Our Sustainability Statement
Hidden Secrets Tours highly values and appreciates the amazing city that our business runs on and within. With great respect to this environment, we are committed to running a sustainable business covering the three main areas of business sustainability: Environmental, Economic and Social Responsibility. Our actions as a local business reflect our sustainable business principles.
Environmental Practices
Low Carbon footprint – Our core environmental direction is our company’s low carbon footprint with regard to transport. As a walking tour operator, we use leg power instead of petrol to show our guests the best way to see Melbourne city. When needed, we provide our guests with Tram tickets and utilise the city’s public transport system. In September 2015 we made the decision to remove plastic bottles and takeaway cups from our tour collateral and experience delivery.
We are members of the sustainable practices promotion program www.greenmoney.com.au
Small Print Runs – We are conservative with regard to printed material. Where possible, we make online brochures and when needed we print small runs of marketing material in order to reduce wastage, and regular accurate updates with local printing houses who use sustainable inks and papers.
Reusable water bottles – our staff are all given reusable metal water bottles to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the office.
Recycling – Our office has always practiced recycling and initiated a recycling process for the entire Nicholas Building from which we operate. We have recycling bins in the office, water filters for tap water, and keep cups for staff and clients if needed.
Electricity and Water–We use Green power energy with sustainable renewable energy investment. The Nicholas Building has shared bathrooms which reduces the overall usage of water. We have bike storage for our staff in the office. Off-set carbon – On the odd occasion we need to fly somewhere, perhaps to a conference, we always off-set our flights through the airlines.
Social
Respect to the traditional first peoples of Melbourne
Hidden Secrets Tours and staff would like to respectfully acknowledge that we are meeting and walking on the traditional land of the Kulin Nation. This area Naarm, is now known by its European name of Melbourne. The traditional owners are the Boon Wurrung and Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) of the Kulin Nation and we pay respects to their Elders both past and present. Melbourne has always been an important meeting place of cultural significance, and this storytelling and relevant songlines we continue to learn from. We work closely with the Koorie Heritage Trust for further learnings.
Our community sponsorships
From every direct booking with Hidden Secrets Tours, we donate $2 to our chosen partners.
Since 2014 we have committed our community efforts and fundraising to the prevention of Homelessness in Melbourne.. This is mostly done with Street Smart Australia https://streetsmartaustralia.org/ where our donations are particularly directed to Melbourne projects. We also support for research in Mental Health with charitable group OneInFive
- We share and donate during the annual #CafeSmart day
- Our environmental charity efforts are done with Koala Clancy Foundation
- We sponsored the #loveLettertoMelbourne hot air Balloon via Globalballooning in September 2020
- Diversity in our community is so important. Learning from others = support to Travellers Aid and Mentoring for Young Tourism Network, and sponsor Kiva
- We give all clients and staff a charity pin for days like #Anzacday and #daffodilDay
Economic
Spending locally
In 2024 we celebrated 20 years of business. This was an extremely exciting milestone in Hidden Secrets Tour’s history. We have always spent money with and visited Melbourne based busineses. We have sadly seen some close their doors, and others move out of the city. We take pride in supporting local in all aspects of our business, designers, web platforms and more. Our small business agility has helped us to continue to bring economic benefit to Melbourne and Australia. As our company focuses on local entreprenuers and local producers, our practices are helping in sustaining the economy of not only our own company, but many of Melbourne’s other wonderful small businesses. We carry staff bags made by MATTT Bags, water bottles from Memobottle. Fiona and staff wear Melbourne labels like Tiffany Treloar, Alpha 60, and McIntyre Merino , Tara Whalley , Elk, Kuwai, Crumpler and more.