Many of us are aware that taking a flight on holiday isn’t good for the environment. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced by aircraft burning fuel. There is increasing recognition that this is contributing to climate change.

The flights taken by Sunvil’s 30,000 customers generate about 12,000 tonnes of CO2 every year – around the same as 3,500 cars. Taking a return flight to Cyprus means you are responsible for about 0.6 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.

Together with Carbon Offsets Limited, Sunvil is offering you the chance to help offset some of the damage these emissions will cause. Offsetting is straightforward. Donations made will be invested in verified offset projects, such as renewable energy, that generate CO2 savings to balance out your emissions. It’s simple and it’s easy – and thogh not the perfect solution, every bit helps!

The science of climate change, in particular the overall impact of aviation, is not fully understood yet. However, we would like to encourage you to take this small personal step. We would also encourage you to consider other things you might do to reduce your own emissions at home and work which will address the problem of climate change. At Sunvil, for instance, we now offset all our staff air travel and we ensure that we switch off our computers and screens every night. We are reviewing our whole operation with a view to taking further action, too.

On your holiday confirmation and account you will see that we have added £3.60 per person, which represents the cost of carbon offsetting your flight to Cyprus.  This is, of course, a matter of personal choice – if you choose not to do so, then please simply deduct the amount from your invoice.

Where will your money go? >

Carbon offsetting is not the total answer. All of us are taking too many flights each year and the trend to several short breaks per annum is adding to the problem.  We have to make a start somewhere and, hopefully, from these small steps there will be a positive knock-on effect which will go some way towards safeguarding the planet.