Our Sustainability Initiatives
Our Polar Promise
Quark Expeditions has been a pioneer in polar exploration since 1991, and we’ve been innovating ever since. From successfully circumnavigating Antarctica in 1997 to confirming the existence of the remote Emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island in 2004, innovation is in our DNA.
Our diverse fleet of ice-class vessels access otherwise inaccessible areas, and our team of experts deliver transformative experiences that inspire connections to the natural world and the communities we visit. Quark strives to explore these remarkable regions with respect and purpose and we invite our guests to join us on the journey of learning through active conservation and community initiatives that are embedded in every expedition.
Sustainability Framework
Our Polar Promise framework is made up of three pillars. Each addresses a different aspect of our business, our operations—and ultimately your journey.
PRINCIPLES
Embedding responsible practices throughout our business, whether it’s in polar wilderness or in the places we work each day.
PLANET
Building collaborative community engagement that strengthens understanding between guests and communities.
PARTNERSHIPS
Making a positive impact on the people, environment, and communities we visit through outreach, collaboration, and innovation.
Principles
Good governance practices are fundamental to building a robust framework for Quark Expeditions’ sustainability initiatives. By anchoring our operations in principles informed by leading impact assessments, we ensure that our sustainability initiatives are strategic, actionable, and measurable. This foundation is essential to align every team member with our sustainability goals so that together, we can drive meaningful environmental and social outcomes.
Planet
Environmental stewardship is key to our polar operations. We are working to reduce our carbon emissions per passenger by 20% through fleet upgrades, operational efficiencies, and technology investments. We are also collaborating with our supply chain partners to measure, report, and reduce our collective environmental impact. Additionally, we are committed to reducing, reusing, or recycling 100% of the waste generated on Quark Expeditions-owned vessels.
Partnerships
We believe in the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change. By working together with employees, guests, local communities, and other organizations that work in the Polar Regions, we strive to create a positive impact that goes beyond what we could do alone. From supporting community development projects to engaging with polar science and conservation, our collective efforts help us ensure that our operations are beneficial for all involved.
Preserving the Polar Regions
Land Acknowledgement
Quark Expeditions acknowledges and affirms the Articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and recognizes Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights and historical territories.
Our office is located in the Toronto region, the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. We acknowledge that this land is covered by Treaty 13, signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties, signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
The areas we visit – the Arctic, subarctic, and coastal regions of southern South America – are the traditional homelands of many Indigenous Peoples. These include the Inuit within Inuit Nunangat covered by the Nunavut Agreement , the Inuit of Kalaallit Nunaat, and the Yagán and the Selk’nam of current-day Patagonia. These places have complex colonial histories, about which we have much to learn.
We offer our gratitude and respect to Indigenous Peoples for their enduring wisdom and stewardship of these lands and waters. We honor the ancestors who cared for these territories as well as the present-day guardians who continue to safeguard the ecosystems, historical sites, and sacred places that we have the honor of visiting.
Reconciliation is an ongoing process for us all. We are committed to partnering with and learning from Indigenous communities to ensure our presence is respectful and contributes positively to their lands and cultures. Connection to land, histories, languages, and cultures is essential to identity. We honor this connection as we work to build a We invite you to learn more about the people who have inhabited the land you are on or are visiting.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
When we launched our Polar Promise, we carefully considered our industry, our stakeholders, and our global impact. It is designed to be comprehensive and account for our social impact and ability to influence other organizations, in addition to our direct ecological impact.
To create a coordinated effort to promote sustainable development, we used the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for our Polar Promise. Specifically, we targeted five of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals on which we can have the most significant impact.
Blue Marine Foundation Partnership
Taking climate action by supporting healthy oceans
Our objective is to help conserve the stunning coastlines and marine life that enrich your holidays and restore ocean ecosystems that are vital in tackling climate change.
Together with our sister travel companies, we intent to support the conservation and restoration of 7,000 hectares of vital marine ecosystems through seven global projects.
From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, Kenya to Indonesia, these protected “blue carbon ecosystems” have the potential to remove and store thousands of tonnes of carbon every year. They will also help protect a rich diversity of coastal and underwater wildlife, including endangered species.
Our support will also enable the training and employment of local communities in marine conservation, helping ensure these beautiful places are preserved for generations.
*Quark Expeditions is a member of the Travelopia group of travel companies which has come together to partner with Blue Marine Foundation.
Our Promise
Introducing our guests to the last two great wilderness domains on Earth is our greatest privilege. And with this privilege comes great responsibility, something we take seriously. It’s our belief that progress is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to doing the best that we can.
We recognize that our operations impact these regions, which is why our Polar Promise focuses on minimizing our footprint while maximizing educational opportunities. Whether we’re assisting guests in planning their next Antarctic adventure or guiding them on a kayak expedition in the Arctic, we aim to operate respectfully, collaborate with experts, and inspire our guests.
Our journey through the past year has involved implementing initiatives to reduce our environmental impact while enhancing our guests’ understanding of polar ecosystems. As we continue to navigate the polar seas and create life-changing experiences for our guests, we commit to transparent reporting of both our challenges and progress.