Sustainability

Blatas Lda – Blandy Travel & Shipping, is a travel & shipping agency based on the island of Madeira, with offices in mainland Portugal (Lisbon and Faro). We provide travel agency services (outgoing) to individuals and groups, DMC services as well as Shorex services (shore excursions for cruise ship passengers) for the Madeira archipelago and mainland Portugal, and shipping agency services for all types of vessels calling at Madeira archipelago ports.

Our vision To be a trustworthy market reference, recognized by our agility while preserving the human touch.

Our mission: We strive to offer the best experience for every journey.

Our values:

• Respect

• Loyalty

• Consistency

• Efficiency

• Innovation

• Sustainability

Responsible tourism requires that all parties involved in the promotion, sale and execution of travel products make a commitment to more sustainable travel practices. From government to airlines, tour operators, hoteliers, tour leaders and individual tourists, all of us have a responsibility to respect and protect our environment and traditions through education, planning and affirmative action. Sustainability in tourism is an ongoing process, requiring constant monitoring and adjustment of policies as the industry develops.

1 – Sustainability Management & Legal Compliance

At Blatas Lda – Blandy Travel we are committed to sustainability management and have implemented the following:

• An appointed employee has the responsibility of acting as our sustainability coordinator and can be reached by email at sustainability@blandytravel.com;

• An accessible and written sustainability policy that aims to promote positive social, cultural, economic and environmental impact within the business, including employee-related health and safety aspects;

• A baseline assessment of the company’s performance on sustainable practices;

• A sustainability action plan with clear targets, actions, measures, responsibilities and timeframes;

• Ensuring that all staff are fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and are committed to implementing and improving it.

We commit to complying with all national legislation, regulations and codes of conduct.

2 – Internal Management: Social Policy & Human Rights

At Blatas Lda – Blandy Travel, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset in delivering meaningful travel experiences to our customers. Therefore, we are committed to sustainable internal management through clear, written and well-communicated social policies that include the following principles:

• Specific HR programs for our staff, including health and wellness initiatives and health risk assessments, life skills training for staff and their families, sponsored programs for continued educational credentials and external professional development opportunities;

• An employee handbook that includes the code of conduct, a whistle-blower policy and employee rights;

• A health and safety policy for employees that complies with national legal standards;

• First aid kits and trained staff available at all key locations;

• Periodic guidance and training for employees on roles, rights and responsibilities regarding health and safety, including fire and relevant natural disasters;

• A strict prohibition of discrimination in recruitment, employment conditions, access to training and senior positions, or promotion, based on gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/beliefs or sexual orientation;

• Financial support for staff members whose children attend university. Company members also participate in individual social projects in less advantaged communities around the island;

• Through the Blandy Group, we have developed the Blandy Academic Scholarships, accessible to students at the University of Madeira (UMa) with financial difficulties and high academic performance;

• Every year, the group donates to a list of charitable associations, available at https://www.blandy.com/en/

3 – Internal Management: Environment & Community Relations

At Blatas Lda – Blandy Travel, we are committed to keeping the direct footprint of our business operations as low as possible and actively practicing environmentally sound principles [circularity/the 5Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle)] while enhancing community relations by ensuring the implementation of the following practices:

• Measure, monitor and evaluate the use of water and energy;

• Actively reduce the use of disposable and consumer goods, such as decreasing the amount of non-refillable plastic bottles in the office;

• Print only when absolutely necessary and, when printing, always print double-sided in grayscale. Paper must be FSC or equivalent certified, with preference given to materials with the highest percentage of post-consumer content;

• Implement measures to reduce brochure waste and develop an “internet only” policy;

• Energy-saving measures in all common areas;

• Water-saving measures in all common areas and restrooms;

• Waste separation into categories such as plastic, organic, paper, metal, hazardous and glass, with proper disposal by municipal services;

• Selection of low-energy equipment when purchasing new items, considering cost and quality;

• Implementation of waste-reduction methods when using ink and toner cartridges for printing and copying, whenever feasible;

• Reduction of transport-related impacts through teleworking, tele/video meetings, work-from-home policies or other means;

• Periodic guidance, training and/or information for all staff regarding their roles and responsibilities in internal environmental practices;

• Contribution to the protection and preservation of local historical, cultural and natural sites in the locations where we operate.

4 – General Suppliers Policy

Suppliers are a key component in packaged tours and, as Travel Agents, we believe that the supply chain is where customer value is created and where tourism operations arguably have the greatest environmental and social impact. Suppliers include, but are not limited to: partner agencies, transport providers, accommodation, guides and tour leaders.

It is therefore essential for Blatas Lda – Blandy Travel to consider the supply chain and its management as an integral part of the company’s sustainability policy, based on the following principles:

• Preferentially working with partners that share the company’s commitment to sustainability;

• Preferentially working with suppliers that are locally owned or managed, use local and seasonal products and services, and benefit the local community by hiring locally and providing fair working conditions;

• Whenever possible, selecting partner companies that comply with tourism-specific internationally recognized (GSTC-accredited) certifications, ISO standards or other sustainability certifications such as B Corp or Green Key;

• Expecting suppliers to adhere to a Code of Conduct that includes responsible business practices such as compliance with all regulations, respect for human rights, fair employment conditions, anti-corruption and anti-discrimination policies, protection of children, environmental protection, acting in the best interest of local communities and safeguarding the interests of Blatas Lda – Blandy Travel and its clients.

5 – Customer Communication & Protection

Customer welfare and information are very important to us. At Blatas Lda – Blandy Travel we ensure clear and constant communication and a high level of protection for our travellers.

Prior to booking, we commit to:

• Ensuring that customer privacy is not compromised;

• Complying with relevant GDPR standards;

• Making product and price information clear, complete and accurate, including sustainability claims;

• Clearly informing (potential) direct customers about sustainability commitments and actions.

After booking and during holidays, we commit to:

• Providing information about the natural surroundings, local culture and cultural heritage of the destination;

• Informing consumers about key sustainability aspects and issues in the destination and offering recommendations on how to make a positive contribution;

• Keeping a contact person and telephone number permanently available for emergency situations;

• Training personnel and maintaining guidelines on how to deal with emergency situations;

• Providing customers with information about commercial, sexual or any other form of exploitation and harassment, particularly of children and adolescents;

• Informing travellers about applicable legislation concerning the purchase, sale, import and export of historic or religious artefacts and items containing materials from threatened flora and/or fauna;

• Encouraging travellers to use local restaurants and shops where appropriate;

• Encouraging travellers to donate to local charities and sustainable initiatives.

After holidays, we commit to:

• Systematically measuring traveller satisfaction and using the results to improve our services and products;

• Including sustainability as an integral part of traveller satisfaction research.

Implementation:

This Sustainability Policy is approved by the Board of Directors of Blatas Lda.

Document reviewed in July 2025

(Document subject to changes if required)