Purpose
At Casas del Perú we are committed to sustainability in each of our operations and this is reflected in the fact that our main project is to bring tourism closer to the local people in order to improve their income.
our main project is to bring tourism closer to the local people in order to improve their income and also to enhance the value of each one of our actions.
and also to enhance the value of each of our actions, from management to operations to the guides, we have this in mind in each of our visits with tourism groups.
We have this in mind in each of our visits with tourism groups.
Scope
The sustainability policy will be for all partners, for all suppliers and also for all guides,
Transport, catering this policy will be implemented by each of the workers or collaborators of our project in Peru.
our project in Peru
Sustainability management & legal compliance
Sustainability commitment
Casas del Perú leadership is wholly committed to the company’s sustainability performance and endorses the company’s sustainability mission statement and policy.
We will use the Travelife platform to report on our sustainability progress and to monitor and evaluate progress. We are committed to (publicly) communicating our sustainability performance (by means of the Travelife report) every two years.
Sustainability management & legal compliance
Casas del Perú follows all local, regional, national, and international regulations as they relate to human resources, human rights, children’s rights, land rights, environmental management, wildlife, and land use. We follow a strict Code of Ethics, including a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, bribery, forced labor, and discrimination.
Internal management: social policy & human right
At Casas del Peru we want people to work with dignity.
At Casas del Peru we want to use as little plastic as possible.
At Casas del Peru we also want everyone to be treated equally with equal rights.
rights.
At Casas del Peru we fight for a clean planet.
At Casas del Peru culture must be preserved.
At Casas del Peru local architecture must also be preserved.
Casas del Perú is committed to managing environmental impact as an integral part of our operations. It is our policy to assure the environmental integrity of our processes and products at all times by:
- Continuously seeking opportunities to improve our environmental performance by establishing objectives and targets, measuring progress, and reporting our results, including but not limited to energy, water, paper, and carbon.
- Practising a waste hierarchical approach to always reduce, reuse, and recycle commodities and products instead of waste, particularly waste to landfill.
- Promoting participation and communicating our commitment to responsible environmental management by promoting environmental responsibility amongst our employees and stakeholders and soliciting input from them to better achieve our environmental goals.
- Minimising pollution including light, noise, and any soil, water, or air contaminants, and avoiding use of any toxic or hazardous substances.
Carbon management of office operations
Casas del Perú is committed to reducing our carbon footprint and endeavours to reduce the amount we travel as much as possible by:
- Reduce the amount we travel as much as possible
- Monitoring and measuremeasuring carbon footprint with the aim to reduce as much as possible and offset remaining amounts.
- Encourageing remote work whenever possible, and when it is not possible, making it easier for employees to limit their carbon footprint by use of eco modes of transportation.
- We commit to offsetting our remaining direct and indirect carbon from travel and fossil energy use via [carbon offset company].
- Implementing procedures such as [e.g. following proper maintenance for vehicle fleet, offering incentives such as bike rental stipend and showers].
- Installing energy efficient equipment and appliances [where appropriate/possible]
Land use
Casas del Perú offices are located in a [urban/suburban/rural] area and abides by all local land use laws, respects local cultural and natural resources in our business operations, and favours sustainable architecture and design.
General suppliers policy
- Is committed to sourcing its products and services responsibly, avoiding harmful impacts on society, culture and nature as much as possible. We expect the same level of engagement and commitment from our suppliers.
- Casas del Perú prefers to work with partners that share the company’s commitment towards sustainability. This means that we prefer partners that have a written sustainability statement as an integral part of their business policy and/or a clear sustainability policy in place.
- Casas del Perú prefers to work with suppliers in the destinations that are locally owned or managed, use local and seasonal products and services and benefit the local community by hiring locally and equitably and by providing fair working conditions.
- Whenever possible, Casas del Perú prefers to select partner companies that comply with tourism-specific, internationally recognized (GSTC-accredited) certifications, or other sustainability certifications like B Corp or ISO.
- Casas del Perú offers incentives for partners that are actively engaged in sustainable operations.
- Casas del Perú expects its suppliers to adhere to a [Code of Conduct/Code of Ethics], that includes the following responsible business practices:
- Complying with all local, regional, national and international regulations
- Respecting all human rights including labour rights, children’s rights, and women’s rights
- Committing to fair employment conditions
- Following anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-extortion, and anti-discrimination policies
- Protecting children from (sexual) exploitation through tourism
- Protecting the environment and natural resources
- Acting in the best interest of local communities
- Protecting the interests of [company]
Our complete supplier [Code of Conduct/Code of Ethics] is available here: [link to document/website].
- Following a zero-tolerance policy, Casas del Perú will immediately terminate any relationships with suppliers that violate [our policies/the [Code of Conduct/Code of Ethics], specifically through acts of bribery, corruption, discrimination, and violation of human rights.
- Casas del Perú raises awareness amongst its suppliers to adopt sound social and environmental practices, and to minimise their carbon footprint.
- Casas del Perú actively collaborates with suppliers to improve their sustainability performance. We encourage our suppliers to continuously learn about sustainability and provide/support this learning whenever possible.
- Casas del Perú maintains open lines of communication with our suppliers and partners and encourage feedback from our stakeholders at any time and on any topic, particularly sustainability.
Inbound partner agencies
- Casas del Perú only works with partner agencies that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct
- In the entire process of developing and operating our travel packages, Casas del Perú expects partner agencies to act in the best interests of the surrounding communities and environment as well as our guests.
