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Be kinder to Mother Earth by using these sustainable travel tips to help reduce your carbon footprint and do your little bit to travel more sustainably and eco-consciously.
Sustainable Travel Tips
1. Take More Local Trips
You can decrease your carbon footprint by making the most out of your local surroundings. Do a quick search online, and you’ll be surprised at how many beautiful places there are near your town.
2. Pack Light
If you pack light, you’ll be able to move more easily instead of hiring a taxi, which is not only bad for your wallet but also for the environment. What’s more, carrying less stuff means a lower risk to misplace an important document or item.
3. Buy Eco-Friendly Travel Products
There are some really great eco-friendly travel products you can use to reduce your carbon footprint, from odorless clothing and make-up wipes to reusable cutlery and straws. Using these swaps is a lot easier than you can imagine. In fact, you can even use them at home.
4. Use a Reusable Water Bottle
You can help reduce the trash for your vacation destination by bringing a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one. This may seem too simple, but it’s really helpful.
5. Use Reusable Bags
When going to the supermarket in the place you’re staying, be sure to take spare bags with you to avoid buying plastic carrier bags. This will help you decrease the plastic trash in that area. If you must buy a plastic carrier bag, find a place to recycle them.
6. Choose More Sustainable Hotels
Do some research to find a sustainable hotel or hostel in the place you’re visiting. This includes wind turbines, solar power, rainwater harvesting, low-flow toilets, energy-efficient lighting, etc. Besides, staying in a sustainable hotel won’t necessarily cost you more than its less eco-friendly counterpart.
7. Embrace Train Travel
Air travel is not environmentally friendly, so try to travel by land whenever possible. If you have the time, choose a train, bus, or ship instead of a plane because these vehicles have a less negative environmental impact than flying. What’s more, you’ll probably end up having more fun and unique experience.
8. Choose Non-Stop Flights
If you have to travel via plane, choose non-stop flights. They’ll be more fuel-efficient, and get you to your destination faster. Win-win!
9. Recycle Your Airplane Trash
Unfortunately, many cabin crews store the entire flight trash in oversized plastic bags and throw them overboard on stopovers. Most airlines aren’t sorting recyclables unless you’re asked for plastic bottles, magazines, or other specific types of rubbish. Therefore, it’s best to keep your recyclable trash until you get out into the terminal, as most major airlines gave a recycling program.
10. Take More Showers, Fewer Baths
Even though taking a bath while on vacation and not paying for the water bill may sound perfect, it’s not environmentally friendly. We use around 70 gallons of water per bath and only 10 to 25 gallons per 5-minute shower.
If you want to be a great eco-friendly traveler, consider taking even shorter and fewer showers too.
11. Hang Up Your Towels After Using Them
Do you wash your towels after each use when you’re at home? Probably not. So why would you need to have them washed after each use at your hotel when you’re on vacation?
Instead of throwing them on the hotel bathroom floor, which is a universal sign that you like to have them washed and replaced, hang them up to save water and energy.
12. Use Public Transit Instead of Taxis
Public transit is often a good option in most major cities, so spend some time leaning the bus, metro system, and trolley systems at your destination. If you’re staying in a place that’s not really transit-friendly, search for the nearest station and decide if it’s best to get there by walking, biking, or a short taxi ride.
13. Use the Bike Sharing Schemes
Many cities, especially in Europe, now have bicycle-sharing systems.
14. Consider Camping or Glamping
Most hotels are not eco-friendly, so try going camping or glamping. Not only is this is better for the environment, but it’s also cheaper and more fun and authentic. Just don’t forget to clean the campsite and leave no trace after sleeping under the stars.
15. Look for Eco-Friendly Tours
Finally, look to book your tour with eco-friendly companies. My personal favorite is G Adventures, but there are plenty of companies out there offering amazing experiences while being conscious of their impact on the environment.
Little changes, if we all do them, can go a long way to moving us toward a future where we can still travel and make unforgettable memories, without Mother Earth having to pay the ultimate price.
Commit to traveling in a more eco-friendly way, and reaps the benefits of amazing adventures, both home and abroad, while doing your little bit to help our way of life becoming more sustainable.
Related: Fun and Affordable Staycation Ideas You’ll Love in 2022
Oh, and remember to spread the love about sustainable travel by saving this article to one of your travel inspiration Pinterest boards.