Environmental Policy

Our commitment

As a leading hot air balloon company, British Balloon Flights is committed to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment. We operate in compliance with all relevant environmental legislation and we strive to use environmental best practices in all we do.

Our goal is to operate in an ecologically sustainable manner. To do this we:

  • Provide an environmentally sound workplace, and implement a range of environmentally sound work practices
  • Work closely with our employees, contractors, suppliers, clients and partners to develop and implement agreed environmental initiatives consistent with this policy
  • Train, educate and inform our employees about environmental issues which may affect their work

Recycling

  • All the champagne bottles used during our balloon flights are recycled. We do not use any disposable products for our balloon packages and we compost where possible.
  • We recycle printer ink cartridges and our office waste.
  • We operate a ‘leave no trace’ policy at our launch and landing sites.

Energy Saving

  • All employees are briefed on being environmentally aware – turning lights off of lights and all electronic equipment at the end of a working day.

Sustainability

  • We analyse all our procurement needs and look for the most environmentally sound options available for each need.
  • Our promotional material and stationery are printed on 100% recycled paper.
  • High pressure washers are used to minimise water use when cleaning.
  • Use of 100% liquid propane which burns cleaner than the cheaper LPG butane mix. Hot air balloons use propane gas. Propane is non-toxic and insoluble in water, so poses no threat to aquifers or the groundwater supply. It is also not harmful to soil and is one of the lightest hydrocarbons in existence; it is one of the cleanest burning of all alternative fuels.

Vehicles

  • Crew vehicles are powered using diesel rather than petrol. All of our vehicles are regularly maintained and only used for necessary company use and shortest distances worked out where possible. Total vehicle mileage will be calculated annually.

Conservation

  • We work closely with local landowners and our partners to reduce the impact on the countryside at our ‘launch’ and ‘land’ sites. Immediate action is taken by BBF staff to restore any damage which may have inadvertently happened at any site.
  • BBF operate a ‘leave no trace’ policy at all of its sites.

Community

British Balloon Flights places great emphasis on supporting the community and continues to ensure that it cements itself as a valued member in both East and West Sussex. The stronger the partnership, the greater the success we have as a region. We support our local community by:

  • Volunteering our time at community events by tethering a balloon
  • Support local business through partnership packages
  • Employ local pilots and crew
  • Through our promotion of Sussex as a visitor destination

Balloons

  • An average hot air balloon flight generates 240kg of greenhouse gases, which we carbon offset.
  • Our balloons and equipment are British made and maintained.
  • A Wicker basket can last between 15 – 20 years.
  • When a balloon ‘envelope’ has come to the end of its flying life, we strip the balloon of metalwork for recycling and donate the fabric to local community projects for re-purposing.

Our Carbon Emissions

  • We will calculate the amount of greenhouse gases generated by our operation annually and offset our carbon emissions with the Woodland Trust ‘Woodland Carbon for Business’ scheme, helping to plant and maintain our country’s woodland.
  • We support the our local primary school by making donations to green education projects.
  • We are currently looking into ways of reducing our carbon footprint further through various longer term schemes.
  • British Balloon Flight’ Nominated Director for Environmental Policy is Sada Ray.

This policy statement will be reviewed annually every January.