If you love travelling, you will leave a carbon smudge behind. It’s inevitable. Hotels chug water to clean sheets and towels, planes and cars release carbon emissions and eating on-the-go include plastic water bottles, forks and packaging.
Do not let this prevent you from exploring the world. This World Earth Day learn about some eco-friendly travel practices that buffer the harms of pollution on the planet.
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Opt for public transport
Travelling by bus or train like the locals can make your travelling more eco-friendly, and give you a taste of actual life of the locals. These days, many adventure tour operators arrange cycling, walking or hiking holidays.
Keep in mind that the greenest rides typically run on alternative fuels or electricity and have a high occupancy rate. If you do plan to drive around town, consider hiring a fuel-efficient vehicle or an electric one at that.
Limit your time at tourist traps
Popular destinations are often the victims of their own popularity. Hundreds, if not thousands of tourists, visit beaches or historic buildings on a daily, loving them to death. This phenomenon is known as ‘overtourism‘.
Why is this bad for the environment? Too many visitors to an area can lead to excess pollution, erosion of cultural landscapes, ecosystem destruction and the death of rare plants. The reality is that you may have to spend hours standing in line, only to realise too late that it doesn’t live up to expectations.
It can be so rewarding to explore less visited areas. If you do choose to visit popular places, consider doing it outside peak months or quieter times of the day.
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Reduce your plastic consumption
In recent years, a number of companies and consumers rejected single-use plastics. However, single-use plastics made a comeback post pandemic, which led to an increased reliance on grocery bags, plastic gloves and takeout containers. Now that tourism is recovering, hotels and tour operators are using disposable plastics as a hygiene precaution.
While this will take some time to rework, you can choose to reduce your consumption of single-use plastics. One of the easiest ways to do this is to pack a reusable water bottle when you travel. If you are concerned about the water quality in the destination, find a bottle with a built-in purifier. It is also advisable to use paper or cloth bags for packaging, instead of plastic. Refillable toiletry bottle are another eco-friendly item for your packing list.
Choose sustainable accommodations and operators
Try and avoid hotels that are not very eco-friendly. If you are comfortable with it, book a hostel or other means of co-sharing spaces. This is not only a greener alternative to a hotel, but gives you the chance to interact with other travellers.
When on the search for a green hotel, remember these three pillars of sustainable tourism: environmental, social and economic.
Before booking, do your research. While many hotels or companies market themselves as ‘sustainable’ or ‘eco-friendly’ does not mean they necessarily are. Check out specific policies or practices they implemented, or ask questions to show that sustainability impacts your purchase.
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Happy World Earth Day!
