Eco-Friendly Travel
Green travel involves taking steps to reduce your environmental footprint and make more eco-friendly decisions while traveling, from packing reusable toothbrushes and opting out of tours that harm native flora, to purchasing tickets for sustainable tours that reduce emissions and carbon emissions.
Responsible tourism includes selecting an ethical travel agency and opting for eco-accommodation options. Engaging with wildlife should only ever be done ethically with preservation as the main goal in mind.
1. Avoid Single-Use Items
Although it’s impossible to leave no carbon footprint when traveling, you can at least reduce it through simple practices. For instance, purchasing solid shampoo, conditioner and soap options such as Green Ablutions bars is one easy way of lessening impact without compromising on quality.
Make an effort to pack a reusable water bottle like the LifeStraw Peak Series collapsible water bottle, which takes up minimal room in your luggage and reduces waste.
Women can reduce waste by opting for reusable menstrual products instead of disposable pads and tampons; alternatively, switch to using menstrual cups which do not produce plastic applicator waste.
2. Recycle Plastic
Recycling plastic keeps still-useful materials out of landfills while saving energy by eliminating the need to dig up natural resources like trees, ores and metals. Furthermore, plastic recycling reduces pollution by eliminating release of toxic chemicals into the environment.
Consider choosing accommodations that support recycling. Also look for hotels offering refillable toiletries to reduce plastic bottle use and save on costs.
Travelers can opt to buy their tickets online instead of printing paper boarding passes or event passes, which helps reduce paper waste and save trees. Some airlines even provide mobile boarding pass options which further help save trees.
3. Avoid Printing Tickets
Always attempt to book tickets online when traveling; this is an effective way of saving both paper and reducing land pollution. Most airports, cinema halls and other venues now provide online booking as it makes the process simple and eco-friendly.
Traveling locally is always best; however, sometimes traveling by air may be necessary due to work or other commitments. When flying make sure that the airline you use prioritises eco-friendly practices.
“AITA” provides people with a tool for managing air travel while assessing its carbon footprint. This app filters flights by estimated emissions, timeframe and price; in addition to planting one tree per flight booked.
4. Opt for Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars offer fuel savings and lower emissions on shorter journeys; but for longer travels in urban environments, an electric vehicle offers low urban travel with zero tailpipe emissions.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles provide the optimal mix of gas and electric power, but be careful to plan your route carefully to allow enough time between charging stations – or risk range anxiety!
HopStop provides transportation apps to find the optimal options for travel by train, bus, ferry, subway or foot/bike depending on distance.
5. Cycle Instead of Driving or Riding
Cycling offers an ideal alternative in cities designed for car use, where long lines of traffic cause pollution and stress, benefitting no one (other than oil companies).
Bike touring is an exhilarating way to explore a destination while also getting in some exercise! Plus, biking provides an enjoyable workout!
Walking and bicycling are among the greenest modes of transport, producing no emissions at any stage. They’re also affordable, healthy, and enjoyable! When possible, try replacing short trips with these modes of transport whenever possible; though this might not always be possible due to time restrictions. But it is worth considering for smaller journeys!
6. Avoid Flights
Air travel and driving account for most carbon emissions generated during tourism activities and contribute directly to climate change, with serious ramifications for both people and wildlife alike.
If you must fly, try choosing nonstop flights as they are more fuel-efficient and polluter-free. Apps such as App in the Air allow users to filter flights based on their estimated carbon footprints and offset their flight emissions accordingly.
Stay at accommodations that employ sustainable energy, water, and waste management systems; or book tours offered by eco-tourism tour companies who abide by the Leave No Trace principle (e.g. Intrepid Travel).
7. Stay Local
Traveling locally is one of the most eco-friendly choices available; not only will this reduce carbon emissions but it will also strengthen local communities and their economies.
Staying in locally-owned accommodations such as boutique hotels or Airbnbs will give you a truly sustainable experience. When exploring further afield, opt for tours and trips that feature small group sizes to minimize impactful tourism on local communities.
Be careful when visiting natural environments: be respectful and do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. Pack a reusable water bottle and cloth bags when shopping; don’t litter; and be sure to recycle whenever possible.
