Eric Durant, MS’99, PhD’02, and his husband Scott Swickard, enjoy going on nature-based trips to learn about the natural environment in a conscious way. So when they heard about a trip to the Galapagos Islands with the Alumni Association, they jumped at the chance.
“We’re really thankful for the opportunity to see some of these animals and to learn about some things people and organizations are trying to do to protect them,” Durant says.
The two were among the group of 20 who went with the Alumni Association to visit the Galapagos Islands in order to swim among the sea turtles, see sea lions up close, and learn from University of Michigan professor Michael Shriberg, MS’00, PhD’02, who was also on the trip to give it an educational component.
“We really appreciate the passion from the people we meet on these trips in the countries, the tour operators,” Durant says. “They have a passion for protecting and respecting the wildlife.”
The tour itself was operated by Orbridge. While travel has a large carbon footprint, the company is focused on its impact on the planet, says Vanessa Cheatham, the company’s executive vice president of sales.
“We value the planet,” she says. “We’re looking at all the amazing places that we’re visiting and taking [guests] to experience, and it’s critically important for us to ensure that we’re responsible about how we’re traveling.”
That includes making sure travel partners and suppliers have the same philosophy as Orbridge.
“Our company thinks it’s critically important to be responsible and mindful about how we travel responsibility,” Cheatham says. “Also, it is a priority of Orbridge’s that we seek partnerships and suppliers around the world that share in that philosophy. As we’re evaluating new suppliers that we’re partnering with and building relationships and tours with, that’s always a piece that we’re considering.”
In Ecuador for the Galapagos trip, the company partners with Metropolitan Touring which offsets carbon emissions for its tours and operations, treats its wastewater, doesn’t use single-use plastics, offers biodegradable soaps and shampoos in refillable bottles, and invests in modern engine technology to improve fuel consumption. The company was selected by the World Travel and Tourism Council as part of a worldwide case study as an example of good practices when it comes to sustainability.
Orbridge, which is owned by alum Jim Staples, ’91, participates in a reforestation project where it plants approximately 100,000 trees annually. The company’s goal is to plant 1 million trees by the end of 2026.
Cheatham says the company tries to live a sustainable lifestyle day-to-day with reusable water bottles and recycled paper and ink.
“Throughout every aspect of our organization, we’ve been charged by our leadership, and Jim [Staples] in particular, with finding creative ways that we can continue to reduce our footprint,” she says.
Jeremy Carroll is the senior content strategist for the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan.
