Up Norway's Impact
We’d like to share a bit of insight into our company ethos
In our view, being socially and environmentally responsible is not a side effect, but a non-negotiable principle that shapes the whole business. That is why all our journeys are designed not only to give you a thrill, but also to have a net positive impact on society and nature.
Our Impact
Our team is made up of young global citizens who believe that running a profitable enterprise can go hand in hand with taking care of people and treating the planet right. Our business is defined by the integration of social, ecological and economic responsibility. All our journeys are designed to not only create the best experiences for the travellers but to have a net-positive impact on our society and environment. This takes thorough research, creativity and expertise in environmental impact with an ability to keep learning how to create sustainable and coherent systems that are inherently ecological.
Dive In
We believe in full transparency. We include specific details about where every euro/dollar is spent. Our sustainability certifications ensure our standard operating procedures are far above industry guidelines.
We believe there’s a new generation of businesses launching and flourishing all over the globe; using economic profitability to create solutions for our world’s problems. For those whose curiosity is piqued by this kind of information, we’ve included even more details about our nourishing impact on our employees, our partners, our country, our planet – and our clients.
Questions? We’d be happy to answer them! Get in touch at sustainability@upnorway.com
Torunn & The Up Norway Team
Our Mission
When creating our client’s journeys, we aim to ensure that our impact on the environment, on the humans we call colleagues, partners, and guests, as well as our economic impact on the towns and businesses we employ, is as positive and nourishing as possible. Our mission is to enrich both our travellers’ and our partners’ lives, we mean to do this through curating journeys in Norway, where authenticity, quality and sustainability are key drivers. There’s so much to share.
Responsible Behaviour Can Lead to Happiness
We think we have some proof. For the previous decade, Norway has ranked among the top countries on the World Happiness Index. To understand why our Nordic countries are among the happiest in the world, we’d like to present journeys and experiences that capture their authentic sense of harmony with nature, commitment to ethical values, care for others, and a highly-regarded sense and appreciation of aesthetics, both material and natural.
Learn more: Why sustainability makes you happy
Norwegian culture has an intrinsic connection to nature
With Norway’s intrinsic connection between nature and culture, we have created some of the world’s most ardent explorers and roots in the deepest ecological philosophy and strategies for environmental sustainability. That is prevalent in design, architecture and the culture of Norwegian society. We wish for our clients to taste just that.
Economic Nutrition
The economy is nutrition. Hence, Shorefast, a registered Canadian charity with the mandate to help secure a resilient future for Fogo Island, developed the ECONOMIC NUTRITION label, as it aimed to promote the sustainable and socially responsible quality of visiting a small island off the coast of Newfoundland. We were so delighted with the idea, that we’ve adapted it to our own code of transparency. Just as consumers turn to nutritional labelling on the foods and beverages they purchase, our “Economic Codes” help our visitors to make conscious and informed decisions about their travel choices. Our transparent value chain displays how our client’s money is distributed when they pay for an Up Norway journey.
Economic Nutrition
Our handpicked partners and vendors, quality assured providers of accommodation, activities, meal experiences and transportation, receive the lion’s share of our fees.
Norway may have high taxes, but also has high wages – a reassuringly high-cost model in fact.
Our cost of operations consists of three main categories: Technology, Team (employees, rent etc.) and Marketing.
A sustainable business is also measured in sound economic health. Running a company without a surplus would prevent us from achieving our higher purpose of moving forward to consistently raising the bar on creating outstanding experiences for our travelers.
Our Sustainability Policy
To raise the sustainability standard among our stakeholders, we have defined 5 leading principles as a baseline for our policy and as drivers for a value-added journey. Led by these guiding principles, we have also implemented an internal sustainability policy as part of our daily routines.
Our Sustainability Policy
If sustainability is different in the Nordics than the rest of the world, it’s because the Nordic lifestyle is in harmony with nature. How do we do it? We’d like to show you.
For every sold Up Norway journey, we invest NOK 70 per person i forestry projects through Chooose. However, it all starts with the choices we make on behalf our guests: choice of transportation between destinations, encouragement to spend more time in each destination, and choice of quality assured partners with documentet sustainable practises.
Our guests find their destinations have always been tried and tested by our extended and discerning team. We also join collaborative initiatives with partners to drive sustainability, such as our 2020-project to create Norway’s Most Sustainable Journey.
It should go without saying that our guests’ safety and well-being is paramount. Our partners are expected to adhere to comprehensive guidelines for the health of their staff, and the cleaning and maintenance of their facilities and equipment. Our partner agreements ensure that no unlawful financial or employment practices are engaged or used.
The UN Sustainability goal we hold closest to heart is 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. Through the experiences we co-create with our partners, we strive to keep our cultural heritage alive.
Sustainability Certification
Becoming sustainable is not an end goal, but a never-ending process. We are always reviewing our policies and making changes as new information or new options appear. We are very proud to be B Corp Certified, a recognition of our long-term sustainability efforts and our corporate social responsibility leadership.
B Corp™ verifies businesses social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose, and we are proud to be a part of the change in our industry. As a B Corp in the travel industry, we're counted among businesses that together are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.
Maximum Experience – Minimal Impact
When travelling on an Up Norway journey, you can rest assured that your CO2 impact will be offset. Why are we doing this?
Travelling with Up Norway
Our local expertise, sustainable approach, digital itineraries and passion for Norway provide a journey like no other. By delivering a new era of experiences we provide travellers with a desired escape from everyday life.
We have built a system for understanding what each of our travellers wants. We use technology to enhance our personalised service, not to replace it. We save you from frustrating internet searches and travel logistics.
Learn more about how it works here.
Travel Curators are basically experts in selecting and pulling together experiences into a seamless journey that suits you (just like an art curator who curates various artworks into one collection or show). This means that we have control of all the details and you do not have to worry about a thing. We connect you to the best professional insiders and the best places, fix the best tables in the restaurants, provide upgrades, and make sure you have what you need along the way.
Exceptional people run the hotels, restaurants, activities and other businesses you will encounter on your travels with us. More than just managers, they are also fantastic hosts who can fill you with stories about local history, food and landscape. Read more about our partners here.
Our travel curators are experts in selecting and pulling together experiences into a seamless journey that suits you and your preferences perfectly. Just as an architect would charge for their initial designs, we charge an advance fee of minimum NOK 3500 to tailor the perfect journey for you. Further information about our pricing can be seen here. Read more about our value chain here.
