Sustainability Policy

Futurismo Azores Adventures is a family-owned, proudly Azorean company with over three decades of experience in responsible and sustainable tourism. A pioneer in nature-based tourism, our mission is to create lasting positive impacts on our community, the planet, and wildlife.

Our sustainability policy integrates best practices to minimise negative impacts and maximise benefits, guiding our clients, partners, and stakeholders towards a shared commitment to sustainability.

We see ourselves as Guardians of the Azores, committed to preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the region while fostering meaningful connections for a sustainable future.

1. Sustainability Management and Legal Compliance

Futurismo is committed to sustainable management practices, including:

Appointing a responsible for leading initiatives.
Maintaining a mission focused on sustainable tourism.
Ensuring an accessible sustainability policy that reduces social, cultural, economic, and environmental impacts.
Actively participating in forums and working groups that promote sustainability within the tourism sector.
Developing performance metrics to assess sustainable practices.
Creating a sustainability action plan.
Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of sustainability policies and targets.
Complying with all applicable laws, regulations, and codes of conduct.

2. Local Employment and Community Investment

Futurismo works to strengthen the Azorean community by:

Employing local residents under permanent, full-time contracts throughout the year.
Complying with all relevant legislation and promoting good human resource practices.
Supporting local artisans, farmers, and businesses by sourcing goods and services from within the community.
Establishing partnerships with social cooperatives, universities, schools, and other organisations to foster economic development.
Offering training opportunities to enhance skills in sustainability, hospitality, and tourism.

3. Environmental Management

Futurismo is dedicated to protecting the environment by:

Reducing the consumption of single-use plastics, energy, and water.
Implementing recycling programmes and sustainable waste management practices.
Prioritising energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy sources.
Supporting nature restoration projects and biodiversity conservation.
Regularly monitoring and reporting on environmental performance.
Offering eco-friendly transport options and promoting sustainable travel practices.

Click here to open our full Envionmental Policy.

4. Cultural Preservation and Promotion

We are committed to celebrating and preserving Azorean culture by:

Integrating local traditions, crafts, and gastronomy into our experiences, ensuring authenticity and respect for the region’s heritage.
Operating the Casa dos Botes, a maritime heritage centre that celebrates the transition from whaling activities to ecotourism.
Building and operating traditional whaling boats to enable the local community to practise rowing and sailing.
Collaborating with local artists, storytellers, and historians to share the rich cultural heritage of the Azores.
Educating visitors about Azorean customs.
Avoiding cultural activities that exploit or disrespect local traditions.

5. Science, Culture, and Education

At Futurismo, advancing knowledge and raising awareness are central to our mission:

Scientific Research
- Conducting marine research during whale watching tours, contributing to global studies on marine ecosystems.
- Sharing scientific data with researchers worldwide to promote biodiversity conservation.
- Supporting the production of theses, posters, and scientific articles.
Educational Initiatives
- Delivering lectures, workshops, and school programmes to inspire environmental conservation.
- Offering internships and research partnerships for students.
Cultural Projects
- Promoting educational projects dedicated to maritime heritage and conservation.
- Organising community events, guided tours, and workshops that connect visitors to Azorean history and sustainable practices.

6. Animal Welfare and Wildlife

Futurismo adheres to the highest standards of animal welfare by:

Prohibiting activities involving captivity or harmful interactions with animals.
Following responsible wildlife observation guidelines to minimize disturbance to natural habitats.
Employing qualified staff to supervise all wildlife-related activities.
Promoting educational initiatives on the importance of marine life protection.

Read more about this on our Animal Welfare Policy.

7. Guardians of the Azores

We see ourselves as Guardians of the Azores, actively working to protect and enhance the natural and cultural wealth of our islands while promoting responsible and positive tourism for the region:

Leading the Guardians of the Azores project, involving local families in citizen science initiatives such as waste collection and biodiversity monitoring.
Promoting community conservation projects that engage residents and visitors.
Advocating for responsible tourism through our platforms and communications.

8. Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

Futurismo ensures transparency and engages stakeholders by:

Sharing detailed sustainability commitments and progress with clients and partners.
Providing educational materials and programmes that promote sustainable tourism practices, conservation, and animal welfare.
Analysing feedback from clients, employees, and the community.
Organising conferences, workshops, and open forums to foster collaboration on conservation and sustainability topics.

9. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Futurismo is committed to measuring progress and continuously improving its practices by:

Implement systems monitoring carbon emissions and environmental, social, and other impacts.
Setting annual targets for waste reduction, energy efficiency, and community engagement.
Communicating sustainability efforts and achievements.
Seeking certifications and references to validate and enhance sustainable practices.

Be an active guardian!

Demand justice and responsibility. Despite being on vacation, take your time to
report bad environmental attitudes, injustice, exploitation or discrimination.