Traveling during a climate crisis may seem like a terrible idea but we are proof that sustainable travel can change the world and help animals. Animal Experience International is a certified B Corp that has demonstrated our commitment to not only animals, but the climate and we have been named Best FOR the World every year since we became a B Corp. Here at AEI we help pair people up with animal programs that we have visited first to assure they are safe, ethical and authentically helping animals. From wild horse conservation in Mongolia to sea turtle rescue in Costa Rica, dolphin conservation in Croatia to wildlife rescue in Guatemala, our volunteers have not only assisted local populations with their rescue and conservation efforts, they have helped the world understand the how travel can lead to positive change.
The full B Impact Assessment evaluates a company’s environmental performance, employee relationships, diversity, involvement in the local community, the impact a company’s product or service has on those it serves, and more. Honorees scoring in the top 10 percent of all B Corporations set a gold standard for companies using business as a force for good. AEI made the list thanks to exceptional practices like donating 6% of our profits to our animal welfare and conservation partners, using 2% of our annual sales to plant trees, and providing our partner organizations with more than 10,000 hours of volunteer assistance each year (that’s more than 4 years’ worth of help!)
Animal Experience International truly has three stakeholders: the placement partner (where we send clients), our clients and the planet. This honor shows not only is it possible to run a business with these ideals - but that a business can thrive! We have had more than 650 clients volunteer on 27 different programs and every experience has been safe, ethical and beneficial to not just the animals, the community and the clients but also to the environment. Our business success has never been at the expense of our client experience, the planet or our local community members. This honor shows that the dream of running a company that is truly beneficial for people and the planet – while still making profits - doesn't have to be a dream. We hope that we can inspire more clients to volunteer and make a difference with us and we also hope to inspire more businesses to take the leap and become certified as a B Corp. Conscious capitalism isn’t just a trend, it’s a way of life at AEI and we have the awards (and quantifiable data) to prove it.
It is virtually impossible to make perfect climate decisions 100% of the time, but we can make good choices when it comes to travel. The financial injection that all travelers bring is important to those communities. However, looking at where that money is spent is possibly even more important. All the money that goes to AEI partners helps local leaders who are conserving wildlife and making the world more humane for animals. This means travel is necessary for the health of these wildlife and domestic animal rescues. Without our volunteers there would be less money in the local economies for wildlife rescue, there would be less data that citizen scientists collect, there would be less local education on conservation issues, and less international understanding of the nuanced problems and solutions surrounding wild and domestic animals around the world.
Ethical travel is possible, and volunteer trips create positive change in the world – which we hope will ultimately improve our planet, and the lives of all the animals that call it home.
