How A&O Are Supporting Sustainable School Trips

At Equity, we recognise that sustainability is an important consideration when planning educational travel. While no school trip is entirely without environmental impact, there are practical ways to make more responsible choices – from considering transport and accommodation to helping students understand the environmental and social factors that shape the destinations they visit.

Several of our school trips across our European destinations include accommodation with a&o Hostels, where sustainability forms part of its wider approach to hotel operations. Here’s a closer look at some of the measures a&o has introduced, as well as some broader considerations that can help schools plan more sustainable educational travel (it's also a useful case study for any learnings on sustainability in practice).

Measuring and reducing emissions

One of the most significant challenges for the travel industry is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For a&o, measuring its emissions has been an important part of understanding where reductions can be made.

The company has tracked its greenhouse gas emissions since 2015 and reports its carbon footprint per overnight stay. According to its latest figures, emissions have fallen from 15kg of CO2 per overnight stay in 2015 to 5.8kg in 2019, and to 3.65kg in 2023.

This reduction has been supported by measures including improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy, retrofitting buildings, and introducing a responsible sourcing policy. a&o has also published three sustainability reports to date, with a commitment to continue reporting annually.

For schools, this provides a useful example of how sustainability can involve more than a single initiative. Measuring environmental impact allows organisations to identify where changes can make a difference and track progress over time.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy

Now it's hardly a secret that accommodations, like homes, use energy for everything – from lighting and heating to hot water and kitchen facilities. This makes energy efficiency an key part of reducing its environmental footprint.

a&o properties are equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting, while solar panels and photovoltaic systems have been installed across 12 of its properties to generate renewable energy. The company also works to improve the energy performance of properties with lower energy performance ratings and aims to use 100% green energy across its properties.

These measures demonstrate some of the changes taking place behind the scenes in accommodation – changes that students may not necessarily notice during a busy school trip, but which can form part of a wider environmental strategy for your trip.

Saving water during your stay

Water conservation is another area where relatively simple changes can make a measurable difference. Since 2006, a&o says it has saved 150 million litres of water through the use of water-efficient showerheads and flush systems. Guests are also encouraged to reuse towels during their stay, while housekeeping operations use chemical-free cleaning methods designed to reduce potential water pollution.

For students, measures such as these can also provide an easy opportunity to discuss how everyday choices — from taking shorter showers to reusing towels — contribute to wider resource conservation.

Reducing waste and considering suppliers

In all of its accommodations, a&o has eliminated single-use plastics in favour of bulk dispensers for various items, helping to reduce packaging waste. Its responsible sourcing policy is used to guide the selection of suppliers and products, with an emphasis on sustainability and ethical practices.

As part of its approach to biodiversity and responsible sourcing, a&o also chooses not to serve tropical fruits and seafood. Decisions like this illustrate how sustainability can be considered throughout an organisation's supply chain, rather than being limited to what happens inside the accommodation itself.

Planning a more responsible school trip

Travelling sustainably doesn't have to be another logistical headache on top of planning your school trip – it may just be a small consideration you make when deciding on your options along the way.

Whether it's choosing to travel via public transport or coach, encouraging students to conserve energy, reducing unnecessary waste, or simply selecting accommodation providers that can demonstrate their dedication to sustainability, there are many ways to decrease your school trip's footprint without lifting a finger.