Sustainability policy of Zig Zag Holidays

 

Realizing the vulnerability of the unique Bulgarian nature and its importance as a basic resource for the development of responsible tourism, Zig Zag Holidays aims to present it to their clients while working for its preservation.

1. Our office

  • We save our resources through a wise use of water, heating and lighting;
  • We print double-sided and use recycled or certified paper;
  • We collect waste separately and recycle our office paper and paper packaging.  We have a contract with the company “Unitreyd BG” for transportation and recycling;
  • We have a special place to throw used batteries. We have a contract with the “Ecobatery” company that recycles batteries;
  • We re-use our old promotional materials. We don’t print new promotional materials, instead, we do live events and online advertisements;
  • We’ve stopped all plastic materials for one-time use;
  • We travel to work by public transport, on foot or by bike;

2. Our tours

Our programs are operated in a way to present the Bulgarian nature and wildlife at its best and to conserve it as well by minimizing our impact. We mostly operate in small tour groups and try to preserve the environment by using good practices for our transportation, food and accommodation.

3. Our transport

  • Our tours are operated in terms that the transfers are put to its minimum. If there are short distances that are possible to do on foot, then we don’t use transportation;
  • We use economic class vehicles, each one chosen for the specific number and needs of our clients;
  • If available we use local transport services and encourage our clients to use public transport;
  • We turn off the motor of the vehicle whenever this is possible;
  • We do not tolerate the use of Jeeps, Off-road cars, motor sleds and other motorized vehicles in protected areas and sites;

4. Accommodations

We prefer smaller places for accommodating our clients – family-run guesthouses and family-run hotels placed aside from protected areas and cites. Our choice is usually based on a personal contact with the hosts and we are looking for certified and responsible partners – Green house, Authentic Bulgaria and others. For us, it is important that or tourists don’t receive food packed in one-time usage plastics and the food itself to be real and ecologically clean. Zig Zag Holidays are trying to teach all its partners of the importance of responsible and sustainable growth.

5. Food

When organizing meals and especially when organizing picnics, we strive to reduce the packaged foods to a minimum. Our guides care not to throw any waste, whether they are biodegradable or not. We encourage our guides, accommodation and restaurateur partners to offer local products and dishes.

6. Our guides

Zig Zag Holidays aims to develop highly motivated and competent mountain guides. To do this in our meetings we emphasize the knowledge and conservation of Bulgaria. Our guides prompt for a good understanding of the rules of conduct in protected areas to present to tourists and to set an example for their compliance.

7. Social activities

Zig Zag Holidays is committed to supporting (social, organizational and financial) initiatives such as marking and placing signs, afforestation, cleaning, research and other conservation activities in protected or sensitive natural areas in the country. Together with BAAT, Association “Mountains and People” and its other partners, Zig Zag Holidays develops active public activity aimed at improving legislation, management plans, and other areas or activities directly related to the sustainable use and conservation of the Bulgarian nature.