For General Manager Operations of The Maria Island Walk, Ben Brown, environmental stewardship has always been a top priority. "Sustainability and conservation have been at the heart of The Maria Island Walk since inception, and our recent partnership with ERC Australia is another step we're taking to ensure we continue to stay ahead of the curve in this space," he explains.
Guests on The Maria Island Walk. Image: The Maria Island Walk
Rolled out by the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania (TICT), the ERC Australia program is an initiative that empowers small- to medium-sized businesses to calculate their emissions and develop strategies to reduce them through a straightforward process. "The beauty of their plan is that you can log the things you're already doing – such as reducing plastic waste, recycling, composting, and collecting rainwater – and then, knowing your carbon footprint, work towards further improvements," Ben explains.
One of two bush camps, used on nights 1 and 2 of The Maria Island Walk. Image: The Maria Island Walk
When it comes to The Maria Island Walk, sustainable practices are already ingrained into the unique tourism experience, but with this plan, The Maria Island Walk team can turn it up a notch, all while teaching guests about environmental impact. "For instance, in terms of reducing wastewater, we focus on educating guests about responsible water usage. We collect rainwater for our needs and use a simple yet effective dry composting system in our composting toilets," Ben explains. "Our hand-washing system, featuring a simple yet effective design with a small, perforated plastic cup that restricts water usage to about 200ml per wash, has been in place for some time. Recently, we've introduced advanced systems for weighing and measuring composted waste, which helps us accurately assess food waste levels as part of our updated plan."
Emission Reduction Dashboard - The Maria Island Walk
This commitment to the environment is woven throughout the trip experience, and Ben explains that teaching guests about human impact is vital. "During welcome briefings at each site and camp, our guides discuss composting toilets, water conservation, recycling processes, and composting practices. It's an orientation that ensures our guests are on board with sustainability efforts. Our partnership with ERC Australia helps us identify and advance these initiatives further."
