Why I’m Transitioning to Digital Travel Documents

For years, one of the quiet joys of my work has been preparing your travel documents - carefully organising every detail, packaging them beautifully, and sending something tangible that marks the start of your holiday. It’s a ritual I’ve always taken pride in.

But behind the scenes, I’ve been thinking hard about the footprint those beautifully wrapped envelopes leave behind - and whether that tradition still serves the world we’re all trying to protect.

After a lot of reflection, research, and a genuine desire to do better, I’ve made an important decision:

From January, your travel documents will be digital by default.

This isn’t simply a switch in format. It’s part of a deeper commitment to operate more responsibly and to reduce the hidden environmental costs that come with paper-based systems.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters

We often think of paper as something harmless, even sustainable. But the reality looks quite different when you zoom out. Over the past year, I’ve spent time reviewing the lifecycle of the printed materials I create, from production to posting to what happens once they arrive, and the findings were impossible to ignore.

1. The environmental toll of paper production

Paper doesn’t begin its life as a sheet - it begins as a tree. Globally, large areas of forest are cleared every year to meet demand for paper products, contributing to biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and increased carbon emissions. Even “sustainable” paper requires vast energy, water, and chemical input.

Every pack I send isn’t just a few sheets of paper - it’s part of a much bigger chain of impact.

2. The surprising scale of waste

In the UK alone, more than half of business waste is paper-based. And although we imagine documents being kept and cherished, the reality is that much printed material is used briefly and binned soon after - sometimes within days.

Printed travel packs are no exception. People take photos of them, store the information digitally anyway, or leave them at home while travelling. Most eventually end up in recycling - or worse, landfill.

3. The hidden resource cost

A single A4 sheet uses around 10 litres of water to produce. When you factor in multiple itineraries, updated documents, confirmations, luggage tags, intro letters, and courier packaging, that water use multiplies rapidly.

Add in the carbon emissions from transport and delivery, and the environmental cost rises even further - often for items that are referenced once and then discarded.

4. Digital documents simply make more sense now

Most travellers already rely on mobile devices for their itinerary, flight details, and booking references. Digital formats allow for quicker updates, fewer errors, instant delivery, and easier access - without the physical waste.

It’s a modern solution that supports both convenience and sustainability.

What This Means For You

You’ll still receive everything you need, clearly presented and easy to access on any device. The process won’t change - just the format.

And importantly:

If you truly need a printed set, you can still ask for one.

This shift isn’t about removing choice; it’s about removing waste. I’m more than happy to arrange physical copies when they’re genuinely needed.

A Thoughtful Step Forward

Letting go of my physical travel packs is bittersweet. They’ve become a signature part of the service I offer and a part of the experience I’ve personally loved creating. But meaningful sustainability requires more than gestures - it requires real change in habits, even when that change feels uncomfortable.

This transition is part of building a business that reflects my values: one that supports you, respects the destinations you explore, and reduces its impact wherever possible.

Thank you for your understanding, your trust, and for joining me on this journey toward a more conscious way of travelling.