How to be a Sustainable Traveler: 10 Highly Effective Tips
Sustainable Traveler
Traveling is a wonderful opportunity to discover new cultures, reconnect with nature and spend time with our loved ones. But with traveling, comes the responsibility to preserve and protect the environment, so we can continue to enjoy them for years to come. Here are some eco-friendly traveling tips and tricks to help you become a sustainable traveler.
1. Commute responsibly
For long distances, take a direct, non-stop flight. Most of the plane’s carbon emissions come from taking off and landing.
Within the country, try to use a bus or a train.
If you want to rent a car, look for sustainable options like electrical vehicles. They use less fuel and produce less carbon emissions.
2. Eco-friendly stay
Stay in dorm rooms in hostels if possible.
Go camping with your friends.
Choose AirBnBs that include staying with a local family.
Look for sustainability driven hotels.
Check if they use solar power, rainwater harvesting systems or energy-efficient lighting.
Ask if the hotel has a recycling policy. If not, you can encourage them to start one by speaking to the management or leaving feedback at the reception.
3. Leave no plastic
Instead of buying plastic wrapped items on the road, pack home-made food in reusable boxes and bags.
Swap single-use plastic for reusable bottles and cups.
Carry a reusable shopping bag instead of taking plastic bags from the shop.
4. Take pride in cleaning up
Try to leave the places you visit better than you found them.
Pick up some waste wherever you go – from the mountains, beaches, jungles, or rivers.
Make things fun and challenge your friends to see who can clean up the most plastic waste!
5. Eat local
Eat and drink locally sourced.
This will reduce the CO2 emissions from the transportation of imported goods.
Eating local foods also helps local farmers and promotes growth of the local economy.
6. Shop local
Lessen your carbon footprint and buy local! It boosts the local economy, and encourages their businesses.
Avoid souvenirs that appear to be mass produced, instead opt for souvenirs from local markets or artisans.
Be careful not to buy any souvenirs made from endangered species like animal hides, ivory or coral.
Refuse extra packaging or an unnecessary plastic bag.
7. Bring good habits with you
Treat the stay as your home.
Save water by avoiding long showers and bathtubs.
Turn off the lights whenever you leave the room.
Walk, bike, or use public transport to get around whenever possible. It cuts down on gas usage and saves you money.
Put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your hotel room. This way the housekeeping staff won’t clean your room every day.
If you’re staying in a hotel with free samples, don’t feel shy to bring those samples back with you. The staff will probably throw them away anyway.
8. Choose sustainable tour companies
Whenever booking through a tour operator, choose those that support eco-friendly travel.
Check their website for eco-friendly policies.
Some tour companies offset their carbon emissions. If you’re planning a guided tour or an all-inclusive vacation package, try to choose a carbon-offsetting vendor.
9. Purchase offset programs
When traveling, especially by plane, look for carbon offset programs.
There are countless organizations which offer carbon offsetting programs and schemes for travelers. However, before trying these projects, look whether these projects are actually sustainable.
10. Spread the word
Share your eco-travel stories with your friends and family.
Be informative and motivate them to travel sustainably.
Remember, it doesn’t matter where you’re going, you always have a choice to be sustainable and reduce your carbon footprint. Even the tiniest mindful steps can go a long way in increasing sustainability.
