Climate-friendly product design for tour operators

Project objectives

1. Creation of transparency regarding the climate impact of the products offered in the product management of tour operators

2. Development and testing of practical instruments for the active inclusion of climate impact in product development/management.

3. Raising awareness among management and employees of the climate impact of the products offered and their own options for action.

4. Improving the carbon footprint of the product portfolio with the help of the tools developed, including by redesigning the tours offered.by redesigning the trips offered (e.g. adjustments in terms of travel distance and duration and route optimization), by integrating developed criteria into the selection of partners and by increasing the integration of more climate-friendly forms of mobility such as rail or bus into the trips offered.

More climate-friendly product design by tour operators

It is well known that a drastic reduction in emissions in the tourism sector is necessary to achieve climate targets. In practice, however, there is often a lack of clear ideas and concrete measures to realize the change to more climate-friendly travel.

In addition to the presentation of climate footprints at the point of sale as a decision criterion for end customers and an advisory tool for sales (see project "Climate protection decision criterion"), increased transparency on the climate impact of travel should also be used internally in product management at travel providers in order to make product portfolios more climate-friendly. It is crucial that the management and employees of travel companies are made aware of the climate impact of the products they offer and are empowered to minimize it. In addition to travel distances and durations, an important aspect here is the integration of more climate-friendly forms of mobility into the products.

Co-creation process for more climate-friendly product design

This is exactly where the Futouris project "Climate-friendly product design" comes in, which is funded as part of the LIFT Transformation Program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK). By the end of 2024, practical key performance indicators (KPIs), analysis tools and training programs will be created in a co-creation process with representatives from science and eight member companies of Futouris and forum anders reisen in order to integrate climate impact into product development and management. In this way, the decarbonization of product portfolios and business models can be facilitated and more climate-friendly travel offers can be made more accessible.

Work steps for the successful implementation of the project objectives

In the first step, the basics and framework conditions of the participating companies are recorded. This includes the identification of relevant planning tools and decision-making processes in product management for the integration of emissions data into product design. As part of a kick-off workshop with the pilot companies, initial approaches for KPIs, analysis tools and training programs are created and important issues are discussed.

The focus is then on the development of analysis tools and KPIs that can be used to analyze product portfolios with regard to the climate impact of products by integrating emissions data into internal processes and tools. Building on this, an option analysis for more climate-friendly product design and the development of a catalog of measures for the specific redesign of travel will be carried out.

The project also focuses on raising awareness among relevant employees through suitable training formats and programs. This includes face-to-face events, webinars and e-learning, which are continuously being developed. Various stakeholders, departments and hierarchical levels are involved in order to create a broad understanding of the climate impact and their own options for reducing emissions.

The final step involves testing, optimizing and disseminating the approaches developed. Product analyses at the pilot companies, identification of emission drivers and development of reduction paths are part of the process. A continuous feedback process enables the optimization of concepts and instruments. The final results are then published and widely communicated in order to promote industry-wide application.

Project activities

The following activities are planned:

• Development of KPIs and analysis tools for the climate impact of the product portfolio

• Measures to make the product portfolio more climate-friendly

• Development of needs-based training programs

• Testing of the tools and feedback process for optimization Process for optimization

• Publication of the final results & Communication to the industry

A drastic reduction in emissions in the tourism sector is urgently needed to achieve climate targets, to achieve the climate targets. In practice, however, there is often a lack of clear ideas and concrete measures for implementation. The project aims to remedy this situation - with practical tools that are directly integrated into the company's internal product planning processes.

"LIFT Transformation" funding program

With the current "LIFT Transformation" funding program, the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) is pursuing the goal of activating the tourism industry to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the relevant future challenges of the sector from a practical perspective. The aim is to develop solutions that will help to make tourism sustainable and contribute to the development of the SDGs.