As the world’s first Biosphere Certified marine ecotour operator, Eagle Wing is dedicated to building a better and sustainable future for all. We have integrated the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into our operations. Our special focus* is on six SDGs where we know we can make an impact:

• • SDG 4: Quality Education
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 14: Life Below Water
  • SDG 15: Life on Land
  • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

*we do address all the other SDGs but the ones listed above are our focus.

We’ re proud that we were Canada’s first third-party verified 100% carbon-neutral whale watching company, setting an example for the industry!

Being carbon-neutral means taking responsibility for the impact of our business on the environment. We’ve been measuring our carbon footprint since 2009, reducing what we can and offsetting what we can’t. We calculate our total emissions and invest in carbon offset projects through Wilderness International. The funds raised go toward habitat preservation in the Toba Valley on the BC mainland, 160 km north of Vancouver. Since 2018, we have preserved more than 40,000 square metres of old-growth forest!

Eagle Wing Tours works closely with Synergy Enterprises, a team of environmental business experts who specialize in corporate sustainability practices and carbon accounting for the tourism industry and other sectors.

See our Annual Sustainability Reports here:

• • ASR 2023
  • ASR 2022
  • ASR 2021
  • ASR 2019 & 2020
  • ASR 2018
  • ASR 2017
  • ASR 2016
  • ASR 2015
  • ASR 2014
  • ASR 2013
  • ASR 2012
  • ASR 2011
  • ASR 2010
  • ASR 2005 – 2009  (offsetting the years before we started to become Carbon neutral)
    • ALL years for the company have been offset going back to the beginning.

Calculate your carbon footprint here.

Eagle Wing Tours has signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge. This pledge demonstrates our commitment to improving our sustainability score between now and 2030.

The UN World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as: “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

Each year, we commit to measuring and improving our sustainability performance in the following ways:

• Support local entrepreneurs and the community by maintaining and strengthening a sustainable purchasing policy.
• Continue to develop partnerships with local cultural and natural heritage organizations and sites to promote the unique cultural and natural heritage of our destination.
• Conduct a regular accessibility and inclusivity audit to ensure we meet the needs of all visitors.
• Continue to measure our energy consumption and identify ways to improve our energy efficiency, lower costs and reduce our carbon footprint. We aim to be carbon-negative by 2030.
• Continue to partner with Seafood Watch and Ocean Wise and promote their seafood sustainability objectives to empower our guests to choose sustainable seafood options.
• Continue our partnership with the World Cetacean Alliance which certifies that we operate to the highest international standard of care for local wildlife and environmental sustainability
• Explore the new vision of regenerative tourism which uses tourism as a tool to repair and heal damaged natural and cultural resources.
• Continue to integrate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into our operations. Our special focus is on six SDGs where we know we can make an impact in our operations: Quality Education, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, and Partnerships for the Goals.
• Regularly and publicly communicate the results of our efforts.

• • We operate paperless as much as we can
  • When we have to use paper, we use sugar sheet (made from the residue fibre from sugar cane processing)
  • Full recycling and composting station
  • Biodegradable garbage bags and soft plastics recycling
  • Electricity purchased from renewable resources with Bullfrog Power
  • Environmentally friendly, refillable cleaning supplies
  • Water refilling station
  • Green purchasing policy
  • We shop local!

• • Our diesel catamarans are ultra-efficient, clean and quiet
  • Volvo Penta diesel engines are designed for low noise and vibration
  • Diesel engines meet the highest emission standards in the world
  • Goldwing open boat has twin disc propulsion technology, which reduces drag and noise
  • Suzuki four-stroke gasoline engines are quieter than two-stroke, burn less fuel and no oil
  • All boats use eco-friendly Noxudol, a water-based compound to dampen noise and vibration
  • Environmentally friendly, refillable cleaning supplies