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Sustainable Travel Blog

Exploring the world while minimising the negative impact on the environment

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ABOUT ME

Hi I'm Sue Quelch!

Guardian of South Georgia Heritage Trust, this is my personal blog about sustainable travel, our environment, the Antarctic region and sustainable concepts. Why? Because every person can make a difference to our planet and this is my contribution.

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Environment Blog

Show the earth you care, it's all we have in common. Let's restore and preserve it for future generations

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Most popular posts

Top posts

Environment, Travel
The Boutique
June 11, 2024
Environment
Seriously Royal Mail - you have to 'Opt Out' of receiving junk mail that you never asked for?
October 9, 2023
Environment, Travel
Antarctica. A Life Changing Experience
March 28, 2024
Environment, Travel
When a Gift to Yourself is a Gift to the Planet
November 13, 2023
Environment, Travel
What a Juxtaposition!
September 5, 2023
Environment, Travel
Antarctic Ambassadors
January 13, 2024
Environment, Travel
Has Anyone Asked the Penguins What They Think?
September 27, 2023
Environment, Travel
We’ve Lost Five Times the British Isles worth of Sea-Ice from Antarctica! 
October 26, 2023
Environment
What is this 'speck' of an island in the Indian Ocean doing with one of these???
December 15, 2022
Environment, Travel
When Having Clean Boots Is Actually Important
February 23, 2024
Environment, Travel

Whales, Barnacles, and Leftover Rivets: A Sculptor’s Journey to South Georgia

Imagine this: you’re in a sculptor’s studio tucked away in the Scottish Highlands. It used to be a schoolhouse, but now it’s the birthplace of something truly incredible. Michael Visocchi, the sculptor in question, is working on a massive piece, a whale memorial in fact, called “Commensalis” that’s destined for a far-flung location – Grytviken, an abandoned whaling station on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.

Just live, this BBC World Service programme pulls together not just challenges of the sculpture itself, but the journey so far and some of Visocchi’s concerns as well as learning much about South Georgia from Alison Neil, South Georgia Heritage Trust’s Chief Executive and the organisation behind the whale memorial concept.

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January 24, 2025
3836
Environment, Travel

Happy Penguin Awareness Day, fellow penguin lovers! 🐧🎉

Can you believe there’s a whole day dedicated to these tuxedo-clad, waddling wonders? Well, there is – it’s today, January 20th, and I thought it would be the perfect excuse to dive into the world of penguins.

I’m completely mesmerised by these charismatic and captivating creatures. But beneath their adorable exteriors lies a whole lot of fascinating facts. As ‘Guardians of the Antarctic’ penguins are iconic symbols, embodying the resilience of life in one of the most extreme environments on Earth but unfortunately, they face some very real threats. So, on Penguin Awareness Day, let’s get clued up on all things penguin!

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January 19, 2025
3827
Environment, Travel

Eco-Conscious Indulgence: My Dolder Grand Experience

A big part of why I loved my trip to Zurich so much was my stay at the Dolder Grand Hotel. This luxurious hotel isn’t just about five-star service and stunning views – although it definitely has those things in spades! The Dolder Grand is also a champion of sustainability, and I wanted to share some of their incredible initiatives with you all.

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January 16, 2025
3738
Environment

Nest Success: How Artificial Homes are Saving African Penguins

I’ve always been fascinated by penguins. Those tuxedo-clad birds waddling around on beaches, diving through the ocean like little torpedoes – they’re just so cool! But lately, I’ve been hearing some interesting things about penguins in South Africa.

Apparently, they’re ditching their natural burrows and moving into some less conventional accommodation…..and liking it!

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January 10, 2025
3877
Environment

From Waste to Wow! Kanadevia INOVA’s Sustainable Spirits Project in Kentucky

Here’s another ‘whisky/bourbon’ project that’s good for the environment and good for business.

Ever wondered what happens to the leftover ‘mash’ after a delicious batch of bourbon is distilled? Traditionally, it’s been treated as waste, but Kanadevia INOVA, a global green-tech leader located in Zurich, Switzerland, has a vision that’s turning this “waste” into a sustainable success story!

Let’s head to Boston, Kentucky (yes, you read that right!), where Kanadevia INOVA is working its magic on distillery stillage.

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January 1, 2025
3900
Environment, Travel

A Greener Christmas: Sustainable Celebrations

Is this post too late? Hopefully not – there are still a few days until Christmas. Continuing the theme, ‘Christmas doesn’t have to come at the cost of the planet’.

This is a time for joy, love, and giving BUT it often comes with a surge in waste and environmental impact. This year, let’s strive for a greener Christmas by making conscious choices.

Here are a few simple ways to make your festive season more sustainable – that means having no or little negative impact on the planet and its resources. Focusing on ‘shopping, ‘gifting’ and ‘eco-friendly decorations’ in this blog.

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December 18, 2024
3689
Environment

A Greener Christmas: Small Steps, Big Impact

Having just read an Instagram post from Rosie of elouise MAKES about how she packages her beautiful ethical, animal based jewellery (made from recycled silver and gold) in fully recyclable parcel paper. She is on a mission to make this Christmas more sustainable.

Delving deeper I came across some staggering statistics, especially concerning how much wrapping paper that CAN’T be recycled is thrown away.

Christmas doesn’t have to come at the cost of the planet. That’s what being more ‘sustainable’ means, having less effect on our planets resources. So this little blog is about all a few things you CAN easily do to make your Christmas ‘footprint’ less and make it a more sustainable Christmas, with a focus on paper.

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December 4, 2024
3867
Environment, Travel

My Favourite Tipple Just Got Sustainable!

A major draw for visitors to the Isle of Islay is to visit one or two of the top distilleries. There are more distilleries on this island, per square meter, than any other Scottish island. As a peaty whisky lover, Islay is a paradise for me, with Lagavulin my favourite brand. But there was a surprise in store for me.

Having taken many a whisky distillery in my time, this time I noticed something very different with our Lagavulin tour – they talked about the SUSTAINABLE aspects of their production, in particular with reference to water. I am a passionate supporter of organisations that take sustainability very seriously.

Until I got home and contacted them for more information, I didn’t understand the significance of what Diageo, the business behind Lagavulin, are working on in this regards. Discover this incredible story with me.

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November 29, 2024
3920
Environment, Travel

Another Place

Just the name itself attracts me!

Set on the tranquil shores of Ullswater in the Lake District, this somewhat contemporary hotel, ‘Another Place, The Lake‘, is nestled amongst the trees with breathtaking views of the fells and the lake. It’s quite a mystical spot in one respect, in that we arrive there and seem to relax instantly! For me this perfect holiday scenario is backed up by the hotel’s extensive ‘sustainability’ programme, of which I am learning much more this trip.

Imagine my joy when I found out that The Machrie, where we had booked to stay on the Isle of Islay, had been acquired by ‘Another Place’.

I had to find out what their plans were…..

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November 22, 2024
3792

Best posts from Sue

Sue's Picks

Environment, Travel

Finding Our Sustainable Footprints, From Local Lanes to Distant Shores

April 14, 2025
Environment, Travel

Small Steps, Big Impact: New Sustainability at Princesa Yaiza, Lanzarote

April 6, 2025

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