Tombouctou Visas Etc             What's your destination? We've got you covered, from here all the way to...Tombouctou!

Soy inks Tombouctou uses soy-based inks on all printed advertising
materials. Aside from being cost-effective and visually vibrant, soy inks are manufactured from a renewable source (soybeans via soybean oils  vs. more common petroleum-derived inks), are naturally low in volatile chemical compounds & make paper recycling easier. For more information on soy-based ink, see here.

Paper Paper recycling was one of the first lessons learned about the three Rs (you know, reduce, re-use...).That lesson stuck with us, too, and we commit to at least 50% recycled paper in all our printing & copying. We also keep electronic client and business files (and on-line data back-up) to avoid endless printing of hard copies that gather dust. For stats about the paper industry, see here. 

Ecoprint We are thrilled to use Ecoprint fonts on all our printed materials. To conserve ink use, Ecoprint fonts were created with  imperceptibly tiny holes that lead to 20% less ink use. To find out more, see the Spranq website, or to download your own Ecofont (on Mac or PC!), click here!

Fuel emissions We applaud bike messengers now more than ever, but when your rush visa & departure are on the line, sometimes pedaling as fast as we can just won't cut it! While others hire a fleet of gas-guzzlers, we count on one fuel-efficient vehicle to get the job done. Stay tuned for the début of our first ever Tombouctou super scooter! 

Energy Tombouctou also cuts energy usage wherever possible. That includes the simplest strategies like using compact fluorescent light bulbs in the office, keeping an eye on the thermostat, using laptop computers instead of desktops (for a 90% decrease in energy usage!) & turning off machines and appliances when we check out for the night. For tips on reducing energy consumption, see here.

Green Travel! We encourage you to try these eco-friendly strategies on your next trip:

*Before you leave! Unplug, unplug, unplug...everything. Turn down the thermostat and water heater and discontinue (or donate) your newspaper delivery.

*Book a non-stop flight. Much fuel-burning occurs during take-off and landing, so fewer lay-overs means less emissions and logistical headache.

*Make use of the Do Not Disturb sign in hotels to avoid unnecessary vacuuming, changing of linens & replacing of near-unused toiletries.

*Check out locally-owned inns or B&Bs so that the immediate community benefits from your business.

*Take the time to investigate public transportation options in your city of destination. It's a great way to get friendly with the locals...Or, consider a walking tour of the sites.

*Invest in a digital or manual camera instead of tossing out the disposable kinds every time you fill up a roll.

*Avoid buying typical tourist tchotchkes made of or harvested from endangered species - that includes fauna and flora. Buy local, but be thoughtful about where your souvenirs come from. Or take a picture (on your digital camera!), it'll last a lifetime.

*Google "Eco-tourism," and investigate the possibilities!