B Corp certification is an independent designation that recognises businesses meeting high standards of social and environmental responsibility. It assesses everything from employee benefits to supply chains, ensuring companies balance profit with purpose. The B Corp symbol has become recognised worldwide as a mark of accountability and transparency.
Asilia Africa earned its B Corp certification in 2012, one of the first companies to do so in Africa. We see B Corp as a foundation for sustainable business. Certification isn’t permanent, companies must recertify every three years, providing us with an opportunity to push further, setting new goals for environmental and social impact. For B Corp Month, we’re speaking with Asilia’s two sustainability coordinators, Brenda Richard and Grace Mwangi, who are driving these goals forward.
Our Tanzania Sustainability Coordinator Brenda, 27, has been with Asilia for four months, focusing on sustainability training, utility data analysis, and supporting science-backed projects that enhance environmental responsibility across operations. Her counterpart in Kenya, Grace, 30, has been with Asilia for over a year, leading sustainability assessments, staff training, and the implementation of projects that reduce the company’s carbon footprint and strengthen its social impact. Passionate about livelihoods and community-driven conservation, Grace also oversees all the Kenya positive impact programs.
Together their work ensures that we continue to meet the high standards of B Corp certification. As the company approaches its 2025 recertification, their expertise and leadership will help shape the next stage of Asilia’s sustainability journey.
We asked them for their views about B Corp and sustainability.
How important is B Corp certification to Asilia?
B Corp certification is vital to Asilia as it reinforces our commitment to responsible tourism, sustainability, and social impact. It holds us accountable to the highest environmental and ethical standards, ensuring we balance profit with purpose while continuously improving our community engagement, conservation efforts, and sustainable business practices across all operations.
What role do young professionals play in pushing for continuous improvement in the sustainability space?
Young professionals drive continuous improvement in sustainability by bringing fresh perspectives, challenging outdated practices, and advocating for ethical, eco-friendly solutions. Their passion for innovation, digital fluency, and demand for corporate accountability push businesses to adopt greener policies, integrate sustainability into strategy, and create lasting positive environmental and social impact.
Can you share any examples of recently implemented sustainable initiatives at Asilia?
In the last one year, Asilia Kenya has upgraded solar systems at Encounter Mara and Rekero camps, to enhance cleaner energy in camps and reduce the generator hours as much as possible. In Rekero, we have cut the generator hours by about 47% comparing to last season, while Encounter has reduced the generator hours by 50%. Additionally, we installed a grow house at Encounter Mara, set to produce about 75% of the camp’s vegetables, fruits, and herbs, promoting a sustainable farm-to-table model while reducing food miles.
What unique perspectives and ideas do you believe young professionals bring to sustainability in tourism?
Young professionals bring fresh, tech-savvy, and socially conscious perspectives to sustainable tourism. They champion eco-friendly innovation, authentic cultural experiences, and ethical travel practices. Their passion for responsible tourism drives businesses to reduce environmental impact, embrace regenerative travel, and create meaningful, community-driven experiences that benefit both people and the planet.
What role does technology play in advancing sustainable tourism practices at Asilia?
Technology is fundamental to advancing sustainable tourism at Asilia. To enhance energy efficiency, we leverage digital monitoring apps for real-time solar system tracking, enabling swift fault detection and resolution. Understanding that effective management starts with measurement, we introduced a Power BI sustainability dashboard, consolidating utility data to track key sustainability metrics and assess progress against seasonal targets, facilitating data-driven decision-making.
Additionally, technology has supported advanced water treatment systems, improving water quality in select camps, and also played a crucial role in waste management, ensuring that the majority of generated waste is effectively recycled, minimising environmental impact and promoting circular economy principles. Through technology, we continue to improve on our procurement process to ensure a fully paperless procurement process through leveraging digital tools and automation to eliminate the need for physical paperwork, improving efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.
What aspects of the B Corp framework are most challenging for a travel company operating in fragile ecosystems?
For a travel company in fragile ecosystems, the biggest B Corp challenges include minimising environmental impact, ensuring sustainable resource use, and creating lasting community benefits. Maintaining high operational standards while conserving biodiversity and reducing carbon footprints requires constant adaptation, innovation, and collaboration with local stakeholders to meet rigorous sustainability goals.
How do B Corp values align with the expectations and priorities of younger generations in travel and sustainability?
B Corp values align closely with the expectations of younger generations, who prioritise ethical, sustainable, and purpose-driven travel experiences. Millennials and Gen Z travellers seek brands that demonstrate social and environmental responsibility, transparency, and community impact—core principles of B Corp certification. A Booking.com survey found that 81% of Gen Z (b. 1997 – 2012) respondents consider sustainable travel essential, while 73% of Millennials (b. 1981 – 1996) take environmental impact into account when selecting destinations. They prefer companies that minimise carbon footprints, promote fair labour practices, and contribute to conservation efforts. B Corp’s emphasis on accountability and positive change resonates with younger travellers, who value businesses that drive meaningful impact beyond profit. By embracing these values, B Corp-certified companies attract and inspire a new generation of conscious travellers committed to sustainability.
How do you stay informed about the latest developments and best practices in sustainable tourism?
We stay informed on sustainable tourism by following industry leaders, reading reports from organisations like the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) and UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation), and engaging in webinars and conferences. Networking with sustainability professionals, tracking eco-innovation trends, and exploring real-world case studies help me stay ahead and apply best practices effectively.
What future goals do you have for enhancing sustainability within Asilia and the broader travel industry?
Within the NawiriGroup climate strategy, there are three specific areas on which we will be focussing:
- Reducing carbon emissions from the 1,300 tons produced in 2024, to just 126 tons by 2037. This will be enabled by adoption of electric vehicles in our fleet, with the first conversion of our diesel game drive land cruiser set to take place in March 2025 in Encounter Mara.
- Reducing diesel emissions by 78%. To achieve this, the key focus is on upgrading our renewable electricity in camps to achieve zero generator hours and ensuring energy efficiency in offices. We are also doing research on alternative sources of energy such as hydrogen to replace the backup diesel generators in future.
- Continuing to create impact through equitable, high-quality jobs that allow our people to thrive. One of the major targets we have in terms of local hiring is ensuring that on average, by 2030, all our camps and lodges will have 85% of their staff being from the local community.
A further goal is to cultivate a global community of informed ‘activists’, deeply engaged and aware of the impact of positive travel, and the trade-offs within it through traveller reviews and net promoter scores, as well as traveller engagement via newsletter subscriptions and content engagement.
We’d like to see Asilia and NawiriGroup recognised as a leading contributor to sustainable area protection in the ecosystems in which we operate, through gradual growth in the donations that go directly to conservation and community development from our bed night levy.
What advice would you give to other young professionals aiming to make a positive impact in the travel industry?
Stay curious, challenge the status quo, and advocate for responsible tourism. Learn from industry leaders, embrace innovation, and prioritise sustainability in every decision. Network with like-minded professionals, support ethical businesses, and use your voice to drive change. Small actions create big impact—be the change the travel industry needs!
Choose to travel with a company that meets the high B Corp standards of social and environmental responsibility.
