecological and adventure expeditions throughout Riviera Maya in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Their dedicated team fosters an appreciation of the Mayan people and their unique culture, ensuring visitors act responsibly and respect the local communities and natural environment.
By genuinely promoting the natural treasures of Mexico and establishing authentic programs for cultural and ecological preservation, Alltournative is committed to achieving economic and sustainable development for the local community. Tourism is one of the main drivers of development in the region representing 16% of Mexico’s GDP and offering more than 8 million employment opportunities.
Alltournative is EarthCheck Gold Certified and keen to continue reducing their impact and encouraging others to embrace sustainability.
Enhancing the development of Mayan communities in the region has helped local people to transition from subsistence agriculture to generate a more sustainable income.
Alltournative hires 100% of their staff from the local community and 100% of service contracts are awarded to local contractors. In addition, Alltournative purchases perishable goods solely from local producers. These strategies benefit local communities and inject economic value to the region and boost its growth.
Alltournative encourages the local Mayan community to embrace their ancestral heritage. Providing employment opportunities and engaging with local adolescents has helped to minimise migration to major cities for work and the possibility of cultural dissolution.
The Alltournative team is determined to minimise their environmental footprint. They have reduced waste sent to landfill by 15% per year on average, which is the equivalent of 492 wheelie bins!
Recycling and composting are two major tactics taken to address waste management. During 2017, Alltournative was able to recycle or compost 6069% of paper waste as well as 8099% of all plastic, rubber and organic waste.
One of Alltournative’s main assets is their vehicle fleet. This group of more than 80 cars, vans and trucks is not only a potential carbon emission booster but keeping it clean could affect water resources. Alltournative, has addressed this challenge by opting to invest in a low water consumption Karcher cleaning system
In a bid to combat waste water, Alltournative has implemented a hydrological plan and installed a Mexican high-tech waste water treatment plant in the Jungle Maya native park.
To minimise its energy consumption, Alltournative installed high LED technology across their parks, powered by solar panels. The air conditioning equipment has been replaced with efficient technology such as the inverted system.
Sustainability is a deeply entrenched value at Alltournative – going beyond their organisational boundaries by encouraging every stakeholder to be more sustainable. For example, Alltournative implemented an educational campaign about energy efficiency and they encouraged their visitors to join them for Earth Hour which is now the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment, inspiring millions of people to take action for the planet and nature.
One the biggest challenges for Alltournative was their initial benchmarking assessment and the lack of an already established system in place to gather the necessary information.
“It was a long process, but once we established a month-tomonth data collection process we were able to measure our usage of energy, water and waste,” Mr Arriaga stated.
“For example, keeping track of water consumption was difficult since some of our locations use well water. However, within just one year, we managed to install water meters and taps in all of the wells.”
The EarthCheck Certification program has helped Alltournative to be more aware of how their operations affect the environment and the community. According to Mr Arriaga, Alltournative now has a more meaningful relationship with the local community, promoting their culture and helping to preserve the Mayan heritage.
The Alltournative team has been developing environmental awareness across the community about water efficiency, waste recycling and local wildlife and natural environment preservation. Alltournative’s goal is to nurture and protect more than seven hectares of Mayan Jungle!
EarthCheck Certification has also given Alltournative a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Alltournative will continue to work closely with local communities, installing solar farms and a waste water treatment plant that will recycle up to 40% of the water processed.
At Alltournative, we are driving operational efficiencies and looking forward to a green economy model so that we can leave a positive impact for future generations”.
Alltournative is aiming high – they will continue to innovate and reduce the impact of their operations.
There are more than 476 million Indigenous Peoples, found in all regions of the world, from the Arctic to the tropical forests. They make up more than 6 per cent of our global population.
In the spirit of reconciliation, EarthCheck acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout the world and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous Peoples today.
EarthCheck acknowledges that Indigenous Peoples are guardians of the forests and biodiversity hotspots we all depend on. Research shows that lands managed by Indigenous Peoples, with secure rights, experience lower deforestation rates, store more carbon, hold more biodiversity, and benefit more people than other lands — including protected areas.
We recognise and support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration is a positive document that maps out a path for Indigenous Peoples to be free from discrimination and secure in their identities and life choices.
EarthCheck science and products were developed by the Australian Government Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre (STCRC) over ten years. Our science is reviewed annually to ensure that it meets international standards relative to greenhouse gas protocols, responsible tourism, and certification.
EarthCheck products and services are built on the Agenda 21 principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 and aligned to the SDGs.
EarthCheck Certified provides a framework for organisations to achieve the desired outcomes for sustainable development as set out in the final report of the World Summit for Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.
EarthCheck Certified complies with the Mohonk Agreement (2000), which outlines the guidelines and principles for an international sustainable tourism certification program. It is also a Recognised program of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
EarthCheck Certified is a verification standard accepted by CDP. It is also an approved program of the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA), London & Partners, the Mexican Secretary of Tourism (SECTUR) and the City of Sydney.
EarthCheck Certified is an approved program for meeting the EU Energy Directive for the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle – BAFA) in Germany and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy) in the Netherlands.
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The EarthCheck brand signifies scientific excellence, better environmental, economic, and social performance, improved community interactions, and savings through more efficient use of resources. It provides recognition and promotional support to a global consumer market.
