The association created in 1955 will offset all the carbon emissions of international flights made by its travelers and employees from 2023.
Arts et Vie “has decided to carry out its carbon footprint, to work on concrete ways to reduce the emissions generated by its travels and to contribute 100% of the carbon emissions of the international flights taken by its travelers and employees”, indicates a press release issued by the association specializing in cultural trips.
“So that travel remains possible tomorrow”, Arts et Vie therefore includes a “carbon contribution” in all the international trips it plans in 2023. This contribution varies between 6 and 45 euros depending on the distance travelled. At the end of 2023, the association will take stock of the annual carbon footprint generated by the flights and “will invest the sums collected […] in a certified environmental program whose action will contribute to carbon absorption (reforestation, restoration of mangroves… )”.
Employee training and audit of partner practices
“This decision could not wait. It had to be taken even if no regulations impose it today, ”explains Delphine Camara, the deputy director of Arts et Vie. By taking this decision, the association recognizes that it is “thus involving its community of travelers in a very concrete approach that has a direct impact on them”. A reflection explained “in detail” in the various Arts et Vie information channels: 2023 brochure, website, newsletter….
The association also wishes to involve its teams in this process, via training, provided in the coming months. An audit of the practices of its partners (airlines, coach operators, DMCs, guides, etc.) will be carried out in early 2023. After this inventory, Arts et Vie “will encourage its partners to strengthen their actions” aimed at limiting the negative impacts of travel : elimination of single-use plastics, development of train journeys, limitation of buffets, etc.
In 2019, the last reference year before the pandemic, Arts & Vie attracted more than 30,000 travellers , for a turnover of 67.8 million euros.
