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Sailcoop: Carried by the Sea, Driven by the Wind

Sailcoop is a French cooperative reinventing passenger sea transport by offering low-carbon journeys under sail. In a sector dominated by ferries, motorboats, and short-haul flights—all heavy contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and marine pollution—Sailcoop proves that another way is possible.

Tourism accounts for 11% of France’s CO₂ emissions, with transport alone responsible for 77% of that figure. At the European level, transport makes up around 75% of all tourism-related emissions, with aviation responsible for nearly 40% of the sector’s climate impact. A single Corsica crossing by ferry emits around 219kg of CO₂ per passenger, compared to just 12.8kg on a Sailcoop voyage.

The company currently operates routes such as Saint-Raphaël–Calvi (mainland to Corsica) and Concarneau–Glénan (to the Breton islands), and even offers transatlantic passages aboard sailing cargo ships. On board, passengers travel at the rhythm of the wind, discovering that the journey itself is part of the holiday. Life on a sailboat also fosters awareness of limited resources—water, food, and energy—making sustainability a lived experience rather than an abstract goal.

Sailcoop’s cooperative structure invites citizens, skippers, boat owners, local authorities, and tour operators to join in building a collective alternative to polluting transport. Together, they are charting a new course for tourism and mobility

Where / Served area: France

Website: www.sailcoop.fr

Why on TravaPowa:  Sailcoop aligns strongly with TravaPowa’s vision of slow travel that is both sustainable and socially rooted.

• It reduces the carbon footprint of sea crossings, supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
   
• Its cooperative model empowers local communities and travelers to co-create transport solutions, resonating with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
   
• By replacing ferries and flights with wind-powered travel, Sailcoop directly tackles the impact of tourism-related emissions and marine pollution, contributing to SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
   
• On every voyage, travelers experience resource-conscious living and the rhythms of nature, learning in practice what it means to travel with a lighter footprint while building authentic human connection.

Sailcoop is not just a way to reach an island—it’s proof that sea transport can be clean, collective, and deeply connected to the environment.

Take Action:  Want to enable impactful youth mobility and boost your CSR/ESG commitment on the topic of slow travel & marine pollution? Get in touch with the TravaPowa team.

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© Image credit: Sailcoop. All rights reserved