TUI carbon disclosure leaders

Only tour operator to be included in stock exchange index

TUI Travel is in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index for the fourth consecutive year.  Once again, TUI Travel is the only tour operator to be featured in this index.

The Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, a key component of Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) annual FTSE 350 report, highlights the constituent companies within the FTSE 350 Index that have displayed the most professional approach to corporate governance regarding climate change information disclosure practices. Companies are scored on their climate change disclosure and high scores indicate good internal data management and understanding of climate change related issues affecting the company.

TUI Travel PLC’s score places it in the top 10% of the 236 respondents from the FTSE 350.
The index, compiled by PwC on behalf of CDP, provides an evaluation tool for institutional investors and other stakeholders. In 2011 it comprises 36 companies from the FTSE 350 Index based on analysis of the responses to CDP’s questionnaire which focused on greenhouse gas emissions, emissions reduction targets and risks and opportunities associated with climate change.

On 6 October, Thomson Airways became the first UK airline to fly customers on sustainable biofuel when a Boeing 757-200 flew from Birmingham Airport to Arrecife carrying more than 200 passengers.  
Peter Long, Chief Executive, TUI Travel PLC, said:

“We are delighted once again to be recognised for our good corporate governance in respect of carbon management and the progress we have made this year.  We have a firm commitment to manage our environmental footprint from the Board level down. We have been putting measures in place to reduce our current and future carbon emissions and are on track to achieve our goal to reduce our direct carbon emissions by 6% by 2013/14.”

Paul Simpson, chief executive officer of the Carbon Disclosure Project, commented: “Companies that make the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index have demonstrated good internal data management practices for understanding greenhouse gas emissions. They have shown a strong awareness of the business issues related to climate change including climate-related risks and opportunities. Those organisations that give clear consideration to measuring and reporting on climate change issues will be best placed to capitalise on the opportunities from managing them.”

The FTSE 350 report, including names of companies featured in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, is at http://www.cdproject.net

TUI Travel PLC’s 2010 sustainable development report visit http://sd2010.tuitravelplc.com/tui-sd2010/en/home.

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Special Offers HERE