PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY

Taigavire Oy / Hikes'n Trails has received the international environmental Good Travel Seal certification in August 2022! The Good Travel Seal certification is part of the Good Travel Guide sustainable travel platform, which promotes destinations and businesses to responsible travelers looking for a green holiday. The certification is awarded to tourism businesses for their commitment in the fields of environmentally-friendly management, social responsibility, and health & safety. Hikes'n Trails is strongly committed to the principles of Good Travel Seal criteria about sustainable tourism in all of our services and activities. 

Entrepreneurs of Hikes'n Trails are members of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. We work actively in various animal welfare organizations and support local sustainable development activities. As a contract partner of Finnish Government-owned Metsähallitus Nature and Heritage, Hikes'n Trails is strongly committed to the principles of sustainable tourism.

• We value and respect nature.
  

• We participate in animal protection.

• We tell our customers about the values ​​of the National Parks, their protection and encourage our guests to act responsibly.

• We enable and encourage our customers to act in environmentally friendly ways.

• As a rule, we use ready-made routes and existing service equipment.

• We encourage our customers to travel to Syöte National Park using public transport for the lower emissions. Locally, we use renewed bio-diesel powered car to transport groups of less than five people. Finnish renewed bio-diesel is eco-friendly fuel made from local wood raw material or from a bio-waste. Use of bio-diesel reduces car emissions about 80%. 

• We work energy and material efficiently. We encourage our guests to buy souvenirs from our souvenir shop. We work with local and small producers rather than those who produce or bring goods from abroad.

• Whenever possible, we buy products and raw materials from local entrepreneurs. We want to support the local economy. Our partners also appreciate nature and sustainable values ​​and act safely.

• We prefer to stay in small, environmentally friendly and local owned cabins or hotels and choose sustainable accommodation.

• We like to eat in local restaurants and cafes. We prefer wild food, vegetarian food, fish from the near lakes and ethically sustainable, locally sourced food.

• We sort and recycle our waste: Plastic, metal, paper, carton, glass and food waste.

• We use energy and water sparingly in accommodation and public buildings.

• We respect the local people, culture and nature. We accept all religions and beliefs. We remember to thank and follow other good practices in our communications. We smile for upcoming hikers and other people.

• During our stay in nature, we leave nothing behind but take all the waste with us to our place of departure.

• We clean the huts and shelters in nature every time we leave in a slightly better condition than they were when we arrived. At the Syöte Visitor Centre we sort all waste.

• We maintain our equipment for maximum durability and long life.

• We avoid disposable tableware and prefer durable and appropriate cutlery.

• We collect feedback to improve customer satisfaction and operations.​

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