Most people know and understand that travelling around the world will burn fossil fuels. If you don’t intend to walk or cycle everywhere, that’s mostly necessary. We accept our presence on airplanes or driving to destinations, however, because of course it’s our choice to do so, and the impact you have is comparatively very little in the grand scheme of things.
The best approach for staying sustainable really comes not from trying to be perfect, but to minimize your impact as and when you can. Sure, you might not be flying a private jet around everywhere, but it’s good to make small adjustments that are within your grasp to lessen your overall environmental footprint.
Moreover, just like sustainability itself, the habits you put in place must be sustainable. If you can’t keep up with them over time, then will you sustain your healthy habits, or will they fall by the wayside? Odds are the latter.
But don’t fear, as you never have to reinvent the wheel by yourself. In this ultimate guide for staying sustainable as you travel, we hope you can find some value in adjusting your travel with an eco point of view:
Bring Eco Products With You!
Eco-friendly products such as scrubbers or scourers can easily be packed, and if you bring them with you, you don’t want to dispose of items you’ve purchased in a store for convenience while there. Packing a few reusable items is pretty simple, too. A sturdy water bottle you can wash each day, some cloth shopping bags, or reusable containers might sound like small additions or as if they’d take too much room in your bag, but in reality they help cut down on single-use plastics and for the better.
You can also equip your toiletries bag in this way, as that might include your solid shampoo bars or bamboo toothbrushes. These choices might not seem monumental, but when multiplied by many travellers, there’s a real change that happens there. Perhaps you’ve even saved roughly a kilogram of wasted plastic you might have used otherwise. That can be a very worthwhile enterprise.
Try To Limit Disposable Items
When we’re on vacation, we tend to rely on convenience. That’s because travel really does tax you, it’s not because you’re low energy that you feel this way. So, we tend to think less of just grabbing an immediate bite to eat from a fast food store, or picking up some items from the local shop even if they’re marked up.
But if you can, limiting disposable items as much as you realistically can is a good idea. We mentioned that you might bring a flask with you instead of buying bottled water, but of course, making sure that bottle is recycled is a good alternative.
If you’re camping, you can choose to bring reusable utensils or a travel mug to help avoid those little moments of waste. If you keep your towels for a couple days (or a few) in the restaurant, you will save water and constant replacements, and housekeeping will be thankful to have less work. Tiny little adjustments like that can be worthwhile.
Try Boat Travel & Public Transport
Planes and cars tend to be the go-to for travellers, and it’s not hard to see why, they’re the most comfortable, often the cheapest way to cover a lot of distance, and the fastest. Yet public transport can provide a somewhat different way to see a place and helps you to cut down emissions significantly.
Trains are an efficient and scenic option especially if you’re planning to travel through a country (England can be a lovely country to travel by train, as can most of Europe), especially in regions where rail networks are strong and cities connect to one another comfortably. Boat travel, particularly with sails, are more of a treat but can be a lovely way to get around or spend an afternoon with other guests. These choices may not always be as fast, but they often lead to comfortable experiences, and of course, you’ll be limiting the fuel you take in. Just don’t think that a cruise is a sustainable way to travel of course, it’s all about how you scale your approach.
Support Sustainable Businesses
The great thing about sustainability is that while you might not be perfect yourself, you can always help support initiatives that seek to help offset your own environmental impact. So for instance, if you donate enough to plant a few trees each year, that might help offset some of your carbon impact. It’s not a 1:1 approach of course, and it’s always best to reduce your impact too, but it’s a nice middle ground to work on.
This works as you travel, because the types of businesses you support while traveling will be supported by voting with your wallet. Hotels that rely on renewable energy, for instance, or eateries that source food locally are worth seeking out. Travel companies that have strong conservation practices or community-driven programs deserve your attention, too, and who knows, the more successful those companies can be in such locations, the more those standards can become the norm. Moreover, spending your money thoughtfully sends a signal that eco-friendly operations are valued.
Consider Your Conduct & Candour
Now, don’t take this section as a lecture, as we’re certain you’re a perfectly good travel companion and explorer. That being said, it’s good to remind ourselves of the rules from time to time. The “leave no trace” mantra tends to be a good one when it comes to camping or walking in nature, as this preserves the area for the next person, even if it just means taking your trash with you.
Of course, deciding to engage in natural activities isn’t a bad place to feel a sense of reverence for the great outdoors. Hey, if you’re going to all this effort to limit your impact, it’s your right to enjoy mother nature too.
We’d recommend some fun guided nature hikes, cycling tours, or snorkelling trips in regulated areas, here you can really see a place’s beauty without leaving damage behind. On the other side, some experiences, like unregulated wildlife encounters that might disturb animals (or put you in danger), and tours that cut corners on conservation, might be better left out of the schedule.
Use Energy Thoughtfully
Now, you’re not a worse person if you need to use the air conditioning in your hotel when it’s scorching outside. So don’t chastise yourself for the comforts that people need, especially if you’re adapting to a new environment.
Sometimes, though, it can be worthwhile to plan against those experiences and difficulties. For instance, unplugging chargers and turning off lights when leaving the room adds up over time. You might stick to quicker showers instead of taking huge luxurious baths, or at least not taking as many as you might. These little habits might not sound significant, but collectively, they reduce energy use more than you’d think. If you’re mindful of it, you’ll naturally start using less energy by habit alone.
Volunteer In Sustainable Efforts
Now, it’s not just about how you enjoy a normal vacation that impacts your influence on the environment. If you really do get a green mindset, you can always head abroad to assist with green volunteer efforts. In some cases that might involve conservation projects or sustainable development efforts.
That could include wildlife care, reforestation, helping build shelters in poorer areas, and more. You may be surprised what your free labour could achieve, just make certain you choose a provider with a proven track record and constant certifications. Don’t expose yourself to risk, and don’t be taken advantage of. If you achieve that, you may find yourself making friends and learning more about the world than ever.
Rent Electric Cars
Now, we’re not going to suggest that electric cars have no impact on the environment, as the production of the batteries they use and of course, the electricity itself aren’t always curated by sustainable sources. That being said, renting an electric car instead of a gas guzzler while abroad can be very helpful.
While they may be a little more expensive and you may need to plan your travel around charging stations (which are less common than gas stations, of course), you’ll be able to ride in complete comfort without the constant splutter of an engine under the hood. That in itself can help you find city driving much more comfortable, and you’ll be polluting much less than you would otherwise. A rare win-win!
With this advice, we hope you can continue to seek sustainable options as you travel this world. You might not always get it perfect, and sometimes you just can’t help but burn fossil fuels or rely on conveniences supported by them. But if you can reduce your impact even by 5%, you’ll be making a difference. As you get more used to this practice, you’ll find that you become better at it. Perhaps you’ll be the one writing this guide in five years.
We wish you all the fun in the world on your adventures!
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