- Casas del Perú provides partner agencies opportunities for sustainability learning and management, including free access to the Travelife online learning and reporting platform
Transport
- Casas del Perú only works with transport providers that adhere to the company’s [Code of Conduct/Code of Ethics].
- When selecting transport for guests and business related travel, Casas del Perú commits to choosing the most environmentally friendly options available for travelling to, from, and within the destination – taking into consideration distance, price, route, and comfort.
- Casas del Perú has implemented clear guidelines for reducing GHG emissions from transport and selecting the most environmentally friendly transport options, including the following measures:
- Preferring ground transport over air transport for short-haul travel destinations
- Avoiding in-destination flights as much as possible
- Offering rail-and-fly transport to and from the airport
- Using public transportation options in the destinations
- Using appropriate vehicle sizes for group sizes and purchasing most efficient vehicles available
- Training drivers on eco-driving techniques
Accommodations
- Casas del Perú only works with accommodations that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct
- In the accommodation selection process, Casas del Perú considers the sustainability practices of an accommodation by taking into account their sustainability management and social and environmental footprint.
- Casas del Perú favours the selection of accommodations that respect and protect land use, as well as respectfully highlight elements of local architecture, customs and traditions
- Casas del Perú is working always with local people , local families
Activities & Excursions
- Casas del Perú only works with excursion providers that adhere to the company’s Code of Conduct.
- All excursions and activities run by or on behalf of Casas del Perú respect local customs, traditions, cultural integrity, and natural resources.
- Casas del Perú commits to not offering any excursions that harm humans, wildlife, environment, or natural resources such as water and energy.
- Casas del Perú gives preference to excursions and activities that benefit local communities, respect animal welfare and support environmental protection.
- Casas del Perú has clear guidelines/Codes of Conduct in place for environmentally and culturally sensitive excursions offered by or on behalf of the company. These guidelines are actively communicated to guests as well as distributed and implemented by excursion providers and guides.
Tour leaders, local representatives, and guides
- Casas del Perú commits to hiring qualified local guides, porters, drivers or other local staff, paying them living wages and providing safe and fair working conditions. We expect the same from our suppliers that are hiring local staff on behalf of Casas del Perú.
- Casas del Perú understands that guides are the intermediaries between the guests and the socio-cultural and environmental context of the destination, conveying the appropriate behaviour to them. Therefore, we make sure that all guides hired by or leading tours on behalf of Casas del Perú are trained regularly and knowledgeable in the sustainability topics of the destination.
- Our guides are specifically trained on the critical issue of sexual exploitation of children in tourism.
- Casas del Perú provides guides with learning opportunities on sustainability topics including providing free access to the Travelife online learning platform.
Destinations
Sustainable destinations
- Casas del Perú prefers to work in destinations that have committed to sustainability as an integral part of community and destination development.
- Casas del Perú aims to send visitors to secondary or lesser-known tourist areas to avoid overtourism.
- Casas del Perú does not support destinations that have a questionable human rights track record.
Contribution to local communities / local economic network
- Casas del Perú commits to positive contribution to the destinations in which we operate, by:
- Sourcing locally and responsibly, and supporting local and traditional arts and culture
- Encouraging guests to shop responsibly and educating them about illegal/prohibited/forbidden souvenirs
- Collaborating with other local tourism stakeholders [including local government, other tourism businesses, academia, community groups] to further the sustainable tourism development of the destination
- Respecting and advocating for all human rights (i.e. children’s rights, women’s rights, labour rights, etc.) as well as land rights
Environmental stewardship in destinations
- Casas del Perú commits to environmental stewardship in the destinations in which we operate by:
- Ensuring natural resources remain intact
- Educating guests about the principles of responsible travel and responsible visitor behaviour
Customer communication and protection
Privacy
- Our customer protection is our priority. Therefore, we maintain a clear privacy policy to ensure
- Legal compliance in all regards
- Customers and their data are protected
- Customers know how their information is being used
Marketing and communication
- Casas del Perú strives to be truthful in all situations and at all times. We offer products and services that do what we claim in our communications.
- We honour our explicit and implicit commitments and promises.
- We are anti-greenwashing and stand behind our sustainability claims 100%.
- We endeavour to be inclusive and representative in our marketing, and to always take into account cultural, religious, and ethnic sensitivities.
Sustainability communication
- Customers are informed about the social and environmental impact of their journey, and are educated about the sustainable choices they can make, including transparent communication on:
- Certified accommodations
- Compensation of their trips CO2 emissions
- Activities and excursions that benefit the local communities and environmental protection
- Responsible shopping and illegal souvenirs
Customer experience
- The company aims for all customer experiences to be positive, and follows strict health and safety, marketing, and excursion policies to ensure customer satisfaction. These policies cover specific topics of (but not limited to):
- Health and safety
- Emergency procedures
- Privacy
- Group numbers
- Greenhouse Gas emissions and offsetting
- Transport
- Shopping
- Sexual exploitation
- Children in tourism
- Satisfaction and complaints
- Casas del Perú maintains open lines of communication with our customers and encourages feedback at any time and on any topic, particularly sustainability.
Contact / Responsible person
The implementation of this policy will be lead by the Sustainability Coordinator, Carlos Orihuela Gonzales, who
can be reached at info@casasdelperu.com
Effective date
This policy is effective from [05.12.2024].
Revision history
This policy was revised on [05.12.2024]
This policy will be revised by [05.12.2025]