News and Insights
Planet-Smart Innovation – A Cross-Sector Call to Action for Climate-Conscious Travel
October 16, 2025
Last month, I had the privilege of moderating a powerful session during FINN Partners’ X 1BusinessWorld’s Climate and Sustainability Leadership Forum series at New York Climate Week. The webinar I moderated, Planet-Smart Innovation: Products and Experiences for Climate-Conscious Consumers, brought together leaders from travel, fashion, packaging, and sustainability to explore how industries are converging to meet the demands of a more climate-aware consumer.
As someone who has cultivated a career in travel with decades of experience, I can attest to the dynamic shift in consumer expectations. Sustainability is no longer a niche concern—it’s a key factor in decision-making. What struck me most during our session were the optimistic opportunities outlined for cross-sector collaboration: the possibilities for travel, fashion, food, and packaging to collaborate in creating holistic, sustainable experiences that don’t compromise on desirability or performance.
Each perspective from our panelists demonstrated the innovative ways that travel, fashion, and packaging can collaborate to create reimagined experiences that don’t compromise desirability or performance.
The Bahamas: A Case Study in Climate Resilience and Innovation
One of the highlights of the session was hearing from Paul A. Strachan, Executive Director of Global Communications for The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation.
For The Bahamas, climate action is not a distant goal—it’s already a reality, woven into the fabric of their strategy. Their approach is both impressive and multifaceted with:
- Nature-Based Solutions: From mangrove restoration to coral reef conservation, The Bahamas is investing in its natural resources with their “For the Love of Mangroves”, while Coral Vita uses cutting-edge technology to grow resilient corals in months instead of decades.
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: New developments are being held to higher standards. Resorts like Tiamo and The Other Side are integrating solar power, rainwater harvesting, and locally sourced materials to minimize environmental impact.
- Innovative Financing: They’re pioneering blue carbon credits, leveraging seagrass meadows to generate tradable climate finance instruments.
- Community Empowerment: The 50th anniversary of the People-to-People program is a testament to their commitment to authentic, community-based tourism. Visitors are paired with Bahamians to share culture, hobbies, and stories—often forming lifelong friendships.
These initiatives aren’t just good policy—they’re good business. As Jeremy Sampson CEO of The Travel Foundation noted during the webinar, nature-based solutions are not only mission-critical but also market differentiators. The Travel Foundation is a vocal advocate for climate action in tourism and helps destinations and brands reframe sustainability—not as a burden, but a “Trojan Horse for transformation”, as Jeremy calls it.
This approach positions climate action as a gateway to creating travel experiences that are more meaningful, regenerative, and deeply connected to local communities, ecosystems, and travelers alike. Their upcoming Where Next campaign, set to launch around COP30, is a call-to-action for systems change—one that FINN Partners is proud to support and amplify.
Cross-Sector Collaboration: The Future of Climate-Conscious Travel
Another aspect that made this webinar so compelling was the diversity of perspectives. Michael Winters President & CRO of WinCup shared the story of how the viral video from 10 years ago of a turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nose sparked the inspiration for one of WinCup’s brand, phade’s, flagship products— marine biodegradable straws made from fermented canola oil—not only reducing plastic pollution but also helping coral restoration efforts in Florida and Hawaii.
Carol Rose Head of Sustainability at the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) brought a fresh lens to the conversation, with extensive experience in the fashion world, highlighting the staggering 92 million tonnes of textile waste generated annually. Her call to reimagine textiles in travel—from uniforms to hotel linens—was a reminder that sustainability must be holistic. Initiatives like TSA’s textile-to-textile recycling program and modular uniform design are paving the way.
What Gives Me Hope
As we wrapped up the session, I was struck by the optimism and ambition of our panelists. Whether it’s the Travel Foundation’s Urban Risk Report project, WinCup’s push for better legislation, or The Bahamas’ commitment to community-led conservation, the message was clear: collaboration is our most powerful tool.
At FINN Partners, we believe in the power of storytelling to drive change. By sharing these examples, we hope to inspire more destinations, brands, and consumers to take action. Because when sectors unite, innovation flourishes—and the planet benefits.
Let’s keep forging ahead for a future of sectors that are not just smart—but planet-smart.
You can watch the full replay of the session here: https://youtu.be/vFuc2KIDh8w
POSTED BY: Debbie Flynn
