The Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association (AWRTA) is a member-led association that represents more than 300 nature-based tourism businesses, individuals, and organizations in Alaska. AWRTA advocates for the sustainability of Alaska's natural and cultural resources, responsible tourism and tourism planning for communities.
AWRTA provides two annual awards that recognize and honor individuals and businesses that have made outstanding contributions to conservation efforts to protect Alaska's natural and cultural resources. AWRTA's sister organization, the Alaska Institute for Sustainable Recreation & Tourism, a non-profit educational organization, provides supporting research, education, outreach, advocacy, and public policy development affecting the health and integrity of Alaska's natural, cultural, and community resources on which AWRTA members depend.
AWRTA’s small office staff has implemented numerous initiatives, including recycling everything possible in the offices. The organization also recycled at its recent annual eco-tourism conference, held this year in Fairbanks, borrowing recycling bins from Green Star’s Green Events program in Anchorage. AWRTA also makes an effort to purchase its paper and office supplies with recycled content. AWRTA takes advantage of its role as an organization linking business, community, and environment to encourage members to meet specific eco-tourism guidelines. These guidelines include a Green Star component, asking members to reduce their environmental impact in all aspects of their business practices.
Environmental purchasing has been incorporated into office practices. For example, recycled toner cartridges are purchased for the photocopier and printer. The used cartridges also are returned to the recycling company. When new office equipment is purchased, AWRTA ensures that it carries the USEPA ENERGY STAR label. Recently this has included an office tabletop photocopier.
AWRTA's yearly Eco-tourism Conference needs include durable products, and many other products are reused or recycled. This includes reusing plastic nametag holders and identification ribbons, and recycling paper and soda cans using Green Star bins. AWRTA also routinely purchases recycled-content stationery and letterhead, copy paper, envelopes, and business cards, and purchases non-toxic markers for office and conference use.
AWRTA strives to reduce energy usage by using natural light as much as possible in its office suite. The staff takes advantage of the presence of large windows in the offices and does not need any desk or accent lighting. Staff also tries to reduce lighting use in infrequently used areas by turning off the lights in the conference room when it is out of use and educating staff to use the timer switches in the restrooms responsibly. AWRTA staff coordinate errands to eliminate unnecessary driving. Trips to the recycling center and the office supply center are combined. If errands can be completed by employees on their way to or from work, then time is allowed for this.
AWRTA http://www.awrta.org
