QUARK EXPEDITIONS
polar promise
Operating in the last two great wildernesses on the planet is a great privilege to all at Quark Expeditions. But that honour of exploring the Arctic and Antarctica comes with a great responsibility.
We’re determined to do whatever we can to preserve the pristine polar environments for the next generation. And so we developed our Polar Promise, Quark Expeditions’ ambitious journey to be an industry leader in sustainability.
It is a comprehensive framework that brings together existing sustainability activities and future initiatives, addressing different aspects of our business, our operations—and ultimately our guests’ journey. Find out more about Quark Expeditions' sustainability initiatives by visiting our website.
Here are some highlights of our work so far.
MAGS
The ships, World Explorer and Ultramarine, will be equipped with a Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS) by Terragon Environmental that thermally breaks down waste, reducing waste volume by up to 95%. These units sequester carbon to reduce CO2 emissions, and are virtually self-sustaining after a start-up.
Developed and tested with support from the US Office of Naval Research, Canadian Navy, and Sustainable Development Technology Canada, these units not only exceed MARPOL regulations, they’ve initiated a drive towards a change in the regulatory framework.
MAGS has two positive by-products: heat, which we can use for interior spaces, and a soil enhancer called biochar, which improves soil’s water and nutrient retention and pH.
Clean Seas Pledge / Single Use Plastic Free
UN Environment launched Clean Seas in February 2017 with the aim of engaging governments, members of the general public and the private sector in the fight against marine plastic pollution by targeting the production and consumption of non-recoverable and single-use plastic. The goal is to channel outrage into positive action.
Quark Expeditions took the Clean Seas pledge, but in fact has been drastically reducing single-use plastics on board for much longer. For more than 5 years, we have been providing each of our guests with a re-usable water bottle, cabins have been outfitted with soap and shampoo dispensers, and we provide paper straws, only on request.
These contribute to our Clean Seas pledge and serve as a launching point for discussions with guests about the effects of single-use plastic waste in our oceans, the foundation for our expeditions without which we wouldn’t be able to operate.
Investing in Polar Research & Conservation
Quark Expeditions has been a proud ambassador of the polar regions since 1991 and continues to engage with stakeholders to lead positive environmental change. Quark Expeditions supports conservation and scientific organisations like Penguin Watch and the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust by providing free berths on our ships which give scientists access to remote regions to do their research.
On each expedition, Quark Expeditions hosts a charity auction and donates proceeds to these organisations. Through this initiative, we make a significant contribution to scientific research and habitat restoration. In 2019, our passengers contributed over $300,000 USD.
Sustainability
At Travelopia, our diverse portfolio of travel businesses are unified in their common purpose “To enrich lives through inspiring travel experiences”, for not only our guests but also for the people and places we visit.