Southbound Escapes Sustainability Policy

Southbound Escapes Sustainability Policy

• Southbound Escapes is aware of our social and environmental responsibility and strives to pursue sustainability in all aspects of our business.
• We encourage environmentally conscious travel through E-bike and Mountain bike hire, helping to reduce carbon emissions and minimising customers impact on the local environment. 
• The core of our business is promoting local tours that explore the natural beauty of our surrounds as well as our incredibly rich culture. 
• We try to ensure that every Southbound Escapes tour and service has the lowest environmental impact, and always aim to work with suppliers that show environmental responsibility.
• Southbound Escapes works exclusively with small groups, and work with local businesses for food, wine and accommodation, sourcing eco-conscious businesses where possible.
• We educate and train our staff to follow Southbound Escapes sustainability policy, which will ensure continually improved and innovative environmental practices in such simple ways as separating trash, reducing office energy consumption and keeping punctured inner tubes for reuse!
• We only use the most environmentally sound, biodegradable cleaning products and lubricants to maintain our bikes.

How we give back to the environment and community.

• We operate tours in the country we reside and bring in valued clients to a variety of local businesses.
• We minimize our impact on areas we visit by simply cycling through and asking customers to use designated cycle paths and take their rubbish with them. 
• Southbound Escapes donates $1 from every bike hire to Dalmeny Boardrider’s Association, a community group that run regular surfing competitions, and promote community involvement and ocean safety for local youths. 
• Southbound Escapes donates $1 per person on a tour to local aboriginal pre-school Yuin Preschool, and have purchased musical instruments (clap sticks) for the school.
• We operate tours that teach culture, story and history from one of the areas most respected Indigenous Yuin Nation Elders. 
• All used parts are donated to a local cycling association.
• We aim to have as little printed material as possible and operate a print-on-demand policy.
• We try to recycle all our waste – from the ink cartridges in the office to our picnic waste on tours.
• We compost food waste returning to local gardens and chickens.
• The restaurants we use are all locally run, favouring family owned small businesses. 
• Southbound Escapes designs and promotes travel in areas that will benefit the most from our brand of low-impact tourism.
• We always employ local guides for every tour – and we’re locals too!
• We always encourage our clients to choose nationally produced gifts and souvenirs at local shops.