20/1/2020

The company constantly develops its environmental responsibility towards zero-emissions solutions, which is why, from December 2020, they are adding electric snowmobiles to the offering. Already at the beginning of this season, Lapland Safaris is committed to compensating for all carbon dioxide emissions from its snowmobile safaris. Bringing electric snowmobiles to the market is a natural step in Lapland Safaris’ work towards experience services with lower emissions. In the first phase, 30–35 snowmobiles will be introduced in Rovaniemi and Luosto.

“We have been involved in various initiatives and projects where we have searched for more environmentally friendly alternatives for snowmobiles with internal combustion engines. We have now found a solution that is safe, quiet and, most important, free of emissions,” says Director of Operations Rami Korhonen from Lapland Safaris.

The selected electric snowmobile is well-suited for the Nordic climate. It fulfils strict safety criteria and has a low noise level. The manufacturer of the snowmobile will be announced later this year. Further, Lapland Safaris is using 100% green electricity in all its branches. The battery’s capacity is enough for safaris under 50 km. Electric snowmobile safaris are introduced as a completely new product in the selection as well as the option to change the internal combustion engine snowmobile to an electric snowmobile in selected safaris.

Lapland Safaris already uses 4-stroke snowmobiles with the lowest emissions on the market. As of 1 December 2019, the company is committed to compensate for all emissions from its snowmobile safaris. Lapland Safaris funds Gold Standard certified initiatives that reduce emissions through Nordic Offset Oy. The initiatives are also supported by WWF.

“Compensating for emissions is an important and concrete act. However, we are extremely satisfied that we can take our environmental work from the compensation of emissions towards solutions that are completely free of emissions,” Korhonen explains. “We mainly operate in Finnish Lapland and our roots are deep in the north and its pure nature. Cherishing nature and the local community is at the heart of everything we do. In addition to having environmental values, we also work determinedly for the wellbeing of our personnel, animals used in our programs and customer safety.” Among other things, Lapland Safaris has developed a real-time Mapitare map service to guarantee safety in cooperation with Mapitare Oy and rescue operators in Lapland. In addition, as the first travel operator in Lapland, Lapland Safaris received the travel and restaurant industry’s national safety award in 2011.

“By taking the important concrete measure of offsetting emissions, we can do our part to bear responsibility for the carbon footprint of our operations. We have funded and been involved in various projects aimed at identifying more environmentally friendly solutions,” explains Jyrki Niva, CEO of Lapland Safaris.

Lapland Hotels, Lapland Safaris and Lapland Ski Resorts offer accommodation in 18 hotels throughout Finland. The companies have now committed to use only sustainable energy in all of their properties and operations; hotels, safaris and ski resorts. This is done as part of the sustainability program together with other sustainable solutions. Since December 2019 Lapland Hotels with it´s sister companies made the decision to use only sustainable energy as a choice to reduce the carbon footprint. Guarantee of the origin of electricity is verified in accordance with the Guarantee of Origin system. GoO proves that the energy consumed is produced from 100% renewable energy sources in the Nordic countries. Types of energy used are hydro, wind and bio energy.

“By choosing to use only sustainable energy we managed to reduce our CO2 emissions significantly. On yearly bases, this means even more than 4000 tons less of emissions in our hotel operations only,” says Lapland Hotels CEO Ari Vuorentausta.

“Lapland Safaris operates in the sensitive environment of Arctic nature, and we look after it in all our activities. Providing carbon-neutral adventure services is our ultimate objective, and we are now taking an important step toward that goal,” continues Jyrki Niva. “In addition to environmental values, ensuring animal welfare and customer safety plays a major role in our comprehensive corporate responsibility programme. Our roots are in the North and we want to operate by protecting the Arctic nature. Together with nature, it is our priority to take care of our guests and staff.”