Sustainability Spotlight: Above and Beyond Alaska
Our Sustainability Spotlight series is aimed at broadening the conversation surrounding sustainable tourism for visitors and businesses by sharing the stories of our Adventure Green Alaska certified businesses. To learn more about Adventure Green Alaska certification please visit our about page.
About Above and Beyond Alaska
Above and Beyond Alaska is a boutique guiding company that has been operating since 2002. Our priorities are safety, providing outstanding customer service, upholding the highest safety standards, and serving as responsible stewards of the environment. We specialize in small group, high quality wilderness adventures that feature the best of Southeast Alaska – glaciers, bears, and whales. Our tours are sought after those passionate about the environment and sustainability and want to explore off the beaten path adventures. We combine human powered adventures with boat or float plane transport to several of our tour destinations.
How long has your business been implementing sustainable practices?
Since opening our doors in 2002, ABAK has been deeply committed to sustainability by focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling. We’ve implemented measures such as minimizing paper use, providing reusable aluminum water bottles to reduce single-use plastics, and using reusable snack bags to cut down on waste. Additionally, we actively recycle cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum. In 2015, we took another step toward energy efficiency by installing heat pumps to heat our warehouse and office.
What advice do you have for businesses that are beginning their sustainable journey?
Make sustainability a key value proposition for your company. Create clear sustainability policies, gather input from your team, and promote them on your website and social media platforms. Maintain consistent follow-through to demonstrate your commitment.
What sustainable practice is your business most proud of?
In 2022, we partnered with the Alaska Carbon Reduction Fund (ACRF) to help meet our sustainability goals and became the first tourism company to participate and raise funds for heat pumps to be installed in low-income family homes. Over the span of 2022-2024, ABAK successfully raised over $22,000 to support this endeavor, contributing to the Alaska Carbon Reduction Fund’s mission. The Alaska Carbon Reduction Fund replaces oil-burning heating systems with efficient, emissions-free air source heat pumps. This initiative offers heating assistance to lower-income families in Juneau, helping reduce housing costs by significantly cutting annual heating bills. By using heat pumps, the reliance on diesel fuel is eliminated, preventing the release of tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Which pillar of the Adventure Green Alaska program aligns most with your business?
Environmental sustainability is deeply aligned with our business values. We strictly adhere to Leave No Trace principles on all our trips, ensuring we pack in and pack out everything. Our mission is to explore, educate, and promote environmental conservation in our own backyard. We believe that exploration, paired with education, inspires conservation, and this philosophy is at the heart of everything we do.
Collaboration with the Adventure Green Alaska program
Joining the Adventure Green program has given us the opportunity to highlight the sustainability practices we’ve embraced since the inception of our business. Our commitment to environmental responsibility and operating in a way that minimizes our carbon footprint has not only reinforced our mission but also helped set a higher standard for tourism operations across Southeast Alaska.
To learn more about Above and Beyond Alaska, visit their Green Business profile and their website.
